Warner urges eligible students to apply for federal financial aid

Sen. Mark Warner has a message for current and prospective college students in the Commonwealth. The senator is encouraging students and their families to take advantage of the current application period for federal financial aid.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, is the mechanism through which eligible students attending or planning to attend two- or four-year higher education institutions can receive federal financial assistance for their education expenses. The Senator also noted that for the first time, students will be able to complete the FAFSA through a brand-new mobile app now available on Apple and Android devices.

Deadlines vary from school to school, but interested students should go to www.studentaid.ed.gov for more information.

Below is a transcript of Sen. Warner’s remarks:

Hi, I’m Senator Mark Warner. And I want to encourage students and families to take advantage of the open enrollment opportunity for the potential to get free student financial aid.

Whether it’s attending a two-year or four-year college or enrolling in career and technical education programs, the Federal Student Aid application known as FAFSA will make it easier for you and your family to pay for educational opportunities.

Far too often, prospective students and their families don’t know who to turn to for help paying for college or career training.

And we know that more than 15,000 eligible members of the Class of 2018 left more than $58 million in Pell Grant money on the table—simply because they didn’t complete the FAFSA form.

As someone who once received federal student aid myself—and as the first person in my family to graduate from college—I can tell you firsthand what an important opportunity FAFSA offers students and their families.

Plain and simple: if you’re a U.S. citizen or permanent resident graduating high school next year—and if you have any inkling that you want to go to college or technical school—you should fill out the FAFSA form.

There are new tools available this year to make FAFSA applications easier than ever before, including a mobile app available on Apple and Android phones.

So go to studentaid.ed.gov, download the app, and get started.

If you get stuck: ask a family member or teacher for help, talk to your school guidance counselor, or give my office a call at (540) 857-2676.

The application deadlines vary from school to school, but this is not something to put off until the last minute. Again, head to studentaid.ed.gov and get started today.

Thanks so much, and good luck.