FAFSA for community college

<p>Okay.. so before the reality of rejection letters came about, I totally neglected the possibility of me having to go to community college. I didn't send FAFSA to any... o_o There are so many.. and I don't know which one I will be attending either.</p>

<p>I remember the deadline was like March 2. I already have everything filled out, of course.. I just need to send it to community colleges.</p>

<p>How does financial aid work for community college? Can I still send FAFSA now?</p>

<p>Yes you can. The March 2 deadline would be specific to certain schools. It is not for FAFSA. You may (or may not) have missed some priority deadlines at the community college as some aid (such as SEOG and Perkins) have limited funding. Also some State aid may have earlier deadlines. But you will still be eligible for other aid if you qualify such as the Pell, Stafford loans, WS etc.</p>

<p>My son returned to school after working for a while. He submitted FAFSA in late July or early August and got aid (Pell and Sub. Stafford), though he did miss out on a State grant he would have got if he had applied earlier.</p>

<p>I would just go to the various CCs and ask their financial aid departments what to do. I don't recall the exact deadline, but if you did miss the deadline, you can retroactively apply for aid in the next quarter. (Happened to me when I missed the FAFSA deadline for my first quarter the first year of college . . . oops.) </p>

<p>Also ask if they offer any scholarships. My CC does, with a very simple app to fill out, but they require proof that you did the FAFSA before they'll award anything. </p>

<p>As for the actual process, I did my FAFSA online and selected my CC's school code.</p>

<p>My community college has a deadline of June 1 I believe for returning students. If you are a new student it depends on when you plan to attend. Example Winter quarter I was a new student, I had to have fafsa filled out and turned in my mid-dec. My friend is starting this spring quarter and had to have fafsa filled out by feb.20. Both of us still got full pell and a state grant.</p>

<p>I plan to start in the summer. x.x I sent it in yesterday.</p>

<p>Jenu - check with the school whether they require the 2008-2009 or the 2009-2010 FAFSA for the summer. Most schools treat the summer as part of the preceding year for financial aid (which would mean you need to file the 2008-2009 FAFSA using 2007 tax info) but others treat it as part of the subsequent year (which would require the 2009-2010 FAFSA). With any luck your school will be one that treats it as part of the preceding year which will make you eligible for aid in the summer without taking away from your aid for the fall and spring. </p>

<p>If you have filed the 2009-2010 FAFSA and they are a school that treats the summer as part of the preceding year then you have not applied for aid for the summer. Check with your school(s).</p>