High school seniors should begin the process of applying for financial aid for college now. The first step is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application determines eligibility for grants and loans, and is used by colleges across the country to develop each student’s financial aid package.
During October, MPS high schools are promoting FAFSA and ramping up support to help students fill out the application. FAFSA for the 2020–21 school year opened on October 1, and more money is sometimes available to early applicants.
MPS held a FAFSA kickoff on October 9, 2019, at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) to draw attention to this important application and to encourage all high school seniors to apply. Guest speakers included MPS alumna Yasmin Ali, who detailed how the FAFSA helped her finance her education through MATC Promise, and parent Andrea Adkins, who spoke about the family impact of receiving financial aid for her children to attend college.
MPS has College and Career Centers in 20 high schools to help students fill out the FAFSA, explore colleges, write essays, and complete college applications. Hours vary by school. MPS students can visit any College & Career Center to get the help they need from a college and career advisor. For more information about College & Career Center locations, hours, and services, visit the MPS College & Career Centers page.
Students who wish to fill out the FAFSA should visit https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa. Applicants are cautioned to use only this website and to avoid any websites that charge a fee.
