With half of the current school year in the rearview mirror, high school seniors in Aurora Public Schools are already planning for what comes next. For those with goals of going to college, securing financial aid is an important next step.
“Not all of us have access to fully pay off such big tuition because college is very expensive,” said Dariana Galarza, a senior at Aurora Central High School. She and many of her classmates have been working closely with their school’s College and Career Center Advisor, Julia Montijo, to learn about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The FAFSA is an online application U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens use to apply for federal student aid, including grants, loans and work-study funds. Many colleges and universities also use FAFSA information to award financial aid and scholarships. The application is available at www.studentaid.gov for current high school seniors to fill out.
For students who are not eligible for federal student aid, but meet the requirements for Colorado residency, they can fill out the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA). Montijo has hosted multiple workshops this year to proactively educate students and their families about the forms. With 80% of the students at her school never having a parent who has attended college, there are a lot of questions. “That’s the reason that I’m here is to guide them through the form, to explain it to them and help them,” she said.
For the students who have taken advantage of Montijo’s expertise, they encourage others to do the same. “It’s so important to ask for help, to ask for support here at school,” said Aurora Central senior Scarleth Martinez. Fellow senior Jayden Hayes said, “Reaching out for help is going to be the best thing that we can do as seniors - especially getting started as early as possible with scholarships and with the FAFSA.”
Montijo encourages students to make frequent visits to her center way before their senior year. Aurora Central junior Jose Quimbayo is a regular at the center and said he’s grateful to have Montijo as a resource right inside his school. “I talk a lot with Ms. Julia about my future and my plans. She showed me a lot of scholarships and my options. So I think she is a big support for me,” he said.
Students at all seven APS high schools have access to a College and Career Center. If you have questions about financial aid, make sure to talk with your school’s advisor!