Free Financial Aid Services for College-Bound Students

Illinois Kicks-Off Financial Aid/Admission Awareness Month

Springfield–  For the fifteenth consecutive year, Illinois will celebrate the month of February as Financial Aid/Admission Awareness Month (FAAM). Across the state, students and their families will be taking advantage of services offered to them through numerous FAAM activities. All activities sponsored by FAAM are free and open to the general public. FAAM provides information, resources, and services that help thousands of Illinois residents with their college plans, focusing on the college admission and financial aid processes.

Students enrolling for the 2004-2005 academic year are presently closing in on their selection of a college and should begin the financial aid process. Students - from high school seniors to adult learners - and parents needing help with understanding or completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will have the opportunity to receive individual assistance from financial aid professionals at any of the 100 FAFSA Workshops scheduled at various sites throughout the state. The U.S. Department of Education provides the FAFSA, free of charge, on the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov and in the paper form to high schools, colleges, and libraries. Completing the FAFSA accurately and on time is the first and most important step to obtaining state and federal financial aid.

This February, the Illinois financial aid community is excited to offer 100 free FAFSA Workshops, the most workshops ever, scheduled at high schools, colleges, and other sites located throughout the state. Financial aid professionals will be available to assist families with completing the FAFSA and to answer related questions. Families will need to bring all completed or estimated 2003 income tax forms, as well as any other asset information for the student and parents, to complete the 2004-2005 FAFSA. Many of the sites will provide computer access for electronic filing of the FAFSA.

Although planning for college is year-round process, families attending these workshops will receive current information on many important topics, including electronic filing of the FAFSA; changes to the 2004-2005 FAFSA; early awareness issues such as academic preparation and planning for college costs; College Illinois!, the Illinois 529 prepaid tuition program; and general information about federal tax credits and benefits for higher education. Students will also gather information on financial aid sources, such as student loans, grants, and scholarships, including the Illinois Future Teacher Corps Scholarship, initiated by Governor Blagojevich last year to encourage and support students pursuing a career in teaching.

The FAAM Web site, www.faam.org, is available online to provide up-to-the-minute, detailed information on each of the 100 FAFSA Workshops, additional FAAM activities on the calendar, and a wealth of information on topics related to college planning for students of all ages.

FAAM is a collaborative effort by the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC), the Illinois Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (ILASFAA), Inc., the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), and lending institutions.

About ISAC
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission is the State’s centralized provider of financial assistance aimed at helping students and families access postsecondary education and/or training. Each year, the Commission awards an estimated $400 million in scholarship and grant aid to nearly 185,000 qualified students, and also provides an additional $740 million to borrowers through its student loan programs. The agency offers credit-based alternative loans, a 529 prepaid tuition program known as College Illinois!, and a broad array of outreach and informational services to ensure that families have access to the information they need to pay for a college education. More information is available by calling toll-free 800.899.ISAC (4722) or visiting the agency’s Web site at www.collegezone.com.