Brewster: Financial Aid Seminars Available to Students Seeking Higher Education

Harrisburg, Sept. 5, 2013 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) announced three upcoming financial aid seminars available to students seeking post secondary education.

“Post secondary education is an important step for students to reach certain career goals, but far too many students find it difficult to pay the steep price tag,” Brewster said. “Thankfully, financial aid is available for almost all students in Pennsylvania, and these seminars will help students and parents understand how much aid they can receive.”

At the seminars, representatives from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) will discuss available grants, scholarships, and loans, Brewster said.

Representatives will also give a step-by-step demonstration of how to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to ensure students get the correct amount of financial assistance. The FAFSA is required for students looking to apply for federal and state financial aid, and most universities and colleges also require the FAFSA.  Despite its name, the FAFSA is not an application for a single federal program; rather, it is the gateway of consideration for federal- and state-aid programs, as well as most of the institutional aid available.

“I encourage juniors and seniors to attend one of these seminars if they plan to further their education after high school,” said Brewster. “The financial aid process can sometimes be difficult to navigate, and this is the perfect opportunity to get questions answered from a trustworthy source.”

Anyone interested in attending a seminar should RSVP to Kathy Jo Osman at kosman@pasenate.com or 412-664-5200.

Dates of the seminars are as follows:

Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013 (RSVP by Sept. 16)
CCAC Boyce Campus: Auditorium
595 Beatty Road, Monroeville, PA 15146
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013 (RSVP by Sept. 30)
Penn State Greater Allegheny: Ostermayer Room – Student Community Center
4050 University Drive, McKeesport, PA 15132
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 (RSVP by Oct. 21)
Penn State New Kensington: Auditorium
3550 Seventh Street Road, Route 780, Upper Burrell, PA 15068
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

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