This is a question that many students have a most do not like the answer. The federal government considers you a dependent student until the age of 24. Financial aid was designed to fill the gap between what the federal government expects the family to contribute (EFC) toward the students’ education. Reality may often be [...]
Applying for aid is just the first step in a process. One in three applicants will be selected for a process called verification. If your application is selected, you will need to provide the financial aid office with tax forms and other documents. Provide the verification documents as soon as possible. Most financial aid offices [...]
The whole process of financial aid can be daunting. Sometimes it feels like trying to do your taxes while learning a new language. To make things easier, try to remember the Chinese Proverb, "the journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step." The first step in the process is to APPLY FOR A PIN NUMBER. [...]
If you have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) you will soon receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) in your email inbox. Take a few minutes to look at it. The Department of Ed will put Comment Codes on your SAR with a brief description of what you need to do. The colleges you [...]
The number one reason people don’t get financial aid is because they don’t apply. Their neighbor, brother-in-law or friend told them not to bother, they make too much money. Financial aid uses a federal methodology to determine your family’s EXPECTED FAMILY CONTRIBUTION (EFC). They consider income, but they also consider the number of people in [...]
Have you finished the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid? If not, what are you waiting for? It is true that your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be the same no matter how long you wait, but if you procrastinate too long you could lose other financial aid funding. The most needy students as [...]
If this is your last year of high school, you probably have a million things on your mind. At the forefront, though, is the constant question: What are you going to do next year? If college is in your plans, then it’s time to check in about your progress. Have you applied early anywhere? Do [...]
If you just finished your junior year of college, this is your last summer before you start heading off to college. While you may want to enjoy that time with a little (or a lot of) R&R, don’t kick back just yet. There are plenty of items for your college prep to-do list, including these [...]
