Students, parents and anyone considering furthering their education in the near future should plan on attending a financial literacy seminar being put on at Middle Park High School on Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 6-7 p.m.

Organizers will give a presentation about completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as the FAFSA.

According to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, “the FASFA is used to determine the amount of money a family is expected to contribute to the price of attending a postsecondary institution. The results of the FAFSA are used in determining student grants, work study and loan amounts.”

The FAFSA application is a fundamental part of the registration and application process for attending postsecondary school and is a requirement for application to most postsecondary institutions.

Middle Park High School counselor and seminar organizer Ben Polonowski highlighted the necessity of the FAFSA.

“For seniors completing the FAFSA is often the most important task for actually being able to attend postsecondary school. This will be a great opportunity for people to ask questions about the FAFSA,” he said.

The seminar is open to all area residents, including adults. Participants need not be students in the East Grand School District. The seminar will be a single event but will provide attendees with resources for follow up research.

While the primary focus of the seminar will be to complete the FAFSA, tips will also be provided for college level financial planning and the all-important budgeting of funds.

“Budgeting is especially important for working people going back to school. They have to decide if they want to work while attending school,” said Polonowski.

He added, “with increasing college costs completion of the FAFSA is essential. It allows you to make better decisions. The more tools you have the better you can negotiate the best school choice for you, which often comes down to affordability.”

Polonowski explained his goal with the seminar is to increase the rate of FAFSA completion. He explained there is a strong correlation between completing the FAFSA and attending a postsecondary school.

“Students are under no obligation to take any money offered to you after completing the FAFSA,” Polonowski said.