QUINCY, Ill. (WGEM) -
(Having trouble filling out your FAFSA form? Click here for a link to FAFSA's online help page, including a phone number to call, or a link for an online chat session with FAFSA customer service.)
Parents and college bound students were in a race against the clock Friday to meet a deadline that has a big impact on the ability to get aid for college.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission has announced students who file their FAFSA forms after midnight Friday night will no longer qualify for a Monetary Assistance Program (MAP) grant.
The Illinois MAP grant program provides college funds, based on financial need, according to information provided in the FAFSA form. Those grants do not have to be repaid.
"In the past, we've lost students that filed late, or they didn't know about filing, or weren't aware of the FAFSA," said Mark Llewellyn, Quincy Senior High Director of Guidance.
Llewellyn, along with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission held an emergency FAFSA workshop Friday after an announcement made on Thursday that budget problems had prompted the state of Illinois to stop accepting application for MAP grants.
(Get more FAFSA filing tips, including a breakdown of what to expect in questions, from CollegeXPress.com)
"It's a really big promotion to help students to get some financial aid for college and going to that next step," Llewellyn said.
ISAC core member Cody Dailey helped students fill out FAFSA forms and says it's important not only for students, but for parents to have someone guide them along the process.
(Learn more about Illinois MAP grants from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission's web site.)
