FAQs

The 2024-2025 FAFSA form expands eligibility for federal student aid, including Pell Grants, and provides a streamlined user experience. 610,000 new students from low-income backgrounds will be eligible to receive Federal Pell Grants due to updates to student aid calculations. Plus, applicants will be able to skip as many as 26 questions, depending on their individual circumstances. Some applicants could answer as few as 18 questions, which could take less than 10 minutes.

As a result of the FAFSA Simplification Act, there are new updates and terms used for the FAFSA process to expand access to federal student aid and provide an easier, streamlined FAFSA experience. Please see some of the new terms below:

Student Aid Index (SAI) – Calculated by FAFSA data and will determine student aid eligibility. This replaces the EFC that was used in previous years.

Cost of Attendance (COA) – Includes tuition and fees, food and housing, books and supplies (including equipment for classes, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses).

Contributor – A parent, stepparent, student, or spouse of the student who is providing information to the FAFSA Form.

Consent – Required from all contributors in order for the IRS to share tax data directly to the FAFSA. If any contributor does not provide consent (permission), the student will automatically be ineligible for aid.

Direct Data Exchange (DDX) – Previously known as the IRS Data Retrieval; this tool imports tax data directly from the IRS to your FAFSA.

FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) – A summary completed with the FAFSA information. This replaces the Student Aid Report (SAR).

1. The questions are more streamlined and user friendly.

2. The Student Aid Index (SAI) will replace the Expected Family contribution (EFC).

3. Federal Aid Eligibility will be extended to more students.

4. Family members in college are no longer a factor for the FAFSA eligibility calculations.

5. Itemizations of untaxed items will no longer be required.

6. IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) will be required.

7. Everyone contributing to FAFSA Form online must have their own account.

8.Parent assets will now include net worth of all business or a family farm – if applicable.

9. Divorced or separated parents who provide the most financial support to the student will need to provide their information instead of just the parent the student lives with.

Below is a list of public educational institutions in Michigan. Additionally, Michigan Training Connect (MiTC) can assist you in making knowledgeable decisions concerning training options.

Post-Secondary Education Opportunities

All is not lost if you can’t visit in person. You can still:

  • Check the admissions website to see if they have virtual campus tours or events.
  • Talk to students who currently attend the college.

Campus visits can range from a quick hour to an overnight stay and from a casual guided tour to a formal presentation. Be sure to ask how long the whole visit will take so that you can be prepared. Most campus visits will include the following:

  • An information session: An admissions representative will talk to you or your group about the college before the campus tour.
  • A campus tour: These are usually led by college students. You’ll see the main parts of the campus and have a chance to ask questions.

All colleges have admissions offices that can help you plan your visit. Your high school may organize group tours of nearby colleges, or you can plan your own informal visit to a college campus. Take these important steps first:

  • Visit the college’s admissions website to get details about arranging for an in-person visit.
  • Check with your school counselor to see if any campus tours are scheduled.
  • Set aside time to be on your own. Walk around the public area.

Schooling beyond 12th grade.

The 2024-2025 FAFSA form expands eligibility for federal student aid, including Pell Grants, and provides a streamlined user experience. 610,000 new students from low-income backgrounds will be eligible to receive Federal Pell Grants due to updates to student aid calculations. Plus, applicants will be able to skip as many as 26 questions, depending on their individual circumstances. Some applicants could answer as few as 18 questions, which could take less than 10 minutes.

As a result of the FAFSA Simplification Act, there are new updates and terms used for the FAFSA process to expand access to federal student aid and provide an easier, streamlined FAFSA experience. Please see some of the new terms below:

Student Aid Index (SAI) – Calculated by FAFSA data and will determine student aid eligibility. This replaces the EFC that was used in previous years.

Cost of Attendance (COA) – Includes tuition and fees, food and housing, books and supplies (including equipment for classes, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses).

Contributor – A parent, stepparent, student, or spouse of the student who is providing information to the FAFSA Form.

Consent – Required from all contributors in order for the IRS to share tax data directly to the FAFSA. If any contributor does not provide consent (permission), the student will automatically be ineligible for aid.

Direct Data Exchange (DDX) – Previously known as the IRS Data Retrieval; this tool imports tax data directly from the IRS to your FAFSA.

FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) – A summary completed with the FAFSA information. This replaces the Student Aid Report (SAR).

1. The questions are more streamlined and user friendly.

2. The Student Aid Index (SAI) will replace the Expected Family contribution (EFC).

3. Federal Aid Eligibility will be extended to more students.

4. Family members in college are no longer a factor for the FAFSA eligibility calculations.

5. Itemizations of untaxed items will no longer be required.

6. IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) will be required.

7. Everyone contributing to FAFSA Form online must have their own account.

8.Parent assets will now include net worth of all business or a family farm – if applicable.

