The Youngstown State University Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will host the first on-campus Financial Aid Night on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Kilcawley Center’s Chestnut Room.
The event gives potential students and their families a chance to learn the basics of financial aid. Participants can learn how to apply for student aid and fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, in time for YSU’s priority deadline on Feb. 15.
Students will also be able to receive help with filing taxes, courtesy of a free tax preparation service by Beta Alpha Psi, a YSU student organization for accounting and financing students, and by YSU’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.
“We encourage students to figure out taxes early as possible and submit the free application. We like to process them quickly so they can receive any aid available for the next school year,” said Elaine Ruse, director of the YSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Ruse said she hopes that students interested in YSU will make plans to attend the free service, which is even open to those attending other colleges and universities.
“We’re holding the event as a community service,” Ruse said. “We’d like to help any college-bound student and help them with their first time through the application process.”
Accounting and administrative staff will be available for individual talk to ease any burdens that families encounter.
YSU freshman Jacob Penk said the advisers on campus helped make his first application process painless.
“It only took 20 minutes,” Penk said. “It was very reasonable and helpful. They answered all the questions that my mother and I had.”
Penk and his mother didn’t want to make any mistakes while filing his FAFSA.
“It’s good to work with someone who’s done it before and knows what they’re doing,” Penk said.
For more information, visit http://cfweb.cc.ysu.edu/finaid/night.cfm or call the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at 330-941-3505.
