Welcome to

Financial Aid season is here! Don't miss out on important opportunities and deadlines. Get every dollar your student deserves!

• Make college or career school list
• Apply to chosen school(s) - Have you completed Apply Idaho?
• Start researching and tracking scholarships - Start with Scholarship Idaho
• Create FSA ID
• Submit FAFSA (it opens Oct. 1st)-USE THE 2027-28 FORM
• Review and follow up on any FAFSA forms or verification.

Filing out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is your key to getting all kinds of financial aid for school - federal, state, and school aid. If you want to qualify for the most free money you can, and pay less out of your own pocket, you need to file the FAFSA. With the new changes to FAFSA, many more students know qualify for some aid.

Schools where you are accepted will look at info from your FAFSA and use it to put together your financial aid package. Your financial aid package can help you cover college costs:

• Tuition
• Fees
• Housing and meals
• Books
• A laptop and other tech you may need for school

Your package may include college grants, work-study, federal student loans, and even state and school financial aid.

Student and parent(s) will each need their own FSA ID. If parent(s) have had other children or they themselves have gone through the FAFSA, they will use the SAME ID as before. You can always click on the "forgot user name and password". Be sure that student has a separate personal email from the parent's. FAFSA will not accept using the same email for student and parent.

We are having help session to create FSA ID's in November and December. Please check Class Connects and watch for green emails with more information.

Students and parents must log into the FAFSA separately and complete their own section of the application. Click here for steps to complete your portion.

Here is what's called a "Parent Wizard". This tool helps determine which parent(s) should participate in a student's FAFSA form. You can even just fill it out with "Mom" and "Dad".

When it comes to planning for college - whether that means a 4-year program, 2-year program, or certificate program, there are so many things to consider such as location, what programs and majors are offered, and how much will it all cost – just to name a few!

If you are a parent of a high school senior feeling OVERWHELMED by the costs of college or CONFUSED by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), this presentation will help you to make sense of the financial aid process and how to successfully navigate it for the best outcome for your student.

Please join us this October for IDVA's Financial Aid and FAFSA Presentation. Students are welcome and encouraged to attend!

We are delighted to welcome our guest presenter, Laura Hughes, Director of Financial Aid at Lewis and Clark State College!

Ms. Hughes is an expert in the field of student financial aid. She will provide an overview of the financial aid process including the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), and will answer all your financial aid questions.

Your student does not need to be planning on attending LCSC to participate in this event. Director Hughes would like to help all families navigate the student financial aid process!

The information is universal and will apply to any post-secondary educational option your student pursues.

Please join us for this informative event!

Our school gives out OVER $20,000 to our senior class! Be sure to check out this page for a variety of scholarships specifically for our students! Multiple awards will be given out. Students can apply for as many as they qualify for. Students will only be able to win one scholarship. We want to reach and help as many students as possible!

They will fill out the scholarship application and submit it just like they would one of their class assignments. Directions are here. Deadline is March 1, 2027.

In one application, students can apply for Idaho Launch or Idaho Opportunity, as well as the Idaho Governor's Cup if their GPA is above a 2.8. Here is a video with brief instructions on how to fill out the application.

Idaho Launch is the one-time grant opportunity for up to $8000 for tuition at an eligible institution and an in-demand career. You can find everything from universities and colleges to specialty trades like welding and cosmetology. Every Senior should look at applying for this grant! NO GPA, NO FAFSA Priority Deadline: Nov. 30th, 2025. Final Deadline: April 15th, 2026

The Idaho Opportunity Scholarship is $3500/year up to 4 years. GPA must be 2.7 or higher and you must fill out the FAFSA. The Opportunity Scholarship is a “last dollars” award, meaning it is to assist in filling in the gap in your cost of attendance after other scholarships and grants. Deadline: March 1st.

Idaho Governor's Cup Scholarship requires community service and a 2.8 GPA.

Top Tips for Scholarship hunting:

• Keep your eyes on Mrs. Mecham's GREEN Scholarship Emails.
• Grab a copy of this and track what you are applying for.
• Best place is to look for scholarships listed on your college's financial aid page. Look for deadlines.
• Network with family. Find out where your insurance is from, power bills, local clubs like Elks, Rotary and Lions. Where does your family bank?
• Do you have a job? Ask your employer if the company offers a scholarship.
• PRO TIP: Do not eliminate scholarships that require work, like writing a long essay or making a video. Fewer students apply for those awards, so you have a better chance of winning!

I'm always happy to meet one on one with students and/or parents.

Just schedule a time here!

College and Career Advisor

Advanced Opportunities Coordinator

Idaho Virtual Academy

Email: dmecham@idahova.org
Website: https://tinyurl.com/weareidva
Phone: 208.427.5915