9. Divorced or separated parents who provide the most financial support to the student will need to provide their information instead of just the parent the student lives with.

You can learn about scholarships in several ways, including contacting the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend and checking information in a public library or online. But be careful. Make sure scholarship information and offers you receive are legitimate; and remember that you don’t have to pay to find scholarships or other financial aid. Check out our information on how to avoid scams.

Try these free sources of information about scholarships:

  • The financial aid office at a college or career school
  • A high school counselor
  • The U.S. Department of Labor’s FREE scholarship search tool
  • Federal agencies
  • Your state grant agency
  • Your library’s reference section
  • Foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, or civic groups
  • Organizations (including professional associations) related to your field of interest
  • Ethnicity-based organizations
  • Your employer or your parents’ employers
  • Our article on scholarship tips
  • Our article on what to do if you need additional financial aid

The SAI is calculated by FAFSA data and will determine student aid eligibility. This replaces the EFC that was used in previous years. The SAI is calculated by need-based analysis conducted by the information provided to FAFSA from the contributors. The analysis takes into account the income and assets of the student and their parents or spouse, if applicable.

Once you choose a college to attend and receive an aid offer, you must indicate what aid you want to use for the upcoming school year. Accept aid in this order: grant and scholarship money, work-study, subsidized federal student loans and then unsubsidized federal student loans.

If you have payment gaps you can’t fill with savings or income, consider a private student loan. Private loans are not available through the FAFSA process. You’ll need to research the possibility of getting private loans from banks, credit unions or online lenders. Compare interest rates, repayment options and protections, such as forbearance, before choosing a private loan.

Yes. Sign in to fafsa.ed.gov to update information if you find any errors, if your family’s financial situation changes or if you want to send your Student Aid Report to more schools. On the “My FAFSA” page, click on “Make FAFSA Corrections,” enter your FSA ID, change the information and resubmit your application. Making changes can impact your aid.

You can make changes up until the FAFSA deadline – June 30 after the school year you need aid. For the 2023-24 award year the deadline is June 30, 2024.

Your results, known as your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS), will arrive by email or mail between three days and three weeks after you submit the form, depending on your application method.

The report provides basic information about financial aid eligibility, including your answers to questions on the FAFSA. It also specifies your expected family contribution, which is the amount your family must pay toward your education. Colleges use your Student Aid Index (SAI) to determine your financial aid package.

Once you get your FSS, make sure all the information is accurate. If you find inaccuracies, update your FAFSA.

Uncertainty about where you plan to apply shouldn’t stop you from submitting the FAFSA. If you submit the form online, you can include FAFSA codes for up to 10 schools where you plan to apply. If you file a paper form, you can include up to four schools. If you need to add more schools, you can always update your FAFSA at fafsa.gov.

Search for school codes on your online application. Paper filers can look up the codes on the Federal Student Aid website.

Don’t wait for them to file taxes before you submit the FAFSA. Filers must report prior- prior-year taxes. For example, on the 2024-25 FAFSA form, you need to report 2022 tax information.

FAFSA is now requiring the IRS Data Exchange (DDX) for all applicants. If you or your parents do not have to file, the FAFSA Form will prompt you on your next steps.

The Common App Fee Waiver waives the application fee of any college you apply to through Common App. You can find the Common App Fee Waiver in the Profile section of the Common App tab. To apply for this fee waiver:

  1. Answer “Yes” to the fee waiver statement.
  2. Select all indicators in the list that apply to you.
  3. Enter your signature to certify your request.

Note: Your counselor will also be asked to confirm that you are eligible for this waiver. You will still be able to submit your application without a fee while your counselor confirms.

The platform itself is free to use, but every college charges their own application processing fee (usually $30 to $75 for U.S. applicants and more for international applicants). You can apply for a fee waiver if you need one.

The Common Application is a single online college application form used by over 900 colleges and universities. Instead of filling out the same general information—like your address, GPA, and extracurriculars— a dozen times, you only have to do it once.

https://www.commonapp.org/apply

Give yourself plenty of time to write and think about what you want to say. This essay requires significant thought on what to include, how to structure the essay and what tone or style to use.

  • What is the tone of an essay? The tone used in writing refers to the feeling the words invoke in the reader. A written piece might have a positive or uplifting tone, or the tone might feel sad or tense. When you write, your mood at that time might have an impact on the overall tone of your piece.
  • What does style mean in writing? The word choice, sentence structure, and sentence arrangement all work together to establish mood, images, and meaning in the text.

