FAFSA

Student Worker for Financial Aid Department Provides Tips for Filing the FAFSA

Posted on by Nicole Cier

Courtney Colletti, a senior communication studies major from Pennsville, NJ (Salem County), is a student worker for the Financial Aid department. Today she shares with us a glimpse into her job, and the importance of filing your Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming school year.

What are your responsibilities as a student worker for the Financial Aid department? 

My official title is Creative Assistant, and I manage the Financial Aid social media accounts and help out with marketing efforts within the department. I get to create content for Twitter and Instagram, brainstorm contest ideas for social media and help my bosses organize financial aid events. 

I really wanted to expand from just social management into more marketing experience. This job presents opportunities for me to run events and host classes about financial aid and plan PR campaigns for getting students to file their FAFSA. I am also part of the initiative for the FAFSA Finisher contest, which encourages students to fill out their FAFSA for a chance to win Rowan gear and technology prizes.

Courtney leans against a tree and smiles.How did you get the job as a student?

I actually came across this job on ProfsJobs. I love ProfsJobs! All of my past positions have been found on there. When I interviewed for this job, the atmosphere was so great, and I realized the importance of making sure I am happy in what I do and having a good environment. It’s such a collaborative team effort, and we still have fun and get creative. The whole office is focused on helping students and making sure they get the money they need. Financial Aid may have a reputation for being “boring,” but my bosses are so funny, outgoing and happy. 

From your experience at work, how does the FAFSA help students? Why is it important to complete?

Students have to fill out the FAFSA if they want any kind of financial assistance from the government. When it comes to grants and scholarships through the government, the information you provide in your FAFSA determines how much aid you qualify for. It also sets you up so the federal government can determine how much in subsidized and unsubsidized loans you’re able to receive.

We try to encourage students to file the FAFSA as early as they can, because you can lose potential aid money by not filing as early as possible. The more aid you are able to receive from the government, the less money you have to borrow from private lenders, which could come with higher interest rates. We want to prevent students from losing money that they are entitled to. 

Because of COVID-19, the deadlines for filing have changed. Instead of April 15, returning students have to file by June 1 the very latest. Brand new students have until Sept. 15 to file for the Fall 2020 semester.

Any suggestions for students who are looking to fill out the FAFSA?

Ask your parents to sit down with you to do this, or find someone you trust who is good with money to advise you. Make sure you have all the information you need ahead of time so you’re not scrambling for it last minute. And if you have to fill it out on your own or need help, the Financial Aid department is here for you. You can email us to set up a phone or Zoom call where our staff can walk you through the process. It’s not as scary or intimidating as students think it is. You’re just plugging in a few numbers, and they keep it pretty simple.

The Office of Financial Aid wants you to know that they are still here for you as a resource. Follow @rowanfinaid on Instagram and Twitter to participate in contests and win prizes just for filling out your FAFSA!

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Story by:
Nicole Cier, senior writing arts major

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10 Myths about Financial Aid & The FAFSA

Posted on by Justin Borelli
Future Rowan students touring campus with their tour guides

  1.  We make too much money, so we won’t get anything.

MYTH! There is no income cut off, so eligible students will qualify for something, including low-interest loans that do not require a credit check or co-signer.  

Prof tip: Don’t make assumptions on what you may receive. Fill out the FAFSA and decide if you want to use the aid or not. You have to fill out the FAFSA to qualify for many state aid programs such as the NJ Tuition Aid Grant.  

  1. The FAFSA opens on Jan. 1.

MYTH! The FAFSA application now opens on Oct. 1 of every year. Financial aid is first-come, first-served. So it could pay off (literally) to get your application in quickly. 

Prof tip: You don’t need to wait for you or your parents to file their taxes to submit. 

  1. It costs money to submit your FAFSA.

MYTH! The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Applying will help students access money for college like grants, scholarships and federal work-study, as well as provide access to federal student loans. There is only one official FAFSA form online, and you should complete it at fafsa.ed.gov or the myStudentAid mobile app. 

Prof tip: Stay away from spoof websites, especially if they request a payment.

  1. You only need to complete the FAFSA one time (OR you only need to complete the FAFSA your first year).

MYTH! You have to fill out the FAFSA form every year you’re in school in order to stay eligible for federal student aid.

