Advisers: Apply for college aid early, today
McALLEN – Rose Diaz hadn’t stepped onto a school campus since she graduated in San Antonio more than 10 years ago.
But the 28-year-old Pharr resident slowly walked around South Texas College’s Pecan campus on Tuesday, looking for the financial aid office.
“I heard on the radio that they can give me help with my finances,” Diaz, a bank teller, said. “I don’t want to worry about paying car insurance or for books.
“I’ve never done this before, so I don’t know anything about how much it may cost or what help I can get,” she said.
After gathering some information, Diaz arranged to return to one of STC’s campuses today, when the college participates in a nationwide College Goal Sunday.
Financial experts will make themselves available at both STC and the University of Texas-Pan American, waiting to help any current or hopeful students with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. That critical questionnaire helps distribute billions of dollars in scholarships, grants and loans for students who may not otherwise reach college.
“The financial aid pool narrows as the year goes on, and this year, it’s more important than ever to get in the consideration pool early,” said Mike Carranza, associate dean of student financial services at STC. “We hope to see lots of current and prospective students come out and take advantage of the opportunity to get their financial aid paperwork done early.”
He encouraged anyone looking for help to bring Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, W-2 forms, prior tax returns, bank statements and all current tax information to College Goal Sunday.
Students looking for monetary assistance have until April 1 to complete the FAFSA paperwork. But priority consideration is given to those who apply earlier.
That’s why, like STC and UTPA, public school districts in town have mounted aggressive financial aid efforts in the past couple weeks.
“We are trying to promote that college-going culture and changing the concept that, ‘College is not for me, out of my financial reach,’” said Sharon Roberts, coordinator of advanced academic services with the Mission school district.
“But no, it’s right on your doorstep,” she said. “Grab these financial tools now, because it’s more critical than ever. During these economic times, students need as much assistance as possible.”
Her office recently lassoed about 900 high school seniors in the district’s two high school gyms and made them fill out their FAFSAs and attend breakout sessions on transitioning to college and avoiding bad credit decisions.
Roberts said the event seemed like a success.
“Overall there was this giddy feeling for college and knowing they’re taking one step closer to what’s ahead of them in life,” she said. “We are just here to help the kids and parents, whenever we can.
“We have a big group of students who may not know about these opportunities unless we open the door for them,” Roberts added. “Now they can step out and decide what’s next.”
