<p>resoguy,</p>
<p>Here’s what you need to do right now (or at least over the weekend) to be able to get financial aid, if some is available–estimate your income (and that of your son) and fill out a preliminary tax return–then transfer this data to the FAFSA and submit it immediately–sending it to both Syracuse and to Indiana University at Bloomington.</p>
<p>My understanding is that they are planning to cut off aid based upon when this form is filed–meaning those who filed early will get federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans–and possibly some grants and scholarships–and those who file late (and late may be defined as anything after February 15th this year), will be out in the cold, with no recourse for obtaining additional money.</p>
<p>You can get the info on filing the FAFSA at their site: [FAFSA</a> - Free Application for Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov%5DFAFSA”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov)</p>
<p>Oh, and don’t log into other sites that try to use the same name, such as [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.fafsa.org) or <a href=“http://www.fafsaonline.com--these%5B/url%5D”>www.fafsaonline.com–these</a> are sites that are just trying to fool you into thinking that you need their services to file the form–and to be blunt, the form is a piece of cake to fill out. As a first time filer, you will need to apply for PINs (Personal Identification Numbers) for you and your son to use to electronically “sign” your forms–and these take time to get–so even if you aren’t ready to file yet–go and sign up for the “PINs” right now–because they have to be mailed to you.</p>
<p>P.S. Even for those who believe that they don’t qualify for aid because they and their families make too much–be aware that those who file before the deadline for their college (and each college sets their own deadline) are entitled to from $5,500 to $7,500 in subsidized federal Stafford loans each year (the amount of money you get is determined by how many college units your student has completed so far–I think it is 0-23 units gets you $5,500, 24 to 56 units is $6,500 and 57 units or more is $7,500 per year)–oh, and you don’t have to take the loans when they are offered, of course–and you can also take less than the amounts specified above.</p>
<p>[The</a> Wallet : Seeking Financial Aid for College? Better Get FAFSA Forms in Early](<a href=“http://blogs.wsj.com/wallet/2009/01/13/seeking-financial-aid-for-college-better-get-fafsa-forms-in-early/]The”>http://blogs.wsj.com/wallet/2009/01/13/seeking-financial-aid-for-college-better-get-fafsa-forms-in-early/)</p>
<p>P.S. I have already filed out and submitted my FAFSA for this year.</p>