Prof tip: Apply early!

  1. I need to wait until I’m accepted to college before I complete my FAFSA.

MYTH! You don’t need to wait! You can start as early as your senior year of high school. You must list at least one college to receive your information. You SHOULD list all schools you’re considering even if you haven’t applied or been accepted yet. It doesn’t hurt your application to add more schools; colleges can’t see the other schools you’ve added. In fact, you don’t even have to remove schools if you later decide not to apply or attend. If you don’t end up applying or getting accepted to a school, the school can just disregard your FAFSA form.

  1. My parents don’t pay my bills, so I don’t need to include their information on the FAFSA.

MYTH! Even if you support yourself, live on your own, or file your own taxes, you may still be considered a dependent student by the federal government for FAFSA purposes. The FAFSA form asks a series of questions to determine your dependency status. If you’re independent, you won’t need to include your parents’ information on your FAFSA form. If you are dependent, you must provide your parents’ information.

Prof tip: Federal Student Aid (the FAFSA people) asks a series of questions to determine a student’s dependency status.

Learn more here: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/dependency  

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/fafsa-dependency.pdf

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/dependency-status.png

  1. I need to use the 2018 taxes to complete my FAFSA.

MYTH! The FAFSA form asks for financial information, including information from tax forms and balances of savings and checking accounts. The 2019–20 FAFSA form, which became available Oct. 1, 2018, asks for 2017 tax information.

  1. The expected family contribution is the exact amount you have to pay.
Rowan Financial Literacy Expert Brandi Blanton standing near Savitz Hall
Brandi Blanton

MYTH! Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is a measure of your family’s financial strength and is calculated according to a formula established by law. Your family’s taxed and untaxed income, assets and benefits (such as unemployment or Social Security) are all considered in the formula. It also takes into consideration your family size and the number of family members who will attend college during the year.

Your EFC is NOT the amount of money your family will have to pay for college nor is it the amount of federal student aid you will receive. It is a number used by your school to calculate the amount of federal student aid you are eligible to receive.

Prof tip: To understand your out of pocket financial obligation, subtract the financial aid awards from the tuition amount. 

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Story by:
Brandi Blanton, Financial Literacy Expert

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Being a Part of the ASCEND Community

Posted on by Chad Wittmann
three ASCEND students having a conversation

Glassboro, NJ (Gloucester County) native Dyone Payne, a junior public relations major with minors in journalism and strategic communication, shares her experience with the ASCEND program.

Transitioning from high school to college isn’t always as easy as everyone thinks it is. Thankfully, entering Rowan through the ASCEND program provided me the confidence say goodbye to my family and start school.

As students, our parents wave bye to us as we step foot into a new journey that college has set out for us. During the ASCEND six week program, we live in dorms, take classes, and get to know one another as we grow to be brothers and sisters. After the program is over, we are then admitted into the university!

A Rowan University staff member mentors a student in the Camden location.

A day in the life of an ASCEND student includes meeting with your advisors, both academic and ASCEND. This is to keep constant maintenance and balance within our new campus lifestyle. A key aspect in remaining an ASCEND student is grades. Without the proper grades to pursue the education you need, how do expect to possibly get ahead in life?

Everyone from advisors, to secretaries, to students create a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone to enjoy. The community often hosts workshops that assist with tutoring, scholarships, FAFSA, and entrepreneurship. We also attend a meeting for all classes within the community to understand that everyone is on the same page. To go along with this, we have our own class meetings to catch everyone up on what’s going on within the class.

Dyone Payne jumps for joy with two friends outside the Student Center
Dyone (center) jumps with two fellow volunteers helping new freshmen coming to campus for the first time.

The ASCEND community is not only welcoming, they’re family. Everyone you come across is not only a networking opportunity but they’re also extremely genuine. We have fun, outgoing students on campus and we even host an annual barbecue to wrap up the end of the school year!

Being an ASCEND student has been the best experience because of the connections I’ve made with so many wonderful people. This is a community that sets you up for success while taking the time to prepare you for every opportunity.  They even told me to remember, “to be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, and to be late is unacceptable.”

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