Admissions and Financial Aid officers at the University of Wyoming and the state's community colleges are encouraging prospective college students and their families to apply for financial aid now.
Students interested in receiving federal grants, loans or work-study awards for college financial assistance are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). UW and the community colleges are offering free information sessions around the state to assist individuals with the application process. These sessions are designed to help individuals complete the FAFSA while at the session, so bring your most recent W-2s, tax returns (this year or last), asset information and student's social security card.
Many people don't complete the FAFSA form because they don't think they will get aid, think they will only get loans or find it too cumbersome.
"These workshops are designed to eliminate the challenge of completing a FAFSA," says Becky Vinzant, assistant to the UW vice president for student affairs. "Experts are on hand to walk you through the FAFSA and help you submit it that day."
Vinzant says students and their families are often unaware that financial aid could help them successfully complete their college education and reduce future financial burden. A recent study shows many students who would have qualified for financial aid did not complete the FAFSA. About a third of these students, for example, would have qualified for a partial Pell Grant and about a sixth for a full Pell Grant.
"Submit the FAFSA whether or not you think you will qualify for aid," says Vinzant. "You're sure to get nothing if you don't apply. Each program has its own rules and you may meet the qualifications. It's important to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible to meet the priority deadlines at most Wyoming schools."
Application forms for FAFSA are available at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For more information about college financial aid and FAFSA assistance, call your local community college or the University of Wyoming:
Casper College, serving Natrona county, (307) 268-2354;
Central Wyoming College, serving Fremont, Hot Springs and Teton counties, (307) 855-2274;
Eastern Wyoming College, serving Converse, Crook, Goshen, Niobrara, Platte and Weston counties, (307) 532-8224;
Gillette College, 1-800-913-9139, ext. 142;
Laramie County Community College, serving Albany and Laramie counties, (307) 778-1215;
Northwest College, serving Big Horn, Park and Washakie counties, (307) 754-6158;
Sheridan College, serving Campbell, Johnson and Sheridan counties, 1-800-913-9139, ext. 2100;
University of Wyoming, (307) 766-2116;
Western Wyoming Community College, serving Carbon, Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater and Uinta counties, (307) 382-1643.
The schedule for the FAFSA information sessions:
Arapahoe - Thursday, Feb. 24, TBA, Arapahoe Charter High School;
Big Horn - Tuesday, Feb. 8, 6 p.m., Big Horn High School;
Burlington - Tuesdays, Feb. 8 and 15, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Burlington High School;
Casper - Tuesday, Feb. 8, and Wednesday, Feb. 9, 5-6:30 p.m., Casper College, Admin. Bldg;
Cheyenne - Thursday, Feb. 10, 4-8 p.m., and Tuesday, Feb. 15, 5-8 p.m., Laramie County Library Computer Center; Sunday, Feb. 13, 1-4 p.m., Laramie County Community College, Fine Arts Bldg. Rooms 204 and 205;
Cowley - Tuesday, Feb. 8, 6-8 p.m., Rocky Mtn. High School;
Dubois - Wednesday, Feb. 23, 6-8 p.m., TBA
Ethete - Fridays, Feb. 11 and 18 and March 11 and 25, 9 a.m.-noon, Wyoming Indian High School Library;
Fort Washakie - Wednesday, Feb. 16, 10 a.m., Fort Washakie Learning Center; 4 p.m., Fort Washakie High School;
Greybull - Monday, Feb. 28, 7-9 p.m., TBA;
Jackson - Sunday, Feb. 13, 1-3 p.m., Center for the Arts, 240 S. Glenwood Street 123;
Lander - Tuesday, Feb. 8, 4-7 p.m., and Tuesday, Feb. 22, Lander Valley High School Library;
Lovell - Monday, Feb. 21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Lovell High School;
Moorcroft - Thursday, Feb. 3, 6 p.m., Moorcroft High School;
Mountain View - Wednesday, Feb. 16, 6-8 p.m., Mountain View High School;
Powell - Thursday, Feb. 10, 3-7 p.m., Northwest College, Fagenberg Bldg. Rooms 26 & 28; and Thursday, Feb. 17, 4-7 p.m., Powell High School;
Rawlins - Sunday, Feb. 13, 1-4 p.m., 705 Rodeo Street;
Riverside High School - Wednesday, Feb. 9, 6 p.m., high school.
Riverton - Sunday, Feb. 13, 2-4 p.m., Central Wyoming College, Main Hall Bldg. Room MH 123;
Rock Springs - Sunday, Feb. 13, 1-4 p.m. Western Wyoming Community College, room will be posted at entrance;
Sheridan - Thursday, Feb. 3, 6-8 p.m., Fort Mackenzie High School; Wednesday, Feb 9, 6 p.m., Sheridan High School Library; Thursday, Feb. 10, 7 p.m., Sheridan College, Whitney Bldg. 139 A;
Thermopolis - Thursday, Feb. 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Thermopolis High School;
Torrington - Thursday, Feb. 15, 6:30 p.m., Torrington High School;
Wheatland - Wednesday, Feb. 9, 6 p.m., Wheatland High School;
Wind River - Tuesday, Feb. 8, 6-8 p.m., Wind River High School.
