<p>When should I start working on this? Anything else I should be focusing on?</p>
<p>FAFSA won’t be available until after Jan 1 2013, but you and your parents can right now estimate your EFC using the on-line calculators to get an idea of where you might be in 2013. You can then use that information to run some of the college specific net price calculators.</p>
<p>See if your high school puts on a FASFA night. Mine did. They encouraged you to bring your own laptop if you could, but also had computers in the school library. They had people from FASFA there and the school employees. They were able to answer questions on the spot. I would check into if your school has one or not.</p>
<p>The most important thing you can do now if you haven’t already, is have a conversation with your parents as to how much they realistically can and will contribute each year.</p>
<p>In addition to the conversation with your parents, many schools or community groups - and even colleges - put on financial aid information sessions in the fall. It is good to hear about aid while still looking at schools. That way, you will understand how things work.</p>
<p>Of course, reading the CC financial aid threads is an excellent way to prepare! :)</p>
<p>You should get a good book on the financial aid process so that you understand it and share the information with your parents. You and a parent should run some sample EFC calculators and also some schools that you might consider have calculators. That give you some idea on what you are going to be expected to pay.</p>
<p>When you fill out the FAFSA, make sure the accounts are low and that you have paid your parents for your expenses so that yours are very low or empty. You don’t want to fill out the FAFSA on payday before the mortgage and other bills are paid because, the assets on the day you complete are used and your parents are assessed 5.6% over their protection allowance and you get hit 20% on all of your assets with no protection allowance. Better they have a savings account in your name and hold those funds for you. You can decide to pay down your savings by paying for your own stuff, or reimbursing your parents for them and paying them for expenses as they, in turn, can take that money and have an account for you.</p>
<p>Check your local library for a copy of the book Paying for College Without Going Broke.</p>
<p>Otherwise, the most important things to do are, as noted already:</p>
<p><a href=“1”>b</a>** Have the money talk with your parents. Find out <a href=“a”>b</a>** what their income/assets are (so that you can run each school’s Net Price Calculator) and <a href=“b”>b</a>** how much they are willing and able to pay.</p>
<p><a href=“2”>b</a>** Figure out ahead of time - before you start your applications - which schools you can afford to attend!</p>