<p>I just found out one of S' friends has not submitted their FAFSA yet. This student has been accepted and received a merit scholarship for a private LAC for about $16k/yr but the COA is $40k/yr.</p>
<p>The student's mother knows nothing about the college finanical aid process and they were waiting for taxes to be completed first. Student has said parents (divorced) do not want/cannot to help financially. </p>
<p>Will anything other than loans even be possible if the FAFSA isn't completed until this week?</p>
<p>He could still get Pell Grants but, honestly, it depends on the college. Colleges have all sorts of deadlines. My friend told me that the college where her daughter will attend, for example, doesn’t have people apply for aid until after they’re accepted.</p>
<p>If she qualifies for Pell, she will get it. colleges do not control that. Same for federal loans. Also, in most states, if she is going to an instate school (public or private) she may still qualify for any state aid programs.</p>
<p>Really, the only aid a school can decide to not administer is its own (which can be a big deal at an expensive school, of course.) She should call the college FA office ASAP.</p>
<p>Maybe it varies by state. I was concerned because everything I have seen mentioned Mar 1 as the date to try to get everything in by (and then submit updated tax info later if needed). I had ASSUMED the FAFSA deadline was then also. </p>
<p>I know for my S, we will be getting his FA award in May (returning student) and we had to have everything done by Mar 1.</p>
<p>Schools, of course, have their own deadlines (sometimes “priority” ones, sometimes absolute.) But that limits their own aid; they can’t limit most government aid.</p>
<p>The deadlines posted by schools are important or campus based federal aid such as the Perkins loan and SEOG grant as these have limited funds and when they are gone, they are gone. Also may State grants have firm deadlines. California is March 2nd (and their grants are big). Our State grant deadline is April (not huge but every little bit helps). Then of course deadlines may be important for any institutional aid.</p>
<p>For Pell and Stafford there is no deadline.</p>
<p>The Pell and Stafford loans will not cover the $24,000 balance this student has to meet the costs of attending the college. Also, does the college require OTHER forms (Profile or their own finaid form)? </p>
<p>This student needs to make some decisions FAST. How did they expect to fund the college costs? How will they make a decision to matriculate by May 1 without a finalized financial aid offer? THIS IS THE REASON FOR THE DEADLINES. It gives the schools time to process the application for aid so that the student has it will in advance of needing to make a college choice on May 1.</p>