<p>Basically the schools will not guide you through the financial aid process. You should visit each school’s financial aid pages on their website to see the requirements of each school and to make sure you meet the deadlines for each school.</p>
<p>As kelsmom said, your first step is to definately fill out the FASFA</p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon requires the FASFA, their own financial aid form and you must send copy of 2008 taxes when complete. </p>
<p>[Applying</a> for Aid](<a href=“Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University”>Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University)</p>
<p>Stanford requires the FASFA and the CSS Profile. THey also require that you send tax info through IDOC (link on their site- I’ve never had to do this) Their priority date is Feb15th</p>
<p>[Applying</a> for Aid : Stanford University](<a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/finaid/undergrad/apply/index.html]Applying”>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/finaid/undergrad/apply/index.html)</p>
<p>UIUC only requires the FASFA</p>
<p>[University</a> of Illinois Financial Aid: The Process](<a href=“http://www.osfa.uiuc.edu/process/index.html]University”>http://www.osfa.uiuc.edu/process/index.html)</p>
<p>University of Michigan requires both the FASFA and the CSS Profile as Kelsmom stated</p>
<p>[University</a> of Michigan Office of Financial Aid: Prospective Undergraduates](<a href=“http://www.finaid.umich.edu/Apply_and_Receive_Aid/Applying_for_Aid/prospectiveug.asp#Fall/Winter%202009-2010]University”>http://www.finaid.umich.edu/Apply_and_Receive_Aid/Applying_for_Aid/prospectiveug.asp#Fall/Winter%202009-2010)</p>
<p>As Kelsmom stated, it may be very costly to attend the University of Michigan as an out of state student. </p>
<p>Carnegie Mellon meets 82% of need, so you may end up with a big gap of unmet need. Stanford meets 100% of need, but I’m sure there must be some type of student summer work contribution. However, if accepted you may find that Stanford is more affordable than UIUC. Good luck.</p>