JEFFERSON CITY, MO. -- Thousands of mid-Missouri high school seniors are gearing up to head to college this Fall.
However, figuring out how to pay for college can be a difficult process. But help is on it's way
Mid-Missouri college-bound students and their parents can get free help applying for their FASFA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid, Saturday.
"The next best thing to getting accepted at a college is applying for that financial aid," event organizer at Nichols Career Center Pat Wright-Tatum said. "And even if you haven't been accepted, its important that you apply as soon as possible."
Trained financial aid professionals will be on hand at the Nichols Career Center, next to Jefferson City High School, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
FASFA assistance workshop is put on by a number of organizations, including the Missouri Department of Higher Education and the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, or MOHELA.
At the event, experts can guide parents and students through the process to gain a small piece of the hundreds of billions of dollars available in scholarships, grants, and student loans.
Organizers said there are several things students and parents should keep in mind, though.
"Sometimes students think that they don't qualify, and actually you still have to complete it if they are looking foward to just getting a student loan," Wright-Tatum said.
If your family brings your completed 2009 income tax return to the event, you can complete the entire FASFA process on site.
Organizers remind college-bound students the FASFA deadlines are quickly approaching.
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