Five steps on how to write a great Common App/Personal Essay:

1. Choose a writing prompt. The prompt helps provide a guide for what you’re writing about and how to structure your essay. There are usually writing prompts on several topics, including:

  • Backgrounds, identities or talents: In your essay, you can write about a significant part of your identity, your cultural background or any interesting talents you have. Sharing your unique qualities can differentiate you from other applicants and help admissions officers learn about your character and personality.
  • Challenges or obstacles: For this type of essay prompt, you can write about a significant challenge you’ve encountered in your life, work or education and explain how you overcame that challenge. You can also write about a current obstacle and how you plan to confront this obstacle.
  • Personal or professional growth: You may decide to write about a time when you experienced significant personal or professional growth. In your essay, include details about the situation, how it affected you and what you learned from the event.
  • Questions about beliefs: If applicable, you can write about a time in your life when you challenged a belief system. Describe what the belief system was, how you questioned it, what the outcome was and what you learned from the experience.

2. Outline your essay. Once you choose a writing prompt, you can begin outlining your essay to decide what components to include. You might use bullet points or headers to identify where and how you want to organize specific ideas. When outlining, plan the following components of your essay:

  • Introduction: Introduce the topics you’re discussing and try to address the writing prompt you’ve chosen. For example, you might start by sharing an anecdote or providing context for a story or event.
  • Body paragraphs: In three to four paragraphs, expand on the main ideas from your introduction to further address the prompt. Use interesting adjectives and verbs to discuss things like growth and skills.
  • Closing: Depending on the prompt, you might explain the outcome of an experience or a lesson you learned. You might also explain your goals or accomplishments and how they relate to your education.
  • Many times, a Common Application/Personal Essay has word limits, such as anywhere between 250 – 3000 words. It is important to be to the point while also including a strong story with details.

3. You are ready to write your essay! Writing an essay can take anywhere from hours to days, depending on how quickly you write and how often you take breaks. Focus on telling a complete story and include personal details that relate to the essay topic and use language that creates emotions depending on your purpose. Your essay should highlight your educational or career goals and share your personality.

4. Proofread your essay. Proofreading or editing your Common App/Personal Essay is one of the most important steps in the writing process because it allows you to find errors, adjust your tone or word choice and ensure your essay addresses the essay question. Start by checking for spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors by rereading your essay and using a word processor or website with a spelling and grammar check program. Then, review your style and tone to make sure your essay is professional, tells a compelling story and answers the prompt. You may also want to have a teacher, counselor, parent, champion or trusted friend review your essay to help you identify strong and weak points in your writing.

5. Submit your essay. After you write and edit your Common App/Personal Essay, you can submit it through the Common Application, which usually costs a fee. Ensure you’ve completed or added your essay to the correct part of the application before submitting it.

The Common App essay is important because it can help you gain admission to the college of your choice. Admissions professionals use these statements to gain insight into the students’ traits and goals so they can determine whether the individual is a good fit for the school. For example, they use these essays to assess your writing skills and to learn about your skills, perspective, accomplishments, and career goals. It also provides a lot of information about a person’s personality, outlook and motivations and how specific circumstances formed them.

A common application/ personal essay consists of three main parts: introduction, body and conclusion, and it differs from formal essays in their length, tone and purpose. If your values, objectives, and skills align with the mission of the institution, it may indicate that you’re a good fit for the school.

College Board Scholarship Search (formerly ScholarSnapp) is a free tool that helps you apply to scholarships by connecting to your Common App account. Through a special integration with Common App, the College Board Scholarship Search allows students to apply to several scholarships by reusing application information.

The 2024-2025 FAFSA form expands eligibility for federal student aid, including Pell Grants, and provides a streamlined user experience. 610,000 new students from low-income backgrounds will be eligible to receive Federal Pell Grants due to updates to student aid calculations. Plus, applicants will be able to skip as many as 26 questions, depending on their individual circumstances. Some applicants could answer as few as 18 questions, which could take less than 10 minutes.

1. The questions are more streamlined and user friendly.

2. The Student Aid Index (SAI) will replace the Expected Family contribution (EFC).

3. Federal Aid Eligibility will be extended to more students.

4. Family members in college are no longer a factor for the FAFSA eligibility calculations.

5. Itemizations of untaxed items will no longer be required.

6. IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) will be required.

7. Everyone contributing to FAFSA Form online must have their own account.

8.Parent assets will now include net worth of all business or a family farm – if applicable.

9. Divorced or separated parents who provide the most financial support to the student will need to provide their information instead of just the parent the student lives with.

Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity projects more than 530,000 jobs in the professional trades by 2028, plus nearly 50,000 annual job openings. The most in-demand trade fields include construction, healthcare, information technology, energy, and manufacturing.

In response to the growing demand, many trade schools in Michigan offer targeted programs for these fields. For example, prospective students can find programs in construction, medical assisting, robotics, and energy technician.

The cost of training in Michigan trade schools can vary considerably by institution and program. According to NCES, 53 of 63 trade schools in the state have tuition below $20,000. Eight of the schools have tuition that falls below $10,000. https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?s=MI&ic=3

Trade school students can justify the training costs with the combination of short training and near-instant workforce access. They can also access several financial aid options to help pay for their studies.

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