Financial Aid & FAFSA Completion Seminar Offered Jan. 18

Students and Parents Encouraged to Apply for Financial Aid

WATERLOO, IOWA (Dec. 15, 2013) — High seniors, current college students and their parents can learn about the college financial aid and scholarship process, as well as receive assistance with the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), at a free information seminar provided by the Northeast Iowa Student Success Center, a regional hub of the Iowa College Access Network (ICAN). Both the program and the center are free and open to the public.

The event will be held Saturday, January 18 at the University of Northern Iowa Center for Urban Education, 800 Sycamore Street in Waterloo. The informational portion of the event will begin at 10 a.m. during which students and parents will receive answers to questions on topics including the financial aid process, FAFSA application review, understanding FAFSA results, understanding costs, college comparisons, financial aid options, scholarships process and where to go for help. The FAFSA Completion Assistance session will follow at 11 a.m., allowing students and parents to complete the FAFSA application with the assistance of an ICAN Student Success Advisor.

“It’s vital in today’s world of growing college costs that students have a financial plan in place before they begin college. Unfortunately it’s not always an easy process, especially if you are trying to figure things out on your own,” explained John Holland, ICAN student success advisor. “Understanding the application process, the requirements for reporting income and assets, all of this can be daunting for any student, but especially for first-time college bound families.

And for those that come and want to get started right away, the FAFSA Completion Session starts at 11 am. During the FAFSA portion of the morning, students and families who come with their tax and income information will be able to complete the FAFSA application with the guidance of a trained financial aid expert. To view a list of what is needed to file the FAFSA visit www.ICANsucceed.org/file.

For attendees seeking a more personalized planning session, individual advising appointments can be scheduled following the presentation. For more information about the presentation, students and parents should contact John Holland at the Northeast Iowa Student Success Center by calling 319-423-7703 or emailing jholland@ICANsucceed.org.

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About ICAN

The Iowa College Access Network is a nonprofit, educational organization. ICAN is the College Access Network for Iowa, and a member of the National College Access Network (NCAN). ICAN has eight locations in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Davenport, Des Moines, Orange City, Ottumwa, Sioux City and Waterloo, which provide information and support to students and their families as they plan their postsecondary education and apply for financial aid. All ICAN programs and services are provided without charge. For more information about ICAN, call (877) 272-4692 or visit www.ICANsucceed.org.