Was I too late??

<p>My fafsa was "processed" on March 20. I started it in January but didn't have all the documentation I needed to complete it. I got accepted at my school of choice, but noticed they have a March 1 deadline for the fafsa. I absolutely do not have the financial means to attend without the aid. My efc was $0. Does this mean I have to turn down the acceptance and not go? I want to go more than anything. I don't know what to do.</p>

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Does the school award you any financial aid? Even though you filed your FAFSA late.you</p>

<p>None of us can answer this question for you, as only your school’s financial aid office can do so. </p>

<p>Yes, when you are late in filing forms for money, you can miss out. There is only a limited amount of money available at most schools and situations, and when it is distributed, that is it. You weren’t there then you missed out. And by this time, for most school, the distributions have been made in terms of school money. But to make sure, do talk to the school financial aid office. If you wanted to go more than anything, , you have to keep on top of the money situation, as there is not going to be anyone else as interested as you in that. People and agencies do not stay on top of people when they are GIVING OUT money. This is a life long lesson to learn. </p>

<p>Depending on your school, however, how much you missed up is up in the air. Most schools do not meet full need. Check out the school NPC and see what they say they would give to someone in your situation had you gotten your paper work in on time. That would be an average. </p>

<p>With a zero EFC, you will be entitled to up to about $5600 in PELL money and allowed to borrow up to $5500 in Stafford loans, some of the maybe subsidized. Those are the only true entitlements and you are not too late to get those funds as they do not come from your school’s money holding but through the federal government. You might want to check if you have any money from your state as well, and if you are not too late to get some of it if there is something available. The money is not going to just flow into your open mouth, my dear. You are going to have to aggressively pursue it, or you won’t get it.</p>

<p>How much do you need for the year? What does the NPC say? How much need does your school typically meet and what percentage of need do they met on average? Finally, and most importantly, what is the financial aid department telling you about availability of funds at this stage for you, other than the PELL and Staffords to which you are entitled regardless?</p>

<p>Pick up the phone and call them. They are the only ones who know what is possible.</p>

<p>Any entitlement federal aid that you are eligible for, you will receive. However, keep in mind that no aid will be disbursed until you either use the IRS data retrieval tool to upload your tax information into the FAFSA. If you were not required to file taxes, you must submit a non-filers statement to your school. The earliest that you can request this is June.</p>

<p>With a 0 EFC, as an independent student (if you are over 24) you will be eligible for Pell $5,625 and a stafford (direct) loan of $9500 (provided you have not exhausted your financial aid). If you have attended college in the past, there will lest aid available for you because you only have 6 years to complete a degree. If you filed late, if you were eligible for SEOG, federal work study, or a Perkins loan because they are limited funding available for this type of aid, you have probably missed out by filing late.</p>

<p>If your state gives state grants, then you would have to see if you meet the requirements (including the deadline for those grants).</p>

<p>Thanks for your help. I called and they said I “may” (emphasized may) still be eligible and my efc would be an important factor in whether I get it or not. He sounded like a student answering the phone though. You say I will definitely get the amount the federal government says I am eligible for - that the school doesn’t get a limited fund from them to dole out on a first come first serve basis? He said I’d be eligible for loans at any time but I really want to steer clear of loans as much as possible.</p>

<p>Also glad I called because there’s another form I need to print out and send them. He also said as you did that I need to use the IRS retrieval tool. So I am waiting for my return to be processed so I can do that. Hopefully I can get this straightened out soon so I know I can go.</p>

<p>Yes, your PELL grant and your Stafford loans are pretty much guaranteed as long as your return matches up with your FAFSA. No problems there. But the school is not giving out that money, the government is, and you can get that same amount as long as the COA (Cost of Attendance) justifies it going anywhere, like that local state school down the street. You can’t get more than the costs which is why the COA is involved, but yes, that is from the government though funds get distributed through the school of choice so the money goes to them first. </p>

<p>The issue is whether there is any of the school’s money left and that included those government funds to which they subscribe like Perkins and SEOG and work study. The first two tend to go very fast. Also the school’s own money that they set aside for financial aid purposes. That tends to go fast too. So , yes, you will get PELL, but any other grants are up to the school and if they are out, they are out. </p>

<p>Bear in mind that many school present the PELL and Stafford loans like they are giving out the money. Don’t be fooled. That isn’t the case. You could have gotten that money just about anywhere.</p>