{"id":757,"date":"2024-07-26T19:01:16","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T19:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ocean.edu\/?page_id=757"},"modified":"2024-12-13T20:58:25","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T20:58:25","slug":"assistance-applying-for-aid-o-p-e-n-workshops","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ocean.edu\/how-to-pay\/financial-aid-scholarships\/how-to-apply-for-aid\/assistance-applying-for-aid-o-p-e-n-workshops\/","title":{"rendered":"Assistance Applying for Aid\u2014O.P.E.N. Workshops"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ocean County College\u2019s \u201cOpening Pathways to Education Now\u201d (O.P.E.N.) program<\/strong> is an initiative that seeks to increase awareness of affordability of obtaining a post-secondary education. To achieve this task we have established a series of workshops throughout the year to assist students in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to also use the FAFSA4caster to help parents and students project what aid might be available when they are able to attend college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FAFSA4caster<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Federal Student Aid Estimator<\/em><\/a> provides an estimate of how much federal student aid the student may be eligible to receive. These estimates are based on the Student Aid Index (SAI), an index to determine federal student aid eligibility.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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FAFSA Workshops<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

(These sessions are designed to assist with the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)<\/a> which includes interaction with a financial aid specialist.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several available FAFSA workshops that are currently being offered during the semester. Please check the \u201cWhen are the Workshops\u201d<\/strong> tab below for specific dates and reserve your seat as soon as possible, as space is limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PLEASE NOTE:<\/strong> You will be asked to provide additional information when reserving your place at a Workshop. This information includes the number of people that will be attending the workshop, tax filing status of the student & parent (if applicable) & student\u2019s citizenship status (FA staff can use this to determine which application you will need assistance with at the workshop), and will be used by Financial Aid Staff to prepare to assist you on your chosen workshop date.  The additional information requested will not be stored or used by Ocean County College for any other purpose than to prepare to assist you at the workshop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students (and parents\u2019, if applicable) will need a FSA ID<\/a> in order to complete the financial aid application. The FSA ID can take up to 3 business days to confirm and process from the date created. Please allow for enough time for the FSA ID to process prior to attending your selected workshop . The 2025-2026 FAFSA cannot be completed and submitted without a usable FSA ID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to limited seating \u2013 registration is required. RSVP: FAFSA Workshop Registration Link<\/a> \u2013 Select an available date and select the 5pm session next to the date selected to reserve your seat. You will be emailed a reservation confirmation to the email address provided on the reservation page.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What do I need to bring?<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Students and parents (if student is unmarried and under 24 years of age) must bring completed copies of their prior-prior year Federal Tax Returns (including schedules) and W-2s (for instance, you will need your 2023 tax information to complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA etc.). This information is required in order to answer income questions on either the FAFSA or FAFSA4caster worksheets. If this information is not available by the date of your scheduled workshop, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 732.255.0310<\/a>, to receive guidance on alternative documentation that may be used to estimate information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students (and parents\u2019, if applicable) will need a FSA ID<\/a> in order to complete the financial aid application. The FSA ID can take up to 3 business days to confirm and process from the date created. Please allow for enough time for the FSA ID to process prior to attending your selected workshop . The 2025-2026 FAFSA cannot be completed and submitted without a usable FSA ID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When are the Workshops?<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Upcoming Workshop Dates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring \/ Summer 2026<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
February 4th, February 10th,
February 18th, February 26th<\/td>		March 4th, March 10th,
March 18th, March 26th <\/td>		April 1st, April 7th,
April 15th, April 23rd,
April 29th<\/td><\/tr>
May 5th, May 13th,
May 19th, May 27th<\/td>		June 4th, June 10th,
June 16th, June 24th<\/td>		<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Due to limited seating \u2013 registration is required. RSVP: FAFSA Workshop Registration<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Select an available date and select the 5pm session next to the date selected to reserve your seat. You will be emailed a reservation confirmation to the email address provided on the reservation page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PLEASE NOTE:<\/strong> You will be asked to provide additional information when reserving your place at a Workshop. This information includes the number of people that will be attending the workshop, tax filing status of the student & parent (if applicable) & student\u2019s citizenship status (FA staff can use this to determine which application you will need assistance with at the workshop), and will be used by Financial Aid Staff to prepare to assist you on your chosen workshop date.  The additional information requested will not be stored or used by Ocean County College for any other purpose than to prepare to assist you at the workshop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For additional information, call the Financial Aid Office at 732-255-0310<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Can I do anything to prepare for the workshop?<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In order to complete the FAFSA you are required to sign the application using an FSA ID number and password (students who are unmarried and under 24 years of age also require parents FSA ID number and password). You may obtain an FSA ID number and password at FSA ID<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I am under 24 years of age and unmarried – can I attend on my own?<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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We encourage all potential students who are unmarried and under 24 years of age to attend with a parent or guardian however, you can attend the workshop on your own but you must have copies of your parent\u2019s prior-prior year Federal Tax Returns (including schedules) and W-2s (for instance, you will need your 2023 tax information to complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA) If your parent cannot accompany you, they will need to electronically sign your FAFSA from home or we will print a paper signature page and provide instructions on how to mail this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Back to Top<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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