New York Network Offers Televised Regents Review!

The New York Network has been a service of The State University of New York since 1967, and is currently a function of SUNY’s Office of University Relations. The New York Network operates an all-digital Broadcast Center in Albany’s Empire State Plaza, providing high quality television production and transmission services to SUNY, state/government agencies, the educational arm of the private sector, as well as worldwide media. NYN also delivers educational programming into over a half-million homes in New York State. The NYN cable service features instructional programs for educators, students, and parents including the very popular Regents Review Live www.regentsreviewlive.net.

The Financial Aid Process

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  These forms are now available in the guidance office.   For those who have Internet access, file the FAFSA on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  This is a FREE application site.  Be careful to type in the correct web address – there is a similar site which charges a fee. 

• Filing the FAFSA electronically is faster and the information is dispersed more quickly to your college choices.  File as soon after January 1 as possible, even if your family taxes have not yet been filed.

• When filing electronically, parents and students should BOTH have a PIN #.  The PIN #  is your electronic signature.  You will also need this # to make any changes to your FAFSA info.  You can apply for a PIN # now at www.pin.ed.gov

• Even if you file using the paper version of the FAFSA, you should register to have a PIN #.  Eventually, the paper version will be converted to an electronic version and you may make changes on the web.  You will need the PIN # in order to do this.

• There are many resources available to help you with the financial aid process.   High school guidance counselors are able to answer questions regarding the FAFSA.  There is also a Financial Aid consultant available one day a week in the high school.  You can make an appointment to meet with Wixie Skellett by calling the high school guidance office at 775-9115.  The Financial Aid advisors at BCC and Binghamton University will also be more than happy to answer any questions you may have as you go through the process, whether or not your student is planning to attend those schools.

• In January and February, parents and students can e-mail questions to experts at the website of the NYS Financial Aid Administrators Association.  That address is www.nysfaaa.org

• A few weeks after you file the FAFSA, you will receive your Student Aid Report or SAR. This report explains your eligibility for financial aid and is sent to all the college you listed on your FAFSA.  Follow the instructions on the SAR for any changes you may need to make to the information provided.

• Each and any of the websites listed below provide a wealth of information to help you in the financial aid process.  Please take the time to become familiar with what they have to offer. 

• And remember: you must reapply for financial aid each year that you are in college, so it pays to learn the process now!