The Right Path To Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Grants

Many believe that going to college has to be stressful and often become intimidated by everything that must be done to prepare. However, if you have the right path in your mind, you will find that does not have to be as stressful and you definitely do not have to be intimidated at all. In this article, we will help guide you through the path from your senior year to just before your first day of college.

 

 

During the summer, before you begin your senior year in high school, you want to start thinking about college. This is the time that you want to request and gather financial aid information and college applications.

 

To help keep yourself on course and on deadline, get yourself a calendar, either a traditional one or a technological one, such as a PDA or Online Calendar, to help you get track of deadlines for financial aid and admissions.

 

You should also start gathering information about scholarships at this time. The internet can be a great help in this area. However, do not forget to talk to your parents as well, their employers may offer a tuition reimbursement program or a scholarship.

 

 

In the early part of your senior year it is time to start talking about financial aid and college applications with your school counselor, you should also take the time to determine if you and your family qualify for any non-federal or federal financial aid. In October, early action or decision applicants are required to fill out the supplemental application during this time.

 

For need or merit-based scholarships, you may be required to submit these early, during October or early winter as well.

 

 

During the winter months, particularly November and December, you should begin applying for your chosen scholarships, to make sure you do not miss any deadlines. During the month of January, you should have your tax return asset and income figures that you need to finalize the FAFSA for financial aid. You only need the figures, you do not have to have filed the return yet. You want to send the FAFSA as soon as you can, but you cannot send it before the 1^st of January.

 

Each college you are applying for will need to have the financial aid forms filled out, so do not forget this.

 

During February is when financial aid deadlines occur. This is for priority, so you want to be sure to have your financial aid papers turned in by February to get the greatest consideration. If you mailed the FAFSA in January, you should receive the SAR and EFC during this time as well.

This article is not a comprehensive list for preparing for college but it certainly gives you a rough outline of how to begin your path to school.  One of the most important things you'll want to remember is keeping track of deadlines as it will eliminate the stress of most college preparation.