The FAFSA: The Key To Higher Success
3 MINUTE READ • COLLEGE READINESS
For some high school students, even the thought of college can feel intimidating and discouraging because college or other higher education seems out of reach. As counselors, we work hard to help students believe in themselves and understand that they can achieve higher education and train to land a successful career!
Students don’t always realize or understand that there are endless possibilities and tons of available support to help young people succeed. We want them to know they can have bigger dreams about their future, but they also need to know what kind of help is out there for them. Getting the word out about important resources and helping students believe in themselves are my main goals.
How can students afford higher education?
In December, the FAFSA —Free Application for Federal Student Aid —will open for students attending trade schools or college, or a university in the 2025-26 school year. If you’re a high school student who will graduate between now and next summer - the FAFSA is something you need to know about!
If you’re not graduating this year, take a minute to learn about funding opportunities through the FAFSA is and how it can be key to bringing higher education entirely within your reach!
Did you know that students and families who genuinely don’t have enough money to pay to go to college or trade school are the same ones who qualify for the most federal money through grants and scholarships? Sometimes financial awards can even come close to a ‘full ride’ for many schools across the country! The process of submitting this student aid application will also determine your qualification for additional school scholarships, work-study, and student loans.
Taking the time to complete and submit the FAFSA could be your key to unlocking your future! Some money is limited and will run out - get your account set up today and plan to complete your FAFSA as soon as possible for your best access to financial aid!
FAFSA Links & Resources
Do you need one-on-one assistance with FAFSA? Make an appointment
Arizona FAFSA Hotline 1-833-AZFAFSA (English) or 1-833-MiFAFSA (Spanish)
*Remember, you should never have to
pay for help with the FAFSA!
Completing the FAFSA
FAFSA Step 1 - Log onto: Fafsa.gov to complete your FAFSA.
Free help is available at any time during the application process. Online help from Aiden the FAFSA virtual assistant is available while you complete your application at fafsa.gov.
You can also get free information and help from the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend, or the U.S. Department of Education at StudentAid.gov or 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
If you need additional assistance, there are many resources to help you complete the form. Next Steps, the college and career counseling department exists to help you with things just like this! Reach out to us here if you’ve got questions or need help.
Angela Chicci
Angela has been a Certified Professional School Counselor for 15 years. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Arizona State University. After graduation, Angela became a member of ASU’s faculty conducting research on juvenile crime recovery. That experience working with at-risk adolescents led her to pursue her Master’s of Education: School Counseling from Ottawa University. Angela worked as a high school counselor in a local public high school for 14 years and then at a local charter school for a year before joining Graduation Solutions.
