The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the College Scholarship Services (CSS) Profile are the two primary financial aid applications required by many colleges and universities. This session is designed for parents of 12th graders and college students and will:

• Provide an overview of the entire financial aid application process
• Review the FAFSA in detail and compare/contrast the FAFSA and CSS Profile
• Identify unusual circumstances and how best to discuss personal situations with the aid offices
• Offer tips to make the process of completing the forms more efficient and less stressful

This Spotlight Series webinar will run for about 45 minutes with time after for questions. Please note: there are a limited number of seats available for this program which will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Prior to joining Bright Horizons College Coach®, Jan Marie Combs served as a high school guidance counselor and assisted students with their college admission, financial aid, and scholarship applications. Before that, she determined student financial aid eligibility, oversaw a number of scholarship and fellowship programs, and worked closely with students to guide them through the financial aid application process as an assistant director in the undergraduate financial aid office at Boston University and as a director at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education financial aid office. Jan also spent nine years working in education finance for two national lenders, where she counseled students on student loan repayment options and financial literacy strategies. In addition to her work at Bright Horizons College Coach®, she continues to serve as an ambassador for the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, where she facilitates educational programs on admissions and financial aid for students and parents at high schools in Massachusetts. Jan holds a Bachelor of Science in political science from Boston University and a Master of Education from Cambridge College.