<p>hey guys, I am clueless on financial aid.
I just finished sending out my apple last week and now I am wondering how financial aid works. I read online I need some FAFSA and state aid form. When do I send them out? Now or after I get my college desiciob? Thnx</p>
<p>This website has a financial aide section that you should check out. However, go immediately to the us gov FAFSA site and start reading. You need to start on these asap. If you wait until college decision, you will be too late to be eligible for the '09-'10 school year. The FAFSA website has the deadlines. Each college you applied to will also have a Financial Aid form you will need to fill out, but usually you do the FAFSA first, everything is depending on that.</p>
<p>Thnx I just went ok thier site, are u sure I need to start now and not January 1st if I'm applying for the fall 2009 semester for my colleges?</p>
<p>You are right - the 2009-2010 FAFSA is not available until January 1st, 2009. The FAFSA that is available now (2008-2009) is for the 2008-2009 school year. Do not file 2008-2009 - it will not count as having filed for 2009-2010. </p>
<p>You can apply for PIN numbers now. You will need one for the student and one for a parent. The link is on the FAFSA site. make sure you are at the correct site as there are some sites (.com = bad) that will try and charge you to file. It is a free application.
FAFSA</a> - Free Application for Federal Student Aid</p>
<p>You do not have to apply for aid before you receive a decision. Many schools give admissions decisions before the financial aid deadlines. FAFSA only schools may give admissions decisions before FAFSA is even available.</p>
<p>Check with each of your schools for their financial aid requirements. Some schools require FAFSA only. Some require CSS/profile or their own financial aid forms as well as FAFSA. Every school will have their own priority deadline. Make sure you meet this as some funding may be limited and you may miss out if you miss the deadline.</p>
<p>For State aid check with your State. Some States base State aid on FAFSA results. Some may have separate applications. many will have their own separate deadlines that may differ from the school.</p>
<p>A good thread with financial aid information
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/377143-preparing-finaid-applications.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/377143-preparing-finaid-applications.html</a></p>
<p>FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans
My favorite site for information on financial aid - lots of information about loans/grants etc.
student loan info
FinAid</a> | Loans | Student Loans
An EFC calculator (has not been updated for 2009-2010 yet
FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid</p>
<p>Read through some of these then come back and ask questions.</p>
<p>It is useful to assemble the info from this year so you can estimate your figures for your FAFSA 2009 & use the calculator to get some "guesstimate" as to what your family's estimated contribution will be. As the thread above notes, the 2009-2010 forms & info aren't available but looking at the current materials can give you a rough idea of where your family might stand.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>