One of the most prominent paths after secondary education is to continue onward to higher education at a university. But where does a student start if their economic situation is less than optimal? How does a single or divorced parent help their child while also still dealing with their finances? For the parents and guardians at Salisbury High School, Michael F. Burke has all the answers.

It was a rainy Monday night Oct. 3 when parents and students gathered in the Salisbury High School library for financial aid night. Burke of the PA Higher Education Assistance Agency presented to his audience how a collegiate education is possible for anyone with the many possibilities offered. “With FAFSA, scholarships and merit money, college can in fact be for everyone,” Burke said.

The first part of the presentation focused on the FAFSA application. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is an online tool to help support prospective students in their higher education. Applying for the FAFSA is free and the first day to use it for the 2023-2024 school year was Oct. 1.

But many questions still perplex both parents and students. Just how much federal aid will be provided? Can a student still apply if their parent or guardian’s financial situation is complicated due to death or divorce?

Neither student nor parent or guardian needs to worry as the FAFSA can be used by any student who depends on their parent or guardian for food and housing. For dependent students, they have to be living under a legal guardian described as their biological, adoptive or stepparent so long as they rely on them for living accommodations.

To determine how much federal aid can be given, FAFSA looks at many different factors. The applicant will have to provide their social security number, a copy of their driver’s license, their most recent federal income tax document, copies of current or previous W-2 forms and lastly any bank records or other financial documents detailing any remaining assets.

At this point in the evening, there were many concerned faces as this was a lot of information to absorb in such a small window of time. But with an easygoing smile, Burke put them at ease. “I know that this is a lot to take in, but the best thing about FAFSA is that you can pause the application at any time. If you would need more time to gather any documents you need, the website automatically saves the application for up to 45 days.” In addition to the extended timeline, the application program also institutes a two-step verification so data cannot be lost or falsified.

However, Burke did stress there would be changes to the following year’s FAFSA as opposed to this year’s FAFSA. In the coming years, FAFSA will change how certain data is gathered as the Internal Revenue Service will change certain methods to their data gathering. In future applications, there will be questions regarding race, ethnicity and gender identity. These questions will not impact the amount of financial aid given. Instead, it will help broaden financial situations and create more opportunities for students.

After the FAFSA presentation, Burke stressed the importance of both work-study and scholarships. He advised that when a university offers a student work-study, students should always say yes as these jobs can provide work experience and a steady cash flow they can use for their wants and needs.

As for scholarships, Burke gave a soft chuckle. “I could throw $5,000 in a room full of students for a chance at a scholarship and only half of them would apply. Filling the application out is half the battle and a chance at earning some help is better than not taking it at all.” He would go on to say scholarships do not have to be inherently from higher education and they are given out all the time when you reach out to the right websites.

The presentation ended with the assurance that while college might not be for everyone, a person’s finances are never the reason they cannot go to college.

“We never want a student to feel that college is out of their reach,” Burke concluded. “Students should always know that there are many opportunities for aid and working hard toward it can help create a better outcome.”

To learn more about FAFSA and financial aid for higher education, contact Burke at 215-205-5451 at the PA Higher Education Assistance Agency.