Financial aid parties hoped to get students their aid on time

Financial aid will be offering open labs beginning Jan. 27 to help students access the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2012-2013 award year.

The labs, or parties as they have affectionately been named by the staff, will be offered a total of 23 times between Jan. 27 and June.
The first event will be held from 1–2 p.m. on the 27th in the computer lab located at AC2554.

Families as well as current, continuing and prospective students are encouraged to attend an open lab. Advisers will be in the classroom to help guide students and family members through the application step by step.

“This will make the entire process less stressful,” says financial aid office manager Luis Juarez, referring to what can be an overwhelming amount of information required by the FAFSA.

Juarez advises students not to wait until the last minute, warning that it can take up to 12 weeks for a student to receive financial aid.

“Apply now. Don’t wait till the last minute,” said Juarez, holding up one of many posters that will soon be hanging around campus. He has also posted information about the open labs in the back of most classrooms on campus. The heading on the posters reads: “APPLY EARLY—get money on time,” which hopefully will serve as a reminder to students that there is help with the FAFSA if they should need it, said Juarez.

Information on financial aid can also be found on MHCC’s website. To see this information from the home page, click quick links drop, then click financial aid, from there click the blue link that reads: 2012-2013 FAFSA Application Party. Dates are then listed on the poster.

The financial aid link provides information on the application parties including dates, the kind of help to be expected times and location.