25-26 FAFSA IS OPEN NOW!

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25-26 FAFSA IS OPEN NOW! •

College Access & Success

You CAN go to college! REF convenes the Rochester College Access Network. RCAN is here to help you on the way! We can help you choose and apply to college, figure out how to pay for college, and make the best college choice.

Contact us at fafsa@rochestereducation.org

College Bound? We can help.

About College Access & Success

The Rochester Education Foundation convenes the Rochester College Access Network (RCAN), which includes representatives from local colleges and universities, community-based organizations, foundations, school administrators, and school counselors from RCSD and Rochester city charter schools. Its goals are to work together to remove barriers to college access, increase success for Rochester city students, and foster a college-going culture in the city of Rochester.

We help students and families understand the process for applying to college, search for scholarships, understand financial aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and learn what to expect at college. We are working to launch a Future Fair for all RCSD 7th-grade students so that they can learn about a variety of careers and imagine their bright future ahead. We also work with school counselors and local colleges and universities to bring 9th-grade students on college tours, and share all opportunities about college visits and college fairs with students and families.

What do we do?

  • FSA ID creation is the first step in completing your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

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  • A core component of our mission is assisting students and families with completing crucial financial aid forms, including the FAFSA and TAP, and helping them understand college award letters and the financial aid process. Since 2015, we have hosted FAFSA Fest events at RCSD high schools, Rochester charter schools, and citywide FAFSA Fests open to the broader community. These efforts have garnered recognition, including the prestigious award from the National College Attainment Network in 2018. By adapting to challenges and incorporating valuable feedback from students, families, and educators, we continuously refine and strengthen our approach.

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  • Working in tandem with school counselors and colleges, we hold presentations for high school juniors and seniors to prepare them for and guide them through the college application and financial aid process. We organize campus visits for 9th-grade students, ensuring they experience firsthand the environment of a college campus and understand that higher education is attainable. We also offer workshops and resources to support students as they transition from high school to college, including sessions on what to expect in college, navigating campus life, and building skills for student success.

  • The Rochester Education Foundation convenes the Rochester College Access Network (RCAN), a collaborative network comprised of RCSD and charter school counselors and administrators, professionals from local college and university admissions and financial aid offices, and community-based organizations. Launched in April 2013, RCAN’s mission is to increase college access and success through coordinated communication, collaboration, and advocacy, helping Rochester students reach their full potential.

  • Our support doesn’t end at high school graduation; we want to see you succeed.