FAFSA Days at Piedmont Tech Help Students Prepare for College

February is Financial Aid Awareness Month, and Piedmont Technical College will be hosting a series of events designed to help college bound students understand the options that are available to them to make college more affordable.

“A great amount of financial aid is available each year. Students just need to apply,” said Missy Perry, financial aid director at Piedmont Technical College.

Unfortunately, many people are bogged down by the thought of necessary paper work or simply wait until it’s too late. But, Perry said, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available online and can be completed with relative ease. To be eligible for any financial aid, a student must complete the FAFSA. The deadline to complete the FAFSA is July 1.

“A lot of individuals don’t realize how the process works,” said Perry. “We’re here to help.”

To make the application process even easier, Piedmont Tech is sponsoring FAFSA Days, a series of events at each county campus to assist students with completing their financial aid paperwork.

Upcoming FAFSA Days include February 19 and 27 for Greenwood; February 20 for McCormick, Newberry and Saluda; and February 26 for Abbeville, Edgefield and Laurens. All events will be from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at each campus.

Financial aid staff will be available to assist you with completing your 2013-2014 FAFSA online. To apply, students must bring with them their 2012 federal tax return or other income documentation; Social Security number; driver's license (if any); 2012 W-2 forms or year-end pay stubs and other year-end records of money received; 2012 untaxed income records (Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records); 2012 bank statements; 2012 business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond and other investment records; alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen); and a PIN for the FAFSA.

“If you’re planning to attend this upcoming Fall term, it’s a good idea to file the FAFSA online early for priority award consideration,” said Perry.

For more information on filing the FAFSA or upcoming FAFSA Days, call (864) 941-8365 or click here.

Photo Caption: Kim Chalmers, financial aid counselor, right, assists Marcus Wallace, a commercial art student from Ninety Six, with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. Financial aid staff will be available to assist you with completing your 2013-2014 FAFSA online during FAFSA Days at each of the seven Piedmont Technical College campuses.