It’s the month of Halloween! And in the spirit of the holiday, this month’s blog is going to contain some candy-coated treats to hopefully make a few things like that scary FAFSA, more palatable.
Let’s talk about the application process first. Most colleges have their initial deadlines on November 1st, so it’s getting pretty darn close to turn-in time. If you need some help or have questions, there are resources to be found.
For the common application, check out AXS Companion, a free open online resource developed to help students work through the common application.
For the UC application, UCSB has an entire tutorial on every section of the application. They are also hosting a series of online events on a variety of topics.
The only thing more frustrating and less transparent than the application process is applying for financial aid. And this year, that window is going to be 60 days shorter due to the delay of the new FAFSA form. Here are a few tasty “treats” to know about:
1. Check out BigJ Educational Consulting’s blog and website for a big picture overview and information about the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. Understanding what each form is, how it’s utilized by the college and why you need to complete it is the first step.
2. Know the FAFSA and CSS Profile due dates for each of the college’s your student is applying to. Usually, if a college requires BOTH the CSS Profile and the FAFSA, the due dates are the same. BUT, because the FAFSA is so late, the due dates for the CSS Profile may be much earlier.
3. Be sure to bookmark the FAFSA website so that you can stay informed on the latest updates.
4. Once the new FAFSA debuts, you want to be ready with all the information you need. Here is a checklist so that you can gather the documents you need and are prepared to complete the form. And be sure to search for “how to” videos on YouTube to help with the process.
5. Don’t let the delay stand in the way of getting all the information you need to know what you’re expected to pay. The colleges are saying they are prepared to receive the info and evaluate quickly so make sure you receive a financial aid award letter and understand how to evaluate it so you can make an informed financial decision.
Knowledge is power, so I hope these little tricks help you feel more empowered with resources and information so that the process is less scary and more of a treat to complete!