Financial Aid: Know the FAFSA, use your resources and stay informed

For students and families preparing for college, navigating financial aid can sometimes feel overwhelming. Knowing where to find help and understanding how the FAFSA works can make the process easier to manage.

Zachary Christian, deputy director at the South Carolina Tuition Grants Commission, recently shared his advice on the FAFSA and financial aid process with the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. His message to students and families is simple: Use the resources available to you and don't be afraid to ask for help.

Don't be afraid to ask for help

Students and families don't have to navigate the financial aid process alone. Christian encourages families to seek guidance from financial aid administrators, school counselors and South Carolina's higher education agencies.

The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement, South Carolina Technical College System and Tuition Grants Commission are among the agencies that provide resources to support students and families.

“We're all there to help support students, and we all have different resources to help them along their way,” Christian said.

Understand the FAFSA and don't decide you're ineligible

Before beginning the FAFSA, Christian encourages families to understand what the form is designed to do. The FAFSA is an application submitted to the federal government to apply for federal financial aid and, in some cases, state and institutional financial aid programs.

Students and families should also avoid deciding on their own that they won't qualify for financial aid. Even students who don't expect to qualify for need-based aid should still complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA may also be required to access federal Direct Loans.

“There are a lot of state and institutional programs that are not need-based,” Christian said. “You still need to complete that FAFSA in order to have access to those aid programs.”

Pay attention to what the FAFSA is asking

With changes to the FAFSA in recent years, families may encounter questions that are different from what they expect. For example, Christian shared that, for many families, tax information is transferred automatically through the federal process, so there may be no need to manually enter income information.

He noted that some families mistakenly enter income information when the FAFSA is actually asking about assets.

“Families and students should be paying attention to each of the questions that they do get asked and not try to assume what the form is asking,” Christian said.

Start with your financial aid office

Because financial aid options can vary by student, Christian encourages families to turn to the financial aid office for guidance.

“Financial aid administrators at all colleges want to see students succeed,” he said.

Financial aid professionals can help students understand the programs, policies and aid options connected to their individual educational records.

Check your student email

Once students establish a student email account, Christian says they should make a habit of checking it regularly. Colleges and financial aid offices may use student email to communicate important information, including resources and deadlines.

“The number one advice I can say to ensure students don't miss out on any financial aid resources and to get full advantage of their aid resources is to always check their emails,” Christian said.

For students and families navigating financial aid, staying informed, asking questions and using the resources available can help make the process more manageable.

Learn more about financial aid and complete the FAFSA at StudentAid.gov.

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