Outreach

Financial Aid Outreach programs are a public service on behalf of Oakland University to help educate students, parents, and staff about financial preparation for college, applying for financial aid, and the financial aid process. These free programs are offered in-person or virtually based on your preference. In addition to the three financial aid programs most popular with high school students and their families, customized college readiness programs are available. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas for how I can serve you! Meet the Financial Aid Outreach staff!

Complete the Staff Contact Form to be added to the communication roster and provide your contact information. 

Professional Development for Counselors

I am excited to participate in collaborations for high school counselors and college advocates, such as the High School Counselor Connection and Community College Counselor Connection hosted annually by Oakland University Undergraduate Admissions, as well as Promoting the Publics. Periodically I will provide updates via webinars or released videos and email communication. 

Paying for College Presentation

Paying for College presentations are informational presentations for students and their families to learn general information regarding the financial aid process. Topics include the elements of financial aid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), private resources available, and more! Presentations take place March through June (during junior year) and in August through September (during senior year). Schools and organizations should hold one Paying for College presentation per calendar year. In-person and virtual format options are available.

There are three presentation varieties offered:

2024 Paying for College Presentation reservations are open now (please only choose one per calendar year):

• Schedule a 2024 Paying for College Presentation
  • Schedule an early evening presentation (choose in-person or virtual)
  • Schedule a lunch hour or late evening presentation (virtual format only)
• View your scheduled event on the previous reservation system (signupgenius.com)
• Download a flyer to advertise your Paying for College event

FAFSA Workshops 

FAFSA Workshops provide high school seniors and their parents with professional assistance completing the FAFSA. Parents are encouraged to begin the FAFSA process and invite the other contributors to complete their portion via an email invitation sent through FAFSA. Workshops take place October through February of the senior year. Workshops will last up to an hour and in-person and virtual format options are available. Schools and organizations should hold one FAFSA Workshop per school year.

Once you have scheduled your workshop, you will receive an update to the calendar invite with a registration link to share with your students and families. Pre-registration for the workshop is required for participants so they can receive preparation instructions and reminders.

There are three workshop varieties offered:

2025-2026 FAFSA Workshop reservations will be available May 1 (please only schedule one workshop):

• Schedule a 2025-2026 FAFSA Workshop
  • Schedule a lunch hour or late evening workshop (virtual only)
  • Schedule an early evening workshop (choose in-person or virtual)
• Download a flyer to advertise your FAFSA Workshop

View the Michigan FAFSA Tracker to view your school's profile and the FAFSA Submissions by High School list. 

Financial Aid Offer Workshops

Financial Aid Offer Workshops are intended for high school seniors to receive professional guidance in understanding and evaluating the financial aid offers a student may receive from multiple colleges and universities. Workshops are offered in April this year, due to the delayed release of the FAFSA, during or immediately following the school day. Workshops will resume being offered January through April in 2025. Students are encouraged to bring award notifications from any college or university they may attend, as well as any student account usernames and passwords. These workshops offer the flexibility of meeting individually with students, in small groups, or larger groups, to fit their needs. In-person or virtual format options are available. 

2025 Financial Aid Offer Workshop reservations will be available May 1 (please only schedule one workshop):

• Schedule a 2025 Financial Aid Offer Workshop
• Download a flyer to advertise your Financial Aid Offer Evaluation Workshop

College Readiness Programs

Oakland University staff are available for college readiness programming on various scales – small group, classroom visits, and large assemblies. We provide interactive sessions and materials to promote student engagement as a fun way to provide students information related to college preparation. Programs are designed to meet your students’ needs, are age appropriate, and educational. Contact your Oakland University Undergraduate Admissions representative to schedule a visit.