College Applicants Receive Financial Aid Counsel by Experts via Hotline, Jan. 23-28.

NEW BRUNSWICK/PISCATAWAY, N.J. Students and their families can get free counsel on financing a college education by way of a statewide, toll-free hotline at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. For one week this month, specialists from the New Jersey Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NJASFAA) will be accessible to answer financial aid questions. The hotline goes live Sunday, Jan. 23.

Securing financial resources for college can be an overwhelming process for new and returning college students alike, says Sheila Menendez, senior financial aid officer at Rutgers. With this hotline, we hope to streamline the process and help families to effectively exercise their financial aid options.

As part of Financial Aid Awareness Week, the hotline is designed to address the following: how to apply for financial aid, how to complete the free application for federal student aid known as FAFSA, what types of financial aid are available and eligibility requirements.

Students and parents can call (866) 826-6306 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 23, and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24 through Friday, Jan. 28.

Contact: Nicole Pride

732/932-7084, ext. 610

E-mail: npride@ur.rutgers.edu