By Lindsay Tice,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Financial aid applications can be difficult.

The rules are confounding. The paperwork is time-consuming. And if you haven’t gone through it before, the whole process can be scary.

Lewiston hopes to make it all a little easier.

For four weeks, officials from local colleges and the Finance Authority of Maine will guide students and parents through the maze of college financial aid. The four-part course will teach applicants about different types of aid, will dispel common financial aid myths and will help applicants fill out the federal form required by most colleges.

The course will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday from Oct. 12 through Nov. 1 at Lewiston High School. It will cost $20 per family and is open to anyone, whether they live in the city or not.

Although many high schools offer a single financial aid information night, organizers believe this is the first comprehensive course on the issue in Maine. The city agreed to offer it after Lewiston Adult Ed officials realized their SAT prep class couldn’t answer all of applicants’ questions about getting into college.

“The better informed folks are about what their options are, the better they’ll be able to navigate the system,” said Rob Callahan, assistant director of Lewiston Adult Education. “What we really want to do is give people good, hard facts.”

The first class will focus on financial aid vocabulary and the myths and truths surrounding college and money. At the second class, local college officials will talk about financial aid and will answer questions. During the third class, participants will fill out a mock financial aid application online. The fourth class will pull the entire process together.

Participants may attend any or all of the classes. Registration is open until the evening of the first class.

For more information or to register, phone 795-4141 or go to the Lewiston Adult Ed office at the high school. People may also register online at www.lewistonadulted.org.