Presented by the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School.

Securing college financial aid can be intimidating for NYC students. Aid is crucial for low-income and first generation college students—but they need help, particularly navigating the government’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), finding grants and loans and working with college aid offices. Experts say the system is needlessly complicated and should be reformed. Join the Center for New York City Affairs for the release of its latest "FAFSA: How-To Guide for High School Students" and a discussion about what needs to happen nationally and locally to ensure that the next generation of college students can afford to matriculate.

Introductory remarks by:

Bridget Terry Long, Academic Dean and Xander Professor of Education and Economics at the Harvard School of Education

Dr. Long will then join a conversation with:

Robert Gevertzman, Financial Aid Counselor, Kingsborough Community College, CUNY Sandy Jimenez, Guidance Trainer and College Access Counselor, Goddard Riverside’s Options Institute Adam Stevens, College Advisor for Scholarships and Financial Aid, Brooklyn Technical High School Julieta Schiffino, Associate Director of Financial Aid Services, SUNY

 [youtube width="640" height="360"]http://youtu.be/cnH7O93kQEc[/youtube]

This forum and the FAFSA: How-To Guide are made possible thanks to the generous support of Capital One Bank. Additional funding for the Center's public programs is provided by the Sirus Fund and the Milano Foundation.