College Affordability Training

Develop your skills and knowledge of the college affordability timeline and financial aid, with a student-centered approach. Learn to take inventories of students’ financial situations and specific needs.

You'll be able to:

• Explain the different types of financial aid and how to apply
• Identify the characteristics of a financial safety school
• Assess a student’s financial aid needs based on their college list and family circumstances

Master this crucial financial aid form by practicing complex scenarios, learning to complete the financial section with confidence, and gaining best practices for working with special student populations.

You'll be able to:

• Determine whether a student is considered independent or dependent, and whom to report as the parent(s)
• Complete the financial sections for different family financial situations
• Identify key resources to support accurate FAFSA completion

Determine a student’s CSS Profile requirements based on their college list and family circumstances, answer tricky questions accurately, and explain follow-up steps.

Navigate students through the many steps and common  challenges of FAFSA follow-up, including Student Aid Report (SAR) review and the confusing, often burdensome, verification process.

You'll be able to:

• Explain the difference between FAFSA submission and FAFSA completion
• Identify and troubleshoot the most common SAR notifications
• Name best practices for helping students complete the verification process

Help students accurately compare college costs and make an informed college choice by analyzing their financial aid offers. Practice using uAspire’s College Cost Calculator with real aid offers and student case studies.

You'll be able to:

• Identify ways aid offers can be confusing and even misleading
• Define and explain aid offer jargon in student-friendly terms
• Respond to difficult scenarios that may arise for students during aid offer review
• Use the College Cost Calculator to accurately compare college costs

Reduce “summer melt” by supporting students with the many financial aid activities they must complete over the summer to successfully transition to college.