<p>I have two scholarships to send in that have to be postmarked "no later than January 15th". The post office isn't open today, or tomorrow, so what do I do?</p>
<p>Just send it the 17th. They will understand, and they really don't care.</p>
<p>OK, thanks, I hope you're right.</p>
<p>what if its for a college and that college says on its own personal finaid app (which is hidden deep in the school's website) that if you don't apply by the 15th, you wont be considered for need-based aid?</p>
<p>I think that if you don't apply by the deadline, you still are eligible for aid, but you won't get your financial aid package until AFTER your admissions decision. Getting the financial aid information done on time guarantees that you will get your decision and your package concurrently, so that you can start comparing offers more quickly. Say that if a college gives you a decision April 1st and their response date is May 1st when you have to tell them whether you are going to that college or not. Your aid package might not come until AFTER May 1, so you wouln't know how much money you got until it was too late. Bottom line: get the stuff done before the deadline and you will be fine.</p>