<p>My dad has been doing my financial aid for the past 1 1/2 years but today he didn't do it in time and I almost lost all my classes I registered for. I told him I don't want him to do it anymore but I don't know how to do it. Are there any good books that can give me in ins-and-outs of financial aid and how to go about doing it? Thanks in advance!!</p>
<p>Why is today a deadline for your aid? It is strange timing</p>
<p>Ask your father to sit down with you and show you. There is no reason to pretend that he hasn’t been doing it and doesn’t know anything about it. Ask him for the files with your past records so you can see what paperwork he has done, and what you will need for the future.</p>
<p>Everything you need to know to fill out the FAFSA is on the Fed site. You should already have your pin number to log in to it from your past year.
[Filling</a> Out the FAFSA | Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/fafsa/filling-out]Filling”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/fafsa/filling-out)</p>
<p>Your school may have an additional form you need to complete.</p>
<p>No endorsements, just saw this elsewhere</p>
<p>[Paying</a> for College Without Going Broke, 2013 Edition (College Admissions Guides): Princeton Review, Kalman Chany, Bill Clinton: 9780307945327: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Paying-College-Without-Edition-Admissions/dp/0307945324]Paying”>http://www.amazon.com/Paying-College-Without-Edition-Admissions/dp/0307945324)</p>
<p>[Don't</a> Miss Out: The Ambitious Student’s Guide to Financial Aid: Anna Leider, Robert Leider: 9781575091112: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/1575091119]Don’t”>http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/1575091119)</p>
<p>I really need to get to work on that book I plan to write someday … ;)</p>
<p>These are the latest 2014 edition:
[Getting</a> Financial Aid 2014: All-New Eighth Edition (College Board Guide to Getting Financial Aid): The College Board: 9781457300196: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Financial-Aid-2014-All-New/dp/1457300192/ref=zg_bs_69826_10]Getting”>http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Financial-Aid-2014-All-New/dp/1457300192/ref=zg_bs_69826_10)</p>
<p>[Paying</a> for College Without Going Broke, 2014 Edition (College Admissions Guides): Princeton Review, Kalman Chany: 9780804124362: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Paying-College-Without-Admissions-Guides/dp/0804124361/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376184853&sr=1-1&keywords=paying+for+college+without+going+broke%2C+2014+edition]Paying”>http://www.amazon.com/Paying-College-Without-Admissions-Guides/dp/0804124361/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1376184853&sr=1-1&keywords=paying+for+college+without+going+broke%2C+2014+edition)</p>
<p>Paying for College Without Going Broke is the best of the books I’ve read.</p>
<p>Paying for College W/O Going Broke is my favorite - at least until kelsmom’s book comes out!</p>
<p>Do it!</p>
<p>PFCWGB is good, but note that it only covers need-based aid. </p>
<p>I found it a bit odd that merit aid was not even mentioned at all.</p>
<p>But if need-based aid is what you are interested in, it is fine.</p>
<p>Kelsmom - I’m pre-ordering your book right now!</p>
<p>At least as far as the financial aid form completion, the Paying for College Book is the most helpful one our family found.</p>
<p>I think another book needs to cover how to use your 529s, savings, apply for loans, etc. Those mechanics on actually paying for college are missed in all the books we’ve browsed. Still kind of muddling our way as to the best way to actually pay the bills, get the tax credits, file the FA forms, and coordinate tax transcripts, etc.</p>
<p>
See [Amazon.com:</a> The Best Way to Save for College:: A Complete Guide to 529 Plans 2013-14 (9780981549194): Joseph F Hurley: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0981549195/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=savingforco0a-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0981549195]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0981549195/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=savingforco0a-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0981549195)</p>
<p>Merit aid is not generally covered in a financial aid book because it is really not “for the masses.” Additionally, each school uses merit in its own particular way … often for recruitment purposes, meaning that there is no way to know whether it will be available for “you.” Finaid books focus on the general, rather than the specific.</p>
<p>HTPFCWGB is the best book for understanding how things work & positioning assets. For many, many families, there are no assets, and they are disappointed when they realize that there is nothing for them, other than loans. </p>
<p>The majority of students are not eligible for merit, and these families understandably are surprised that there simply isn’t much to assist them in paying for college. The key is to know WELL in advance how things work, so that the entire process is undertaken with the knowledge of the reality of financial aid.</p>
<p>To me, merit aid is part of “how things work” and to write a book about this subject without even acknowledging that merit aid exists is odd.</p>
<p>See [Scholarship</a> Handbook 2014: All-New 17th Edition (College Board Scholarship Handbook): The College Board: 9781457300202: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Scholarship-Handbook-2014-All-New-Edition/dp/1457300206/ref=pd_sim_b_3]Scholarship”>http://www.amazon.com/Scholarship-Handbook-2014-All-New-Edition/dp/1457300206/ref=pd_sim_b_3)</p>
<p>Another. See [Amazon.com:</a> Sallie Mae How to Pay for College: A Practical Guide for Families (9781932662986): Gen Tanabe, Kelly Tanabe: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Sallie-Mae-How-Pay-College/dp/1932662987/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Sallie-Mae-How-Pay-College/dp/1932662987/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top)</p>