<p>Is there a guide laying around here that someone can give me a link to? I am a rising Senior right now, and I have absolutely NO IDEA where to start in regards to financial aid. I know what FAFSA is and I know to apply for 3rd party scholarships, but as far as the process and deadlines go, I'm clueless. Anywhere I can get some basic info like that?</p>
<p>Look at Thumper’s thread up above: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/377143-preparing-finaid-applications.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/377143-preparing-finaid-applications.html</a></p>
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You will need to read EACH college website for the process (i.e. what forms you need to complete and what info they want) and the deadlines for completion (they vary WILDLY by college).</p>
<p>The first thing you need to do is have a very serious heart to heart talk with your family about college finances. You need to know if they are planning to contribute to your college costs at all, and if so, how much each year. It really doesn’t matter what the FAFSA tells you your family should be contributing if they don’t plan to provide that amount…or if they are able to provide more. So that talk with your parents is VERY important. Do that first. Then read the threads here (including mine above which a LOT of folks have contributed to)…the come back with questions.</p>
<p>Make sure you research the merit aid/scholarships available at the schools you are interested in. Make sure you know the deadlines and qualifications. Many of these applications take as much time, if not more than the application itself. However, it was my daughters’ experience that these scholarships were much more lucrative than “outside scholarships”. Good luck!</p>
<p>How does financial aid work for schools with EA or Rolling Admissions? Is there a separate deadline for financial aid information or do I need to turn it in with my app?</p>
<p>Bigb14…You need to read EACH COLLEGE WEBSITE. The deadlines for completing financial aid applications varies wildly from school to school…as do the requirements for what to submit. Some schools with EA and Rolling admissions also have a “priority deadline” for financial aid applications that is actually very early…beginning of November or so…(check the websites…oh…did I say that already?). If there is a priority deadline, you want to meet it. Otherwise, just fulfill the deadlines on the finaid portion of the website. Since a rolling admit or EA admit doesn’t require a commitment from you until May 1, some schools just send all the finaid at once in the spring. Remember too…any financial aid award you receive based on estimates (and those priority aps will be completed using estimates) will be an estimated award and CAN change based on the numbers from your tax returns.</p>
<p>Deadlines for financial aid and admissions are not the same. Check the websites.</p>
<p>And the FAFSA and Profile (if you have schools that require those) are NOT sent to the colleges by you. You fill them out, and indicate where you want them sent…and they get sent.</p>
<p>Eh, I think I got it. What a stupid system :P</p>