Or should I wait?
You can complete the information on the FAFSA, but to submit it, you need to know which colleges you want it to go to. You have to include a FAFSA code for the college to submit.
So…if you have NO IDEA where you are applying, you wouldn’t have anywhere to submit your FAFSA.
Now…if you have a bunch of schools, and you just aren’t sure which ones, you can submit to all of them. You can only submit to ten schools at one time, BU you can easily wait until those process, then delete and add others.
https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/school-list
You might want to at least list an instate admissions and financial safety school, in case that matters in your state in order to get state aid.
Thank you Thumper!
@mommdc , I live in NY which is a state that says “You must list an eligible in-state college to be considered for state grant aid. The order in which you list the colleges will not impact your eligibility for state aid programs.”
I don’t plan on applying to any colleges in New York. Am I still eligible for the state grant aid even if I don’t go to college in NY? Should I list a college somewhere in NY to have a chance for state grant aid even if I don’t plan to go to that college?
Also, does NY have anything to do with a financial safety school? I’m not quite sure what you meant by that.
Sorry for all the questions, I’m just new to the process and don’t want to screw it up
I don’t think so, unless TAP is not the only state grant program available to you.
Unless your family has lots of money to pay for college I would recommend applying to some in-state public Us to take advantage of TAP and lower tuition rates.
@sybbie719 can you advise?
I mean it’s fine to say that you don’t want to go to school in NY. But OOS public schools will have higher tuition most likely than you would pay to an instate public. If you also get state aid for going to schol in NY, maybe get merit for good stats, then that is more finacially feasible.
Some states give out aid as first come first served. Once it’s gone it’s gone.
So it’s smart to put at least one NYS school on the FAFSA in case it ends up the only school you are able to afford, so you don’t lose out on TAP.
What I mean with admissions and financial safety, a school that with your stats you have auto admission or a very good chance of acceptance, and based on the net price calculator your family can afford with student loan, student (summer) work earnings, and parent contribution. A school that accepts you but you can’t afford, is not a safety.
You do not get NYS aid or a HESC scholarship if you do not attend school in NYS.
Can your family fully fund your college education at more than $50,000 a year?
Thanks guys, looks like I will be applying to one NYS school just in case.
@thumper1 , when I combine grants and loans yes
If your parents have enough cash to pay for a $50k education, you most likely are not going be eligible for grants (especially federal grants).
What is your parents income? If it is over 80k, unless they have a bunch of kids, you are not going to be eligible for TAP or Pell
Right. What “grants” do you think you will be receiving? The only loan you can take is the $5500 Direct Loan.
Or do your parents plan to take,a huge parent plus loan?
Aren’t you applying using the Questbridge program? I thought that was for low income students. How much can your parents pay per year?
@sybbie719 It’s about 51k with 2 dependents (including myself). About 5000 in savings also. I should mention that I will have to work in the summer and during school though. Not sure how much this effects it but here’s some housing stuff as well
Current market value: $495,000
Amt owed on price of the home: $750,000
Purchase price of the home: $499,000
Puchased: 2005
Here’s an example of a financial aid calculator I used for example. Some stuff has changed (3 dependents to 2) that would likely make the grant aid less now though. http:// i.imgur.com/BHdyNQ0.png (delete the space inbetween the slash and the i)
Your parents earn $51,000 a year…and you think they can afford $50,000 or more per year for your college costs with “grants and loans”?
Are you a tippy top,student who can get acceoted to HYPSM or,the like? Those schools have very generous need based aid. Your current ACT score is a composite 29 which is not going to make you a competitive applicant for these tippy top schools with very generous need based aid…that meet full need for all.
There are 3000 plus colleges in this country, MOST do not guarantee to meet full need for all accepted students.
ETA…I’m going to be a bit bold here. I would strongly suggest you apply to some instate public universities in NY state. Between TAP, and possibly some Pell money, and the Direct Loan…and income from a job, you actually might be able to pay the college costs…especially if you are able to commute from home.
@sybbie719 what instate public programs would be good ones for this student to consider?
Are you in top 10% of high school? Are you going into a STEM field? I think there is a program where you can get free tuition to a SUNY.
Your house is worth a bit less than when you bought it. But you have lived there for over 10 years and the balance is 1 1/2 times the purchase price.
So either the interest rate is really high or your parents borrowed from the home equity. Did one of your parents lose a job and they are making up the lost income with that?
Then they are not going to be able to help you much.
Wait… your parents owe $750k on a home that was purchased in 2005 for $499k and is now worth $495k? Are you sure those numbers are right, and if they are… how did that happen?
Alex,
What is your GPA on a 100 point scale/ on 4.0 scale
what is your class rank?
What is your intended major?
Do you live in NYC?
If you live in NYC, start here
if you are eligible for free/reduced lunch and you attend a NYC public school, this year you are eligible for a CUNY fee waiver. you will need a financial safety where you can commute from home
If you are not in NYC, start here
https://www.suny.edu/media/suny/content-assets/documents/summary-sheets/Admissions_qf_stateop.pdf
Based on what you have posted, you are not EOP/HEOP eligible.
Sit with your parents and their 2015 tax return and run the FAFSA4caster
https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e2s1
Sit with your parents and their 2015 taxes and run the TAP estimator
Based on $51k in income and 2 parents (who are about 45 y/o) and one in college your combined TAP and PELL will be about $6000. This and a $5500 loan will leave you with ~ a $10,000 gap if you plan on living in the dorms.
If you are planning on a STEM major and you are in the top 10% of your graduating class the STEM scholarship will provide you with free tuition at CUNY/SUNY (minus the tap award - you will see this in the Tap estimator)
You should also look at some schools in NYS, where you may be eligible for some generous need based financial aid
(you will have to run the net price calculator) to see where you stand.
Do you have an IEP? If yes, you need to meet with your GC and have him/her help you apply for ACCES-VR benefits because you will be eligible for additional benefits for college
http://www.acces.nysed.gov/common/acces/files/vr/College%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf