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Getting Financial Help for College

Pursuing a higher education is a financially daunting task for many West Virginia students. Yes, there are lots of avenues for getting financial assistance, but the process seems complicated — sometimes to the point of leading students and their families to give up.

Certainly the federal government hasn’t helped in recent years with its gyrations regarding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, but there are plenty of people willing to help students navigate the system.

West Virginia FAFSA Day is Thursday, Feb. 6. It is a partnership of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, the West Virginia Community and Technical College System, College for West Virginia, West Virginia GEAR UP and West Virginia TRIO Association.

“This initiative aims to heighten awareness surrounding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), underscoring its significance for both high school seniors and returning college students,” reads the event’s website. “Given the essential nature of FAFSA completion, the West Virginia FAFSA Day seeks to emphasize the FAFSA’s significance for accessing federal, state-sponsored, and collegiate financial aid programs.”

Schools across the state will be hosting their own FAFSA workshops to help with the application process for the 2025-26 academic year. That deadline is April 14.

Here in the Ohio Valley, one series of workshops will take place at West Virginia Northern Community College in Wheeling. Cameron High School also will hold workshops Thursday, along with West Virginia University-Parkersburg.

This is an important step for families with youngsters headed to college — particularly current high school seniors. Given the problems that cropped up last year in the federal government getting FAFSA applications processed in a timely manner, it’s important that you don’t wait. Get it done — and soon. The more time to get an application processed, the better for your child or grandchild.

Students and their families who may have been intimidated by the FAFSA process must not hesitate to take advantage of this kind of support. A properly submitted FAFSA can be the gateway to achieving higher education goals that might not otherwise have been possible.

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