<p>Filled out FAFSA, filled out CSS. School sends me a letter telling me to apply on their website for aid through the school. Then they send me another letter directing me to apply for scholarships through another link.</p>
<p>..I thought it was over.</p>
<p>They then send me a letter telling me to fill out an Independent Worksheet. </p>
<p>A week later they send me another thing in the mail for "verification" to make sure I haven't lied about my ZERO income.</p>
<p>Finally got all of that over with and here comes another letter. This time asking me to tell them how much was paid on my behalf throughout the year for rent, utilities, food, and other items. </p>
<p>I'm POOR. My mom makes 15k/year and I can't work because I'm usually sitting in school waiting for her to get off of work just to pick me up. We have one vehicle. I have no money. She has no extra income. Why are they trying to squeeze every little bit of information out of me? Why can't all of this stuff be compiled into one or two forms? Is it really necessary to keep trying to extract info out of me every week or two? There's nothing to tell. I have $30 in the bank lol gosh</p>
<p>You sound as if it is a right for you to go to college. You are looking for free money…right? If you want it, you better jump through the hoops.</p>
<p>For the school I’m currently attending, I just had to fill out the FAFSA and the verification worksheet. If they supplied all of the information at the same time, it would save everyone time and effort. Sending in something new every week or two is crazy. Other schools I was accepted to haven’t asked for nearly as much information and documents</p>
<p>Are you interested in that place or not? If you are, then send them the paperwork. Yes, I know its a drag but each school has its own policies, so if you think you’d like to go there, you have to do what they ask.</p>
<p>It might be easier for you if you remember that the financial aid officers are just trying to help you by getting every single scrap of information possible so that then they can justify the money that they are going to try to put together for you.</p>
<p>I know they’re doing what they need to in order to get the money for me. I am grateful. I just think that they should send everything at the same time. Not only does it waste my time and theirs to fill out one form at a time, but it also increases the chance of something getting lost.</p>
<p>Think of it as a part-time job. I mean, if you’re getting aid it’s not such an unreasonable expectation that you have to put up with paperwork to get it. You do your part, and hopefully it will have a good outcome. It’s not <em>your</em> money, afterall. It seems like you’re missing the point… you are asking <em>them</em> to give you something.</p>
<p>My daughter is sitting in a sea of scholarship applications, essays, supporting documents… but I don’t have to remind her that she’s asking for help so complaining is a waste a time.</p>
<p>Honestly, you shouldn’t be complaining. If I had a 0 EFC, I would be ECSTATIC to prove it. In fact, I have a <1600 EFC and I’m happy to prove it (I’ve been flagged for verification at a school, also) and, while it is a bit annoying gathering documents, I’m motivated to go to college and I’d send any amount of documents it’ll take. Yesterday night, I spent THREE HOURS gathering documents to mail in nine envelopes.</p>
<p>I have a zero EFC and I am more then happy to provide whatever they need to prove it. They just want to make sure that your grandmother or best friend isn’t giving you $250 a month to help out with expenses. Not that they could trace something like that if it was cash…I’m just saying…</p>
<p>It seems like excess work but it’s their job…to verify information completed on FAFSA. Sending you a link to another scholarship opportunity is in your favor. Just a bit of advice…in the future, when completing tax returns and your FAFSA of Profile, make extra copies of the returns and the W-2’s and it will not seem so tedious. EFC = 0 brings on red flags.</p>
<p>They do this so that they can give you more money. They do this to eliminate people who make fake claims. I agree that admission and financial aid application process can be improved.</p>
<p>It sounds like you will probably be getting a whole bunch of free money, given your situation. Instead of complaining about spending a few hours doing some work to get this money, consider instead how much you get divided by how many hours it takes you to get it. Bet it’s more per hour than I make! :)</p>
<p>The paperwork can be overwhelming and the OP obviously posted during a moment of frustration. The good news is that the OP will be eligible for a lot of FA, but the bad news is that the OP is in an income group that earns her that type of aid… it isn’t easy living anywhere in this country on a small income. OP, take a deep breath and do not take the requests for endless verification personally- it’s just business and has nothing to do with your integrity. Most schools have FA officers who are happy to work with you and answer any questions you have. Good luck in college!</p>
<p>The documentation requirements are to prove that your family lives on $15K and that you aren’t hiding money. If that number is accurate then your mom is amazing.</p>