January 2012

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Want to KnowHow2GO to college?

The KnowHow2GO program provides four steps you should follow to make college a reality. EducationQuest Foundation has free tools and resources to help you follow the steps. Click on the links below to check them out!

8th, 9th and 10th Grade Section of the EducationQuest website has college planning information for you and your parents or mentor.

KnowHow2GOChecklist will keep you on track for college.

“College Doesn’t Just Happen” video features two young men who demonstrate why you should follow the four steps.

Activities Resume provides an easy way to track your extracurricular activities throughout high school.

By using these tools NOW, you’ll be ready for college when the time comes! If you need help, contact the EducationQuest office nearest you.

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It’s time to prepare for the FAFSA!

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the application for state, federal and college-specific financial aid. Even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for need-based financial aid, you should complete the FAFSA to qualify for low-interest student and parent loans.

Follow these steps to complete the FAFSA and the financial aid process:

Contact the college(s) you applied to and ask for their FAFSA priority filing date. Because some types of financial aid are awarded first-come, first-served, it’s important that you submit the FAFSA before that date.

Request a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for you and one for a parent at pin.ed.gov. The PIN is your signature for the online FAFSA.

Complete your 2011 taxes early as the FAFSA requires current tax information. Approximately two weeks after you and your parents electronically file your tax forms, your IRS data will be available to retrieve and transfer into your FAFSA. This new process will simplify the income tax portion of your FAFSA. Review this flyer or see the “Paying for College” section at EducationQuest.org for more details.

Gather these student and parent items:

• 2011 federal income tax forms and, if applicable, Schedule K-1 (Form 1065)
• 2011 W-2 forms
• Student’s driver’s license number
• Social Security numbers
• Birth dates
• Date parents were married, separated, divorced or widowed
• Current cash, savings and checking account balances
• Current investment values (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, etc.) excluding your home and retirement accounts
• Value of business (if more than 100 employees)
• Value of investment farm (Do not include the value of a family farm that you or your parents live on and operate.)
• 2011 child support (paid and/or received)
• 2011 Workers’ Compensation
• Other untaxed income in 2011 such as housing/food/living allowances for military and clergy
• Alien Registration Number for eligible non-citizens

Be prepared to answer the following FAFSA question:

Did you or anyone in your household receive any of the following federal benefits?

• Supplemental Security Income
• Food Stamps
• TANF
• Free or Reduced Price Lunch
• WIC

Complete and file the FAFSA electronically at fafsa.gov before your college’s priority date.

Expect a Student Aid Report acknowledging that your form was processed.

Expect Financial Aid Award Notifications in the spring from the colleges you listed on your FAFSA. The notifications will detail the financial aid assistance the colleges are offering (could be a combination of scholarships, grants, work-study and student loans).

Apply for student and parent loans (if necessary) in the summer through your college.

Check out these free FAFSA tools and resources

Visit the “FAFSA Tools” section at EducationQuest.org where you’ll find:

• College Funding Estimator – estimates your FAFSA results
• “FAFSA Made Easy” video – demonstrates that the FAFSA isn’t as difficult as it seems
• FAFSA podcasts – explain what the FAFSA is – and how to apply
• FAFSA Checklist – provides a complete list of items you need to gather before you complete the FAFSA
• FAFSA Tutorial – explains each FAFSA question

If you are filing a FAFSA for the first time and would like free personal help, call the EducationQuest location nearest you to make an appointment. Kearney: 308-234-6310 or 800-666-3721; Lincoln: 402-475-5222 or 800-303-3745; Omaha: 402-391-4033 or 888-357-6300; or Ogallala: 800-303-3745, ext. 6654.

January “To Do” List

Complete these tasks in January to stay on the right college planning track.

Seniors:

___ Ask the college(s) you applied to for their FAFSA priority date.

___ Attend the Financial Aid Program at your school or in your area.

___ Apply for FAFSA Personal Identification Numbers at pin.ed.gov.

___ Complete your taxes early as you’ll need that information for the FAFSA.

___ Continue to apply for scholarships; see ScholarshipQuest for Nebraska-based awards.

Juniors:

___ Attend the Financial Aid Program at your school or in your area.

___ Register by December 30 for the February 11 ACT.

___ Register by January 13 for the February 11 SAT.

___ Continue to research colleges.

___ Start setting up college visits.

It’s FAFSA Time!

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the application for state, federal and college-specific financial aid. College-bound students are encouraged to apply after January 1 but before their college’s FAFSA priority date. To learn your college’s priority date, check their website or contact the college financial aid office . 

Follow these steps to prepare for, and complete, the FAFSA: 

Request a Personal Identification Number (PIN) at pin.ed.gov. If you’re a dependent student, you should also request a PIN for a parent. The PIN is your signature for the electronic FAFSA and is used to track your financial aid application.  

Complete your 2011 taxes early as the FAFSA requires current tax information.  Approximately two weeks after you electronically file your tax forms, your IRS data will be available to retrieve and transfer into your FAFSA. This new process will simplify the income tax portion of your FAFSA.  Review this flyer for more details.                                                                       

Gather these items to complete the FAFSA. If you’re an independent student, disregard the “parent” items:

• 2011 federal income tax forms and, if applicable, Schedule K-1 (Form 1065)
• 2011 W-2 forms
• Student’s driver’s license number
• Social Security numbers
• Birth dates
• Date parents were married, separated, divorced or widowed
• Current cash, savings and checking account balances
• Current investment values (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, etc.) excluding your home and retirement accounts
• Value of business (if more than 100 employees)
• Value of investment farm (Do not include the value of a family farm that you or your parents live on and operate.)
• 2011 child support (paid and/or received)
• 2011 Workers’ Compensation
• Other untaxed income in 2011 such as housing/food/ living allowances for military and clergy
• Alien Registration Number for eligible non-citizens 

Be prepared to answer the following FAFSA question:

Did you or anyone in your household receive any of the following federal benefits?  

• Supplemental Security Income
• Food Stamps
• TANF
• Free or Reduced Price Lunch
• WIC 

Step 4: Complete and file the FAFSA

Complete the FAFSA at fafsa.gov and submit it before your college’s priority filing date.

If you need help completing the FAFSA, make an appointment with EducationQuest for free assistance. Call the Kearney office at 800-666-3721, Lincoln office at 800-303-3745 or Omaha office at 888-357-6300. Call now as appointments for January and February are quickly filling up.

EducationQuest Foundation has awarded over $51,000 in renewable Reaching Your Potential scholarships to 10 Nebraskans who have overcome obstacles to attend college.

The recipients, and the colleges they attend, are:

Bridget Homan from Lincoln, Southeast Community College
Loan Nguyen from Lincoln, Southeast Community College
Eduardo Vazquez from Omaha, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Rose Ogolla from Papillion, Metropolitan Community College
Christopher Madden from Omaha, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Elizabeth Proksel from Omaha, College of Saint Mary
Phuong (Angel) Le from Omaha, Creighton University
Stephen Waters from Omaha, Creighton University
Emina Becirovic from Omaha, Creighton University
Nidal Ali Mohamed from Lincoln, Bellevue University

EducationQuest awards Reaching Your Potential scholarships twice a year to Nebraska students through referrals from community agencies and colleges statewide. Since the program was developed in 2000, EducationQuest has disbursed over $2.9 million in scholarships to 283 Nebraskans.

Free FAFSA tools for your students

Counselors – as your seniors and their parents prepare to complete their first FAFSA, encourage them to visit the “FAFSA Tools” section where they’ll find: