Pixabay user tigerlily713
The financial aid process can be a bit daunting. Different forms of aid have different formalities, different eligibility requirements, and different deadlines too. The key to benefiting from the various financial aid schemes is to understand and keep track of the requirements and deadlines. Financial aid is typically distributed on a first come first served basis, so the earlier you apply, the higher your chances of getting some much-needed funds to pay for your college tuition.
These timelines will help you stay on top of the financial aid process:
October – The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA is available from October. Make sure you register for your FSA ID from the Department of Education as you will need it to apply for the FAFSA.
November – Start researching outside scholarships and make a note of all deadlines in your calendar.
December – You should have received your Student Aid Report from the Department of Education by now. Make sure you have it and check that it is accurate.
April – Compare financial aid packages offered by different schools and notify the school that you plan to attend. Make sure you have all financial aid packages in place and have notified the school before the deadline. The deadline at most colleges is May 1st.
June — For the 2017/18 school year, June 30th 2017 is the last day you can file the FAFSA.
—
Use College Raptor to discover personalized college matches, cost estimates, acceptance odds, and potential financial aid for nearly any college in the US—for FREE!
