AUGUST 2024

Tuesday Tips

Get Ready for Financial Aid Season

For Students and Families

Attend a Financial Aid Information Session

FAME offers both in-person and virtual sessions to help students and families prepare to file the FAFSA and know what to expect. During these sessions, we discuss the steps that should be taken prior to the FAFSA becoming available, like creating a Federal Student Aid account—see the details below. We also give an overview of the FAFSA and what happens after the FAFSA is submitted. Visit the Events page on our website for a list of upcoming sessions.

Create an FSA ID

All students will need to create a Federal Student Aid Account (FSA ID). The FSA ID is the username and password used to access all Federal Student Aid websites, including StudentAid.gov. An FSA ID must be created and matched by the Social Security Administration before the FAFSA can be filed, so it's important to create your FSA ID early. Students can use our Student FSA ID Tracking Sheet to keep track of their information.

If parent information is required on the FAFSA, at least one parent will also need to create their own FSA ID. To learn more about which parent needs an FSA ID and to track parent FSA ID information, use our Parent FSA ID Tracking Sheet.

Connect with FAME

To ensure you have the latest information on the FAFSA, please join our text and/or email list. We’ll keep you up to date regarding the release of the FAFSA and what you need to know to navigate the critical steps in the financial aid process. As an added incentive, Class of 2025 students and their parents/caregivers who join our list will be entered into a drawing for one of three $1,000 Future Fund scholarships. To learn more about the scholarship drawing and to sign up, visit FAMEmaine.com/join.

Get Your Questions Answered

• Have a question or two? Call us at 800-228-3734, option 4, or email us at Education@FAMEmaine.com.
• If you’d like to meet virtually with one of our financial aid experts, book a financial aid coaching appointment.
• If you are a New Mainer or have questions about the financial aid process for New Mainers, reach out to Floreka Malual, FAME's New Mainer Specialist.
• Visit our website. We recommend starting with our Filing the FAFSA section (which will be updated to reflect the 2025-2026 FAFSA in September) as well as visiting our Resources and Tools page.

For Education Professionals

FAME has resources available to support our amazing partners, including school counselors, college access professionals, teachers, and financial aid staff.

Wednesday Webinar Series

During the school year, we host our Wednesday Webinar series on the second Wednesday of each month. Two upcoming webinars directly related to the FAFSA will be held in September and November:

New! Resources for Educators

Visit the expanded and updated Resources for Educators section of our website, where you'll find both in-person and virtual professional development events, recorded training sessions, and a variety of FAFSA resources, including posters, sample scripts to spread the word about the FAFSA, links to the Federal Student Aid Estimator tool and the FAFSA Prototype, FAFSA completion rates by high school, and more! 

The Silver Lining

The delayed release of the FAFSA should result in a smoother FAFSA filing process. Before the December 1 release, there will be a two-month phased rollout to a limited number of students to identify and resolve any technical issues. This should improve everyone’s experience and help make the delayed FAFSA worth the wait.

Here's to a simplified and successful financial aid season! As always, we’re here for you!

FAME's College Access and Financial Education Team

Connect with Us!

The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) does not discriminate in the administration of any of its programs or in its employment practices on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, gender, religion, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. FAME is an equal opportunity employer, provider, and lender.

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