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FAFSA 2023-2024 – A WALKTHROUGH

FAFSA Walkthrough for Federal Financial Aid

It’s the time of year for trick-or-treating, football games, and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  

Completing the FAFSA is required to take advantage of Federal Student Aid including Federal Work-Study and Federal Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans. 

Many states will also use the FAFSA for their financial aid evaluation and some college use it to determine their own institutional aid awards.

Our recommended resource for a step-by-step tutorial on this year’s FAFSA comes from Get2College, a nonprofit Woodward Hines Education Foundation program.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScIxTk4Nr4g&t=53s

PRO TIPS

  • Even if you don’t think you will qualify for need-based financial aid, some schools require a completed FAFSA to qualify for merit-based aid or scholarships. Check with the individual institution for their requirements.
  • Some colleges will not allow you to apply for need-based aid in subsequent years if you do not apply in your first year.
  • Visit Federal Student Aid, an office of the Department of Education, for the latest information on student aid and loans.
  • If you still need assistance completing the FAFSA, check the Help section or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED AID (1-800-322-3243).

To learn more about working with our team, send us an email. 

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Mark Stucker

Founder
mark@schoomatch4u.com

Mark Stucker has 25 years of full-time experience in college and boarding school admissions, and in college counseling. He’s worked with private day, boarding, charter, and public-school students, as well as private clients.

He is extremely passionate about finding the right college for every student and
ensuring that the college selected is affordable for the family.

Career Highlights

  • Worked at the Phillips School doing college admission, 1991
  • Director of Annual Giving, Westtown School, 2001-2002
  • Adjunct College counselor for students at the Westtown School, 2003–2009
  • Associate Director of Admissions at Westtown School, 2002–2009
  • Chair of the admissions committee at Westtown School for five years, 2004–2009
  • Traveled nationally/ internationally to recruit students at fairs, through school visits, and receptions.
  • KIPP Metro Atlanta high school and college placement counselor, 2009–2023
  • Oversaw the college counseling program for four schools by serving as the Director of College Counseling for Alumni at KIPP Metro Atlanta. Placed about 70 kids in college per year in this role from 2019-2023
  • Founded college placement educational consulting company, School Match 4U, 2010
  • Served as a Go To College NYC board member
  • Worked with over 2000 students, in all 50 states through college and boarding school admissions, high school placement, college admissions, and college placement
  • Author of the book: “171 Answers”: To The Most-Asked College Admissions Questions
  • Founder, Co-Host and Producer of the Your College-Bound Kid podcast, the most listened to college admissions podcast according to Apple in the
    “Education for Kids” Category, 2018-Present
  • Traveled to visit over 350 colleges
  • Member of IECA, SACAC and NACAC
  • Graduate of the Harvard Summer Institute for College Admissions and the Stanford Counselor outreach certificate program

 

Personal Life: Married for 35 years, Anitra and I are parents of two, our oldest is a Davidson College grad who owns a Spanish and Math tutoring company, and our youngest daughter is a graduate of the University of Georgia (BA) and North Carolina State (MA) and she is a Wellness coach at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill at the Kenan-Flagler Business School

Hobbies include: golf, gardening, reading, travel, watching basketball, football,
track and golf, politics, eating various ethnic cuisines

Questions about our services, our team or our availability for speaking engagements? Feel free to contact him here.

Mark Stucker (mark@schoolmatch4u.com) has 25 years of full-time experience in college and boarding school admissions, and in college counseling. He’s worked with private day, boarding, charter, and public-school students, as well as private clients. He is extremely passionate about finding the right college for every student and ensuring that the college selected is affordable for the family.

Career Highlights

  • Worked at the Phillips School doing college admission, 1991
  • Director of Annual Giving, Westtown School, 2001-2002
  • Adjunct College counselor for students at the Westtown School, 2003 – 2009
  • Associate Director of Admissions at Westtown School, 2002 – 2009
  • Chair of the admissions committee at Westtown School for five years, 2004 –
    2009
  • Traveled nationally/ internationally to recruit students at fairs, through school
    visits, and receptions.
  • KIPP Metro Atlanta high school and college placement counselor, 2009 –
    2023
  • Oversaw the college counseling program for four schools by serving as the
    Director of College Counseling for Alumni at KIPP Metro Atlanta. Placed about
    70 kids in college per year in this role from 2019-2023
  • Founded college placement educational consulting company, School Match
    4U, 2010
  • Served as a Go To College NYC board member
  • Worked with over 2000 students, in all 50 states through college and boarding
    school admissions, high school placement, college admissions, and college
    placement
  • Author of the book: “171 Answers”: To The Most-Asked College Admissions Questions
  • Founder, Co-Host and Producer of the Your College-Bound Kid podcast, the most listened to college admissions podcast according to Apple in the “Education for Kids” Category, 2018-Present
  • Traveled to visit over 350 colleges
  • Member of IECA, SACAC and NACAC
  • Graduate of the Harvard Summer Institute for College Admissions and the Stanford Counselor outreach certificate program
  • Married for 35 years, Anitra and I are parents of two, our oldest is a Davidson College grad who owns a Spanish and Math tutoring company, and our youngest daughter is a graduate of the University of Georgia (BA) and North Carolina State (MA) and she is a Wellness coach at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill at the Kenan-Flagler Business School
  • Hobbies include golf, gardening, reading, travel, watching basketball, football, track and golf, politics, eating various ethnic cuisines