<p>Hi, i'm still only a rising junior but i have a few questions regarding the FAFSA...</p>
<p>I know that FAFSAs are sent to colleges for financial aid, but i also know that colleges consider your financial status in admissions as well. So do you turn in a FAFSA when you apply itself? </p>
<p>Also, my mother is studying to be a nurse and will most likely start working next year in the fall or summer...right now my father is the bread winner and the annual family salary is about 60-70k. However, once my mother starts working, that could go up to 90+k. Will the FAFSA consider our financial situation from just that moment when we will fill it out, or from years past? I mainly ask because i really do need a lot of financial aid if i want to go to many OOS schools (I am currently in Illinois). </p>
<p>Also, do you send in the FAFSA at a set date, or earlier if u apply for EA/ED?</p>
<p>First, only some colleges consider financial info in the admissions process. Others are/claim to be “need blind” for admissions.</p>
<p>FAFSA is something you will file annually. It is available for the following academic year on Jan. 1st and the questions asked on income are about the prior tax year…in other words, the year that ended the day before. Asset information is given as of the date that you actually file the FAFSA. You’ll want to file by whatever date your college(s) give you as a priority deadline. Sometimes schools also want the CSS Profile.</p>
<p>Actually this isn’t totally true. MOST colleges are need blind for admissions (meaning that the admissions office does NOT know your financial status when you apply for admission)…and your financial status does not impact your admissions. HOWEVER some schools are NEED AWARE…these schools DO consider your family finances along with your application for admissions. Policies vary by college so check. </p>
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<p>The FAFSA considers only the year used to file that particular FAFSA…nothing previous. If you are a rising high school JUNIOR now…2011…you will be starting college in September 2013, correct? That being the case, the tax year the FAFSA form will require will be for the 2012 tax year. </p>
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<p>Most public universities do NOT meet the full need for ANY STUDENT but particularly for OOS students. In fact…the only public universities that meet full need are UVA and UNC-CH. If you plan to apply to OOS public universities, do your research VERY carefully…as you will likely not receive enough aid to make up the difference between instate/out of state costs. Colleges like to have OOS students BECAUSE they pay higher prices to attend.</p>
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do you send in the FAFSA at a set date, or earlier if u apply for EA/ED?[//quote]</p>
<p>The FAFSA will be available for you to file for your freshman year of college on Jan 1 of your senior year in high school (so for you…Jan 1, 2013).</p>
<p>Free advice…in your income bracket…I would suggest you NOT apply Early Decision.</p>
<p>Also, check to see what other forms your colleges require…some require the Profile also…or a school based form.</p>
<p>There is a terrific financial aid section to this forum where you might want to post this question…lots of knowledgeable folks there :)</p>
<p>There are some wonderful people in the FA Forum that can give you more information then you ever dreamed! Post your question there to get clear answers.</p>
<p>“I mainly ask because i really do need a lot of financial aid if i want to go to many OOS schools (I am currently in Illinois)”</p>
<p>Generally, you are going to pay more money at an OOS school. If you need a lot of financial aid, you may want to adjust your application strategy. There are some OOS universities which will provide merit aid or acholarship money for OOS students but it is usually limited and reserved for candidates with exceptional grades and test scores. Hopefully you fall into that category. If not, at least have one in state financial safety. Good luck to you!</p>