Help!!! Financial Aid Is Messing With My Mind!

Paying for College
1

<p>Okay, so I know information about financial aid is all over the Internet, but that is the problem for me! I’ve been reading about fin aid for probably the past 2 hours, and none of it makes any sense! If you would be so kind as to answer a few of my questions… I would be so grateful. Seriously, you don’t know how stressed out I am right now, especially since my parents are clueless about this financial aid business…</p>

<p>I’m applying to several four-year, private universities. Probably Yale EA.</p>

<li><p>Do I have to file FAFSA for every school? What about the CSS thing? </p></li>
<li><p>If I’m going to enter college in September of 2009… which year’s tax returns do I need if I’m applying EA? Which year’s tax returns do I need if I’m applying RD?</p></li>
<li><p>If I’m applying, then does that mean I have to submit my CSS by November and then if I get accepted, I have to do FAFSA for the particular school?</p></li>
<li><p>For all the other colleges I’m applying to RD, do I still have to submit my CSS/PROFILE by November?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Sorry for all the questions… obviously I’m very under-informed about this financial aid business…</p>

<p>AGHGHGGHGH!</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>
[quote]
1. Do I have to file FAFSA for every school? What about the CSS thing?

[/quote]

Nearly every school will require FAFSA. Some schools only use FAFSA. Others will use FAFSA to calculate eligibility for federal and possibly State aid and use CSS or their own forms to calculate institutional aid (that is aid awarded by that particular institution).</p>

<p>
[quote]
2. If I'm going to enter college in September of 2009... which year's tax returns do I need if I'm applying EA? Which year's tax returns do I need if I'm applying RD?

[/quote]
FAFSA for school year 2009-2010 will require 2008 tax return information. 2009-2010 FAFSA is not available until Jan 1 2009. I believe CSS asks for 2 years information. For 2009-2010 it will probably ask for the actual 2007 tax information and an estimate of 2008. Once 2008 taxes have been filed the updated information must be sent. No financial aid will be finalized or disbursed until actual tax information is supplied.</p>

<p>
[quote]
3. If I'm applying, then does that mean I have to submit my CSS by November and then if I get accepted, I have to do FAFSA for the particular school?

[/quote]
If the school requires CSS and asks for CSS by November then yes you must submit it by November. Check with each school for their deadlines. You can submit FAFSA to all the schools you have applied to even if you have not yet been accepted.</p>

<p>
[quote]
4. For all the other colleges I'm applying to RD, do I still have to submit my CSS/PROFILE by November?

[/quote]
The deadline for RD is probably earlier than the EA deadline. But you must check with each school for their deadline. </p>

<p>It is VERY IMPORTANT to check the deadlines for each school you are applying to. Missing priority deadlines can have a very detrimental affect on your financial aid.</p>

<p>This thread post #13 the poster says what he had to provide last year
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/566430-cofused-about-fafsa.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/566430-cofused-about-fafsa.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>There is a post at the top of the financial aid page with lots of information about the financial aid process
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/377143-preparing-finaid-applications.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/377143-preparing-finaid-applications.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>An excellent site for researching financial aid is FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans</p>

<p>Read through these sites then come back with questions</p>