Complete family taxes as early as possible because
you'll need to submit the tax return for the previous year with
your FAFSA. The Department of Education uses the FAFSA to determine
a student's eligibility for federal and state funds.
As soon as tax returns have been
filed, submit the FAFSA
online.
February
Continue filling out financial-aid forms for prospective
schools, as well as scholarship applications according to your
deadline calendar. Though you have already filled out your FAFSA,
some colleges have additional paperwork you must submit to request
financial aid.
As you submit these forms to various colleges,
follow up to make sure all paperwork has been received.
Keep
looking for more scholarships. Churches, civic organizations and philanthropists
could be possible sources of funding.
Check in with a high
school guidance counselor to see if more scholarship opportunities have come in.
March
Follow up on any scholarship applications submitted in the
fall if you have not yet received an award notification.
By now you should have received your Student Aid
Report, or SAR, which summarizes the data you reported on your
FAFSA. Check it to make sure it is accurate.
Continue to follow up on scholarship and financial aid applications you've submitted.
Look out for responses to applications in the mail.
Look for acceptance deadlines on any scholarship
or financial-aid awards. The student might have to formally accept
the scholarship or financial aid by a certain date.
Compare the amount of financial aid awarded to the cost
of tuition.
May
Fill out
student loan applications if loans are part of the student's financial aid package.
Continue following up on scholarship applications if you
have not yet received notification.
If you do receive
additional scholarships, let the student's chosen college's financial aid office
know about them. They might adjust the financial aid package that they offer accordingly.
June
Keep looking
for scholarship opportunities being awarded by local businesses and groups.
Get
a summer job to generate more money for college.
July
Continue looking for last-minute scholarship
money, or look for scholarships that can be applied for in the
fall to help pay for the student's second year of college.
August
Look for back-to-school
sales to help pay for school supplies.
