FAFSA Resources
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an integral part of applying for college, scholarships, work-study, grants, and more. Reach Higher Montana gives you the tools and resources to support your student’s FAFSA needs. Use our information to help your students reach higher!
FAFSA Resources We Love
These resources will help you and your students through the FAFSA process.
- FSA ID - Start with the FSA ID. Before you can file the FAFSA, you need to have an FSA ID. Both the student and one parent (if student is dependent) need to have their own FSA ID.
- Federal Student Aid - FAFSA filing starts here. Using your FSA ID, login to FAFSA and start finding money for school! The FAFSA opens October 1, and Montana’s priority filing deadline is December 1. To complete the FAFSA, students and parents will need their tax information from two-years prior to the anticipated start of college.
- IRS Data Retrieval Tool - You will have the option to import tax information directly from the IRS into the appropriate fields on the FAFSA using this tool. This could also prevent your FAFSA being selected for verification, which may slow down processing time.
- FAFSA Mobile App - You can now file your FAFSA from anywhere; even from your phone. There are a lot of great perks to filing from your phone, as of now the IRS data retrieval tool is not available via the mobile app.
- Completing the FAFSA Form - This is a comprehensive guide produced by studentaid.gov that outlines every detail of the FAFSA. Use the table of contents to locate answers for specific topics.
- Form Your Future Social Media Tools - The National College Access Network (NCAN) has developed social media posts as a fun way to inspire students to get their FAFSAs filed!
Educators: You got this. Follow our guide to help parents and students file the FAFSA quickly and efficiently!
Use this powerpoint to help walk parents and students through the FAFSA process at your event.
Host Your Own FAFSA Night Event
FAFSA Help events bring students and families together to discuss the importance of filing the FAFSA for college. It’s not just for student loans - filing the FAFSA is important for scholarships, federal grants, work-study opportunities, and more. Help students and parents learn why the FAFSA matters and how easy it is to file!
- The FAFSA Help Guide – Our guide walks you through every step in executing a successful FAFSA Help event. From timelines to checklists, we’ve got you covered!
- Financial Aid Contacts – College financial aid staff are truly the FAFSA experts! They’re a great resource to ask FAFSA questions and to help host your event. No college in your community? Email us at info@ReachHigherMontana.org and we’ll put you in touch with a financial aid professional.
Want a well-attended event? Use these templates to promote your own FAFSA Night!
This video covers the Best Practices for hosting your own FAFSA event. From planning to marketing, to helpful hints to make your event go smoothly.
Joe Michaud from Jefferson High in Boulder, Montana shares how he successfully hosts FAFSA events at his school.
Dual Enrollment Educator Scholarship
Reach Higher Montana aims to increase high school students’ access to high-quality dual enrollment opportunities by expanding the number of educators eligible to teach courses for college credit, especially in Montana’s small communities.
The first Reach Higher Montana Dual Enrollment Educator Scholarship was awarded in May 2019. We encourage anyone interested in this opportunity to apply for the next opportunity in the spring of 2020.
Meet Our 2019 Dual Enrollment Educator Scholarship Recipient
Lacey Arthun, Shields Valley Schools
Through the Reach Higher Montana Dual Enrollment Educator Scholarship, Lacey will bring the very first dual enrollment course to Shields Valley School. With completion of her credentials to offer dual enrollment, Lacy will prepare her students for college by offering College Writing for both high school and college credit.
Find out more about this opportunity!
Eligibility:
Educator currently teaching in Montana, preferably in a high school classified as A, B, or C.
Committed to offering dual enrollment course(s) in current school upon completion of educational requirements (Master’s degree, plus nine graduate credits in content area for General Education Core; additional education as needed for Career and Technical Education courses). Additional information on education requirements for dual enrollment educators can be found via the Montana University System.
Scholarship Amount:
- Up to $5,000 per year, for up to two years.
- Currently, one scholarship per year is awarded.
How to Apply:
The Dual Enrollment Educator Scholarship will re-open spring of 2020. To preview requirements, check out the Dual Enrollment Educator Scholarship Application. For questions regarding the scholarship, please contact Executive Director, Kelly Cresswell kcresswell@ReachHigherMontana.org.
