<p>Say I don't have a need right now, but I do have a need my sophomore year (not planning on it)... can I apply for financial aid then?</p>
<p>Call the schools. I have heard that as some places if you do not apply your freshman year, you cannot apply in subsequent years. This should not apply to federally allocated money, I wouldn't think. But in many cases it's that institutional award that makes ths school affordable. Why not just apply this year...you also never know if a special circumstance (loss of wage earner, other special circumstances eg. medical expenses) might happen, and if they do, your finaid applications will already be on file in case the school needs to reconsider your aid during the upcoming school year.</p>
<p>uh crap, it's too late now actually I think... :/</p>