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I am a sophomore in High School is it to early to apply for financial aid for college and to start filling out FAFSA's?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
It is to early to apply for FAFSA...but you can see go to the website MakeitCount and see what your estimated EFC (Expected Family Contribution) is prior to your senior year of high school. You file FAFSA in second semester of your senior year and after.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
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How to apply for Financial Aid?
Many students struggle today to afford the rising cost of college tuition. Not only do students have to spend tens of thousands on tuition, but college students also have to deal with textbooks and room and board charges. All of this money adds up quickly. Thankfully, many students are eligible to receive financial aid to help cover some of these expenses. With financial aid, students don’t have to settle and have the opportunity to attend the schools of their dreams. But, in order to overcome their financial hurdles, students have to first apply for financial aid. High school seniors should begin the financial aid process sometime between January 1st and June 30th. Students should get their hands on a copy of the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA evaluates how much the government expects you and your family can afford to pay on your college education. Applicants must provide their name, address, social security number, and citizenship status. In addition, the FAFSA requires information about your family’s finances. The FAFSA is particularly interested in your family’s yearly income and the number of current college students in your family. This information is essential for the government to give you all the financial aid you deserve. After filling out the FAFSA, you must continue the process by contacting your prospective colleges and universities. When you fill out the FAFSA, you are asked to list as many as six colleges you are interested in attending. You must confirm these colleges received your FAFSA information. Also, you may be required to submit additional documents to the college’s financial aid officer. If the FAFSA doesn’t fully meet your financial aid needs, you should look into federal loans and grants. Search the Internet for federal scholarships you might be eligible to receive. Also, look into applying for a federal student loan, like the Stafford Loan. Stafford Loans are great loans because they carry a mere 6 percent interest rate and do not require individuals to make payments until six months after their college graduation. Some other federal loans include the Perkins Loan and the Parent PLUS Loan. If all else fails, you should consider private student loans and scholarships.
How do you get enough financial aid to cover your expenses when you are enrolled in two colleges at the same time?
For starters, always get your taxes done ASAP each year, and file for financial aid as early as the first week of January through FAFSA.ed.gov. The amount you receive is dependent on how early you file. More money is given to those who apply early, less if you file by the deadline (usually the first 2-3 days of march). Depending on income (especially your parents income if you are 24 or younger) you can receive federal grants. Each state also offers grants based off of your FAFSA application, and if you can't receive grants, depending on your parents income, you can still receive a fee waiver to have free or discounted tuition. Also, although it may be lying, students who say they will be living off-campus receive more than those who admit that they will be living with their parents.Apply for work study programs if they are offered to you as well.You need to decide what college you want to attend as your "degree granting institution," and fill out the financial aid paperwork for that school. Then, ask for the amount of aid needed to fund your education at both schools. More than likely, one would only take a couple of classes at their "secondary" school. If the financial aid from scholarships and government loans are not enough to cover the costs, private funding may be an option. Keep in mind though, that private loans are credit-based loans that require an established, positive, credit history. Moreover, if the student will not be working, it will probably be necessary to obtain a cosigner to guarantee the loan. Further, these loans, generally, have higher interest rates and other fees than that of government-backed loans; they should be used as a last resort.If there's a will, there's a way! Think ahead so that you can plan the things you will going to do so that you can go to two colleges and have enough money for both!Federal or state financial aid in the form of grants or loans CANNOT be used at two schools at once. It's illegal.
