Program in the Spotlight:
Making Connections

Students get one-on-one help at the financial aid workshop.

January 3, 2009
Financial Aid Workshop: A majority of Making Connections students face unique challenges in completing their financial aid paperwork, including language barriers, coming from single-parent homes, being wards of the state or foster children, and coming from families for whom this process is unfamiliar. As a result, these students need special attention and having specialists on hand to help them through the process diffuses much of their anxiety. The workshop was led by the head of the UW Financial Aid Office and staff, who worked hands-on to help the students complete their FAFSA forms one question at a time. More than 60 students and parents attended. Here is the evaluation from the event:

After attending the financial aid workshop, how confident were you about the process?

In their own words…
Making Connections students were asked to describe their experience today at the financial workshop:

• It was OK, at first it was getting tiring putting all the info in, but I managed to get it done!
• I thought the financial work shop today was very good. It really was fun to me and my mother. She says it’s WONDERFUL! I feel so accomplished for today.
• It was great and I appreciate it. I got answers to all my questions and I felt like I had the support I needed to get through the FAFSA.
• It was really informing and it helped me get a better idea of the whole FAFSA situation when I really didn't know much of it to start off with.
• You brought forth to our children the most helpful support that is needed. It's very important and informative to my daughter.
• Before coming to the financial aid work shop, I didn’t know a lot about it and i nervous about. filling it out. And also I thought it would be harder than it was. I am so happy that I came here and I finished the FAFSA so now I have nothing to worry about.
• You provided an invaluable atmosphere and level of experience that did much to relieve my anxiety and apprehension regarding this process. The one on one help was a great help. the understanding of the stress involved and compassion shown was much appreciated.
• It was very good. It helped me understand and fill out the FAFSA.

• Very helpful and resourceful. He talked about colleges receiving the form, which I didn’t know about.
• GREAT!!!!!!!!!! He kept helping my mom out; she had SO many questions ugh!
• He was good because he helped me answer all my question, but it was hard to ask him a question in the beginning because there was too much people.
• He was reliable; he sat down with me and helped me out. He worked well with all of us.
• Really detailed and helpful.
• Were nice and polite and of course very helpful.
• He gave the right information that was accurate and correct. It was easily understandable 100 percent.
• Fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Was very helpful, and it made it a lot easier than if I were going to do it by myself.

• Loved it! Very easy!
• THIS WAS SO COOL!
• I felt good that I completed almost everything on the FAFSA.
• Thank you for hosting this workshop Senait. I was afraid of filing the FAFSA because I was afraid I would mess up. I feel relief now. Thanks again.
• Thank you.
• MAKING CONNECTIONS ROCKS.
• To widen this information a little bit more and have parents involved through the process. Also sending emails to verify information will be helpful.
• I am so glad that this workshop was available to me and other students. I thought I would never fill out the FAFSA but I completed it.
• I wish more people had access to this workshop. I appreciate the time and effort afforded. this and the unrelenting help and care Senait provides for her students and the parents that support them. Thank you to Senait and James from the bottom of my heart.
• It was very helpful for me and having help made the process go a lot faster, which was good.

• This was an extremely valuable service. I am so thankful that we were able to receive assistance in completing the FAFSA form. This service should be offered to a lot more people.
• I appreciate the time and assistance that was given to us today in completing the FAFSA form.
• Thank you very much.
• My mother thought it was easy. And the seats were comfortable. She thought it was nice and that the professionals gave me the help I needed when I needed it.
• You saved me a lot of time and confusion and please inform me on anything that you might want either me or my daughter to know here is my email: thank you very much.
• She thought that the session was fabulous and for me it was really helpful, and a lot easier that she was here. And she was really excited to be a part of it.

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P.S.: All participating Making Connections students met their application deadlines on time. Last year, 100% of Making Connection students were accepted by their university of choice and more than 80% received scholarships. A very special "thank you" to all of the readers and editors who worked to help each student achieve this goal!