Eastchester High School families got a crash course in paying for college on Oct. 21, when the district held its annual Financial Aid Night.

Pace University Director of Financial Aid Dan Robinson led the session, according to the Eastchester Union Free School District.

The district has partnered with Robinson for several years to help families understand their options after Eastchester High School.

EHS Guidance Department Chair Heather Reilly said the event has become an important part of Eastchester's college planning curriculum for 11th- and 12th-grade families.

She said the night pushes families to think beyond academic fit.

"You also have to consider the schools that are a good fit, financially, for your families," Reilly said.

She said the district wants to connect families with resources so they don't feel like they're navigating the process alone.

Reilly pointed to the Financial Aid Night, along with webinars through the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) and other online tools.

Finding reliable information can be a challenge. Reilly noted that even with plenty of college planning resources available online, families new to the process may struggle to figure out where to begin and which sources to trust.

Reilly said the district hopes families attend more than once. The Oct. 21 session drew a mix of junior and senior families, she said. For juniors, the value is in learning the language and terminology early, so they know what questions to ask as they research schools. Seniors benefit from attending when they are deep in the application process.

Reilly said Robinson first partnered with Eastchester during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the session was held virtually. She said he has a knack for making complex financial aid concepts approachable for parents and students.

HESC, the state agency that helps New York families find paths to financial support for higher education, offers a Financial Aid Navigator on its website. The tool generates a personalized list of grants, scholarships and loan forgiveness programs a student may be eligible for. HESC also provides information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and the Excelsior Scholarship.

A video replay of the Oct. 21 session is available on YouTube for families who could not attend.