Many seniors who have already submitted their college applications are sighing in relief, waving goodbye to the application process as they wait for decision letters. However, those acceptances arrive with a heavy price tag.

To assist students with this, the McLean College & Career Center hosted a financial aid information seminar on Dec. 3 at Langley High School. Currently, a variety of scholarship opportunities are opening, including the 2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program. The event was led by Shannon Martinez, a financial aid analyst representing Northern Virginia Community College.

The seminar explained how to complete the FAFSA form, an essential resource for students seeking financial support, and receive a Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI helps determine a student’s eligibility for federal loans and need-based grants. However, this number is only a general baseline.

“The SAI is just an [estimate],” Martinez said. “The student’s actual [financial aid] package depends on the specific university.”

Martinez also clarified the differences between loans, grants and scholarships. Loans need to be repaid by a certain deadline after graduation, while grants–whether earned through merit or financial need–have no debt attached to them. Scholarships are additional money offered to students, which College & Career Center specialist Mary Barnes strongly recommends considering.

“Many students are [burnt-out] after submitting their college applications, so they don’t think about applying for scholarships,” Barnes said. “That leaves a lot of [potential] money on the table.”

The presentation informed families about the details of college financial aid processes, so that they are prepared to start their applications as soon as possible.

“My biggest piece of advice is to start early,” Barnes said. “The earlier [a student] submits their applications and FAFSA, the more money that is still available to them.”