Sophomore FAFSA question

Paying for College
1

<p>Hi so I'm currently a freshman reapplying for financial aid in sophmore year for Umich and I just wanted to know how important it is to send it in ASAP. Umich gave me A LOT of financial aid (Most of it was from Michigan grants and not federal grants) for my freshman year and since my parents are both immigrants from Korea, they don't know how to fill out the FAFSA so we actually pay someone to do our FAFSA for us. </p>

<p>Last year, the guy sent in the FAFSA during the first week of January since I found out how important it is to send it ASAP when you're a freshman. I'm wondering if it's the same case for sophomore year? I figure it would be but the same guy that sends it in for us told me it's okay if he sends it in by February. I just wanted to double check with the community here.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

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<p>You need to check with your financial aid office. Each school has different rules. They will be more than happy to talk to you about deadlines.</p>

3

<p>It looks like the school will send you information in January about applying for aid as a returning student. The schools deadline for returning students is April 30, and is March 1 for Michigan scholarships (from the state). You should be fine filing on 2/1 - </p>

<p>[University</a> of Michigan Office of Financial Aid: Current Undergraduates](<a href=“http://www.finaid.umich.edu/Apply_and_Receive_Aid/Applying_for_Aid/current.asp]University”>http://www.finaid.umich.edu/Apply_and_Receive_Aid/Applying_for_Aid/current.asp)</p>

4

<p>I would not wait at a state school, especially if you’re eligible for a lot of need-based aid. Some pools of that money (ie, Perkins loans, SEOG, some state aid, campus based grant aid) is very limited and given on a first-come, first-served basis. My D is a sophomore and on this year’s awards she missed a $500 state grant that she’d had freshman year…for freshman year I filed on 1/1, but for sophomore year I filed on 1/20. The school uses the initial filing date for determining who is first in line!</p>

<p>I agree that FAFSA is absolutely nothing YOU can’t file on your own. I know many kids who file their own…give it a try, and post your questions here if you get stuck!</p>

5

<p>Begin your FAFSA as soon as possible. Do what you can, and save it. If you can do it all, go ahead & submit. If you have questions, write them down. Go to financial aid walk in hours & ask someone to help you with what you cannot do yourself. Do not pay anyone to do this for you … the financial aid office at UM will help you with whatever you cannot figure out yourself (but DO try to figure things out BEFORE you ask for help).</p>

6

<p>Wow thanks for all your responses! I’ll definitely try and fill out my FAFSA on my own and try to send it in ASAP. Thanks a lot everyone!</p>

7

<p>this has some detailed explanations about how to answer the questions. Don’t pay someone. Ask here if you have questions. People are always willing to help.</p>

<p>[Completing</a> the FAFSA: Financial Aid from the U.S. Department of Education](<a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/index.html]Completing”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/index.html)</p>