Deadlines: Parents, it's your turn!
Posted on Mon, 02/10/2014 - 13:08
Hello, second semester, senior year. After the last few months discussing college applications, the focus now shifts to financial aid applications.
Parents often ask whether these applications are worth the time and trouble. My short answer: Yes. These applications offer the possibility of funding a college education -- grants, loans, and scholarships. (A number of colleges use the FAFSA and CSS College Profile along with the student’s file to determine merit awards or scholarships.)
As Michelle Obama recently said to northern Virginia high school students and their parents, “Don’t leave money on the table.”
The applications
FAFSA—Every college, from a local community college to a very selective private college, requires the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA determines a student’s eligibility for any federal aid, whether grants, subsidized loans, or work-study funds. The application is free; the 2014-15 school year version became available January 1, 2014.