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Financial Aid

FINANCIAL AID NIGHT PRESENTATION
 
Students and Families, please join us at FCTS for an evening presentation for all things Financial Aid. Our Guest Presenter, Michael P. Ellison,  Associate Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Outreach, Amherst College, will provide an overview of the financial aid process from beginning to end - what the different kinds of aid are, how to apply, where to go for resources and information, and how colleges are involved in the process. 
 
We hope you can join us!
Thursday, October 2, 2025
6:30-7:30 PM
FCTS Cafeteria

FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid

For students who are graduating from FCTS in the Spring of 2026, and who are planning on entering college in the Fall of 2026, you need to file your FAFSA as early as possible.  Filing early is important, as funds are determined and awarded on a ‘first come first served' basis.

The FAFSA application is typically available on October 1, but this year, it has opened almost a week early and is available now (as of Sept 29, 2025).

Applications can be submitted online through the Department of Education Website at FAFSA.gov (be aware of other websites with similar-looking addresses).

The official FAFSA application is free, and if you have gathered the information you need to file, it should take less than an hour to fill out the form. Common information and documents Contributors can gather in advance are:

Note: FAFSA "Contributors" are the student AND any person who will be contributing to the FAFSA filed for that student. This typically is one parent (for parents with joint tax returns) or guardian or multiple parents and guardians.

  • Your Social Security number
  • Your Driver's License (if you have one)
  • For non-U.S. citizens an alien registration or permanent resident card
  • Your  Federal Student Aid ID (to create a FSA ID, go to FSA ID)
  • Parent FSA ID (to create a FSA ID go to FSA ID)
  • Information to report significant cash holdings
    • Any existing bank balance statements, including checking and savings accounts
    • Current investment records, such as real estate, stocks, bonds
    • Records of untaxed income such as child support, interest, Veterans benefits
    •  
  • A list of any colleges you are likely to apply to
    • FAFSA will send financial aid information to up to 10 schools (you can add more later). You can look up school Institutional Codes here:http://www.finaid.org/fafsa/tiv.phtml
    • You may include schools you might apply to but are unsure
    • You should still file FAFSA even if you don’t know what schools you will apply to

 

Financial Aid/FAFSA Resources

Massachusetts Educational Finance Authority - MEFA

The Massachusetts Educational Finance Authority (MEFA) has resources for families to help understand Financial Aid and the application process:

  • Planning Tools
  • Savings Products
  • Loan Products
  • Guidance on paying for college
  • Webinars, articles and events
  • Cost Calculators
  • Loan refinancing information
  • Information about 529 plans
  • Information about the U.Plan and the U.Fund
 
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid
The office of Federal Student Aid provides publications, fact sheets, online tools, and other resources to help you prepare and pay for college or career school.

Thinking about going to college, but having a hard time weeding through all the information available to you on the internet? 

Try our college info warehouse! It's a curated collection of organizations, information, and websites that can help. And remember, when all else fails - contact your school counselor!