How Financial Aid Can Help YOU!

Let’s set the scene. It’s the end of your child’s senior year in high school. The feelings of excitement and anticipation are thick. The promise of being accepted into their dream college and spreading their wings is getting closer and closer. As the parent however, there is another very large, very daunting question looming over all of the excitement. How am I going to pay for my child’s college education? You want them to have the best start possible and you want them to have the experience that they have been dreaming of, but that hefty price tag can cause a lot of stress and sleepless nights.

That’s where financial aid comes in. There are so many options available if you know where to look and how to navigate the process. Even then, it always helps to have a specialist in your corner to ease you through things and point you in the right direction. That is what the AACC financial aid specialists are here for. Even if your child is not planning to attend AACC, we are happy to answer questions regarding the financial aid process and to get you started.

Here are a few examples of questions that every parent with a graduating senior has:

Where do I start?

Start by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application opens students up to so many types of financial aid, including federal and state aid. The application can be found on the Federal Student Aid website.

What is the deadline to complete the FAFSA?

That depends on what school your child is attending, as different schools will have different deadlines. Check in with their school’s Financial Aid office for their deadlines. If your child is planning to attend AACC, we highly encourage you to have the FAFSA completed by March 1.

How will I know how much aid my child qualifies for?

When your indicated schools receive their FAFSA, those schools will reach out to your child and put together an awards package. If done in advance, your child will know what they qualify for before they attend their first class.

Don’t see your question here? Need more information? Reach out to the AACC Financial Aid office at finaid@aacc.edu or 410-777-2203 and we will be happy to help. Us Riverhawks have to stick together!

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Special thanks to Financial Aid Specialist, Renee Booker, for writing this post!