More Louisiana college hopefuls are applying for Federal Financial Aid than ever before.  Department of Education numbers say a full 65% of High School seniors in the Bayou State sent in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the July 1 deadline.  That's a big jump from the 58% that did the same last year.

The powers that be shuddered at the thought of Louisiana students leaving millions of dollars in assistance on the table. In response, several programs were launched that made the process more accessible and easier to understand.  Some state experts believe the jump is due to a longer application window, and the success of these programs.  That success translates into a record number of Louisiana High School seniors applying for Pell Grants and Federal Student Loans.

According to the Louisiana Department of Education, students will be required to file the correct FAFSA paperwork, or paperwork stating that they deny the help this year.

If you or someone you know is a High School Senior-to-be, pushing this year for their dream school - make sure you go here.  It's a pretty handy way to apply online.  It takes about 45 minutes to apply, and it might surprise you just how much help is out there.

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