Valley Stream, NY – Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages joined Valley Stream Central High School seniors, administrators, and SUNY Vice Chancellor for Student Success Donna Linderman for a discussion about student experiences with college applications, their aspirations for college, applying for financial aid, and the importance of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to access federal and state financial aid programs.

Across New York State and nationally, there has been a considerable decline in the completion rate for FAFSA. Completion rates are currently down nearly 20% in New York compared to this time last year. With one month remaining until the June 30th deadline, we are joining together to let graduating seniors know the importance of completing the FAFSA.

The recently passed New York State budget implemented universal FAFSA and expanded the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) for the first time in a generation. The minimum TAP award was doubled from $500 to $1,000 and income eligibility was expanded to include more students. Programs like TAP and the Excelsior Scholarship enable thousands of New York students to access a college education that otherwise would have been unattainable. Only through completing FAFSA can students access this critical financial assistance.

Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages: “Our message today is clear: if you are an incoming college student, please fill out the FAFSA. This essential step opens the door to numerous financial aid opportunities from both federal and state governments. This year, we expanded the state Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to include more students and doubled the minimum award. By utilizing programs like TAP, you can significantly reduce your cost of attendance and overall debt burden. Completing the FAFSA is the key to accessing these transformative financial aid opportunities. We would like to thank SUNY for helping to spread this important message."