News

FAFSA Mobile App Discontinued

The U.S. Department of Education recently announced they would be retiring the myStudentAid mobile app on June 30, 2022. This app allowed users to complete and submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, from their cellphone or tablet. Students will continue to be able to submit the FAFSA online at StudentAid.gov.

FAFSA Update

If you're completing the 2022-23 FAFSA, you’ll want to note some potential adjustments that may be required due to the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. Tax filers who received unemployment benefits in 2020 and filed taxes prior to March 11, 2021, will have a higher Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on their original tax record compared to those who filed (or amended) a 2020 tax return after the enaction of the ARP. This can have a significant effect on your financial aid eligibility. Read more here to determine if you’ll be required to adjust your AGI on the FAFSA.

COVID-19: Financial Aid and Student Loan Updates

If you’re looking for free up-to-the-minute guidance on federal student loans and financial aid during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, visit StudentAidPandemic.org and https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/coronavirus.

The 2022-23 FAFSA

Students can access the FAFSA by visiting StudentAid.gov. The FAFSA should always be completed as soon as possible after Oct. 1, but it's not too late to apply. It’s best to gather all necessary materials before starting the FAFSA. Since the 2022-23 FAFSA allows applicants to use 2020 tax information, families can use their 2020 return to complete the application.

To complete and submit the FAFSA online, students and one of their parents/guardians will each need to create an FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID) at StudentAid.gov . This username/password serves as an electronic signature on the FAFSA and certain student loan applications, and allows them to access other federal student aid websites. It’s beneficial for families to create their FSA IDs before starting the FAFSA to speed up the application process. Visit UCanGo2.org to download an FSA ID Worksheet (in English and Spanish) to keep track of your information.

For more information and FAFSA resources, including educational tools and tutorial videos in English and Spanish, visit StartWithFAFSA.org.

College App Week 2022: What You Need to Know

Objective

CAW 2022 is a nationwide effort to encourage and assist students as they navigate the college application process, thereby increasing college enrollments and bolstering success for all who dream of pursuing higher education.

Dates

Oklahoma’s CAW will be held September 26-30, 2022.

Can’t do it then? Just schedule your CAW for any week this fall through the month of November. You can tell us the week you’ve chosen when you register your school, and we’ll send you posters and an "I Applied" sticker for every participating senior.

Resources

Visit OKCollegeAppWeek.org to find all of the great resources you need to help you get started.

Event Coordinator Packet

• Planning Materials
• Site Coordinator Checklists
• Suggested Events
• Promotional Materials

Student Packet

• Answers to Know for College Applications
• Admission Tips
• Sample Essay Questions
• Comparing Colleges
• What’s Next?

Volunteer Packet

• Task List
• Sign-in Sheet
• Links to Oklahoma’s Higher Ed Institutions

Free College Planning Resources

As spring draws near, why not use UCanGo2's free college planning resources to educate your students about finding scholarships, completing the FAFSA, visiting a college campus or doing some career exploration before the end of the school year?

We have numerous publications to assist your students with every aspect of the transition from high school to college. Check out these materials:

• Are You Looking for Money?
• FAFSA Facts
• College Planning Checklists for grades 9-12
• Your Transition to College
• UCanGo2 High School Student Workbook

Thank you for another great College App Week!

College Application Week (CAW) is an annual, nationwide event that provides an opportunity for high school seniors, especially those who have never considered college or will be the first in their families to attend college, to receive hands-on assistance from knowledgeable volunteers while completing their college applications.

CAW 2021 was a great success! More than 110 high schools and colleges registered, over 3,000 students participated and over 3,600 college applications were completed. Those applications went to 144 colleges in 32 states and five different countries! We're making our way back from two extremely challenging years, and the prospects are favorable for a record-breaking CAW in 2022. We applaud our high school educators, staff and students for an amazing effort last year!

Start Planning Now for CAW 2022

This year, Oklahoma’s CAW is scheduled for September 26-30. If those dates don’t fit into your busy fall schedule, no problem! Feel free to schedule your event for any week from September through November.

Are you concerned about having the time or resources to plan an entire week of college access activities? Once again, no problem! As long as you have at least one day during your CAW to give every high school senior a chance to submit one or more online college applications, you’ll be an active participant in this exciting statewide effort. Whether you’re planning a grand, five-day College App Week or one College App Day, we have all the free resources you need to plan and host your event.

Perhaps you’ve held regular activities in the past that meet the objective of College App Week. If you promote any college application activities this fall, we’d love for you to register your event with us so we can combine your efforts with others in our great state to let Oklahoma shine! Even if you've hosted a CAW in previous years, it's still very important that you register with us. Visit OKCollegeAppWeek.org to register your school or organization for CAW 2022 and to see the resources that are available to help you plan a successful CAW. Simply click the Register Now button on the CAW home page to enroll. Your registration will ensure that you receive your free supplies, including promotional posters and an “I APPLIED” sticker for each participating senior. It will also mean your school or organization will be considered for Oklahoma's School of Excellence Award, awarded by the American College Application Campaign (ACAC).

Start planning now for CAW 2022. We’re looking forward to another great campaign!

For more information, contact Letha Huddleston at lhuddleston@ocap.org or 405.234.4345.