January Financial Aid Checklist for Seniors
Posted on Wed, 01/09/2013 - 12:13It's time to apply, apply, apply for financial aid! College advisor Alice Kleeman is back to kick off the New Year with advice for seniors on what you should be doing. Remember it is you, the student, who applies for aid. But families need to work together to obtain the best result. Here are this month's reminders. Read, save and use them!
* Check with your high school counselor about financial aid evening workshops scheduled at your school or in the community and attend with your parents!
* Complete the FAFSA, reading all instructions CAREFULLY! You do NOT have to wait until you and your parents have filed your income tax returns; you may use estimates on the FAFSA and then update the information once you have filed your income tax forms. It is better to file on time with estimates than to file late!
* Submit your FAFSA electronically as soon as possible! Once submitted, the colleges you have listed and coded will receive your information electronically.
* Each state also has its own FAFSA deadline, which in many cases is different from the federal submission deadline each year. Make sure to submit your FAFSA by your state's deadline or as soon as possible after the first of the year to get the most financial aid possible. Deadline information can be found here.