To first-generation college-bound students such as senior Fatoumata Jaiteh, FAFSA Night gives her a chance to get help with her college finances.

“The grants and scholarship from FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) means paying for my future and it alleviates stress,” Jaiteh said. “It gives you hope that they are willing to support people going to college and they are willing to pay for it.”

For seniors, scholarship deadlines are approaching, including the FAFSA, which opened Jan. 1.

The FAFSA is an application that families with students entering college complete in order to receive financial aid from the government based on their income. This also includes opportunities for loans and work-study.

Senior counselor Laura King said timing is essential regarding the FAFSA forms.

“Generally what you’re going to want to do is complete it as close to the first of the year as possible once you have your tax information, because there is a lot of financial aid money out there,” King said. “However, it’s on a first-come, first-serve basis, so you want to get that done quickly.”

In the past couple of years the school has put together a night for students, parents and teachers to come together and work through the long process of getting the FAFSA application done.

“We have new outreaches to families to try and make completing the FAFSA more accessible,” King said.

Some of those outreaches include daycare, Somali and Spanish interpreters and change in the date for greater accessibility. It was originally on Sundays but is now held during the week.

Senior Ikran Ali said although she cannot make it to the night, she still likes the idea behind it.

“I think it’s nice because people who aren’t in College Possible or don’t have the opportunity to learn about FAFSA are given a night to learn what they need to know,” Ali said.

FAFSA Night is 4-5 p.m. and 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in room B225.