All Financial Aid Articles

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financial aid

How To Overcome Financial Aid “Gapping”

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 6, 2025
To make the cost of college more affordable, many schools offer financial aid packages to accepted students. These packages are customized for each student based on the information submitted through the FAFSA. Schools usually try and cover 100% of the student’s financial need through a mix of grants, scholarships, work study and loans. However, many …
High school student thinking about financial aid
financial aid

3 Critical Financial Aid Tips For High School Seniors

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 24, 2023
Financial aid may be the last thing on your mind when you’re in high school. You’re already juggling a lot. But the sooner you understand how financial aid works, the better. Here are 3 critical financial aid tips for high school seniors. Why it’s So Important to Start Exploring Financial Aid in High School College …
Student updating their FAFSA online
financial aid

When and How to Update Your FAFSA Information

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
The FAFSA is the form college students fill to get financial aid from the federal government. All personal and financial information that you fill in your form must be accurate at the time of submitting of your FAFSA. The federal government uses this information to calculate your EFC or Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your EFC is …
Appeal Award Letter
financial aid

7 Steps To Appealing An Award Letter For More Aid

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 24, 2023
When a college accepts your application, they will send you an award letter (also known as an offer letter). This will detail the amount of money a school is willing to give you in financial aid. If you think you didn’t get enough financial aid, you can appeal for more. Just to be clear, you cannot …
college award letters
financial aid

College Award Letter Mistakes To Avoid

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 29, 2023
An award letter contains detailed information about how much financial assistance a college is offering you. It includes all grants, scholarships, student loans, and work-study programs that you’re being offered. Along with the breakdown of the different types of financial aid, the award letter also contains the respective award amounts. You will receive an award …
College offer letters
financial aid

The Importance Of Understanding Your College Offer Letters

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
Once a college accepts your application, the first thing they do is to put together a customized offer letter. These offer letters contains all information about financial aid awards the school is willing to offer you. Understanding the different components of each offer letter is key to being able to make an informed decision about …
College student researching financial aid on her laptop at campus.
financial aid

What Is Financial Aid?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
College fees can be shockingly expensive. High school seniors may feel overwhelmed by all the cost talk. Fortunately, there is some good news. Asking yourself “what is financial aid?” Let’s break it down. What is Financial Aid? There are several forms of financial aid to help cover the cost. The five main types of financial …
dependent and independent students in college
financial aid

How Does FAFSA Dependency Work?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on January 24, 2023
Filling out the FAFSA is the first step to getting financial aid for college. This is not an easy form to fill out but it’s absolutely crucial that you do it. Without the FAFSA you may lose out on certain types of financial aid. One of the more complex questions on this application is related …

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