Let’s face it, whether we like it or not, receiving a higher education is not cheap and each semester we frantically make a game plan as to how we are going to pay for it. At Henry Ford alone, a large majority of the student body relies on government financial aid given through FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and without the grants and loans they receive from FAFSA it would not be financially possible for them to attend classes. Filing and submitting a FAFSA application is an easy process, although it does take a little time and can be confusing and frustrating, especially the first time around.

The FAFSA application is free to file and can found online at fafsa.ed.gov. The website provides answers to any questions that you may have about FAFSA and the filing process. The key thing to keep in mind is the deadlines for FAFSA submissions. To receive aid from the State of Michigan, the submission deadline for the 2014-2015 academic year is March 1, 2014 by midnight. To receive federal aid, the submission deadline is June 30, 2015 by midnight.

After filing a FAFSA application, keep checking on WebAdvisor to make sure that the submission went through properly and the college received it, along with any other documents that may be required in order to receive the full qualified amount of aid.

Once all required documents have been received, a Financial Aid Award Letter will be posted on WebAdvisor to be viewed. The letter will contain the total amount of Pell Grants and federal loans qualified for. Next, in order to receive those funds, you must accept your awards. The option of declining an award is given as well for when not all of the funds offered are needed.

Both the FAFSA website and WebAdvisor try to make it easy as possible for students to receive the aid that they qualify for, but in case extra assistance is still needed, there are members of the HFCC staff available daily in the Welcome Center that are there to help/ Welcome Center hours for the winter semester are Monday – Thursday 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Never hesitate to stop in to receive any assistance that may be needed!