Financial Aid Deadlines and Information

We thought we could afford college for our child. Now we find that we will need some financial help to pay for the school she wants to attend next year. How do we go about getting financial aid? Is it too late to apply in January? - Seeking Aid
Answer: The most immediate thing that your family needs to do is to get a copy of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). By filling in just this one form, your child will be applying for most federal, state and college loan, grant and scholarship, and work-study programs. You can get the form at high schools, some public libraries or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. It is definitely not too late to apply for aid, as this form cannot be submitted before Jan. 1. Some states and colleges have additional forms that must be completed to receive aid from these sources. Pay close attention to all deadlines, as they must be met.
Your family needs a crash course on financial aid. The more you know about the many sources of aid and how to apply for them, the more aid you are likely to receive. Begin by visiting the U.S. Department of Education Web site at www.studentaid.ed.gov. Another excellent site is www.finaid.org.
Your child should visit his or her high-school guidance counselors office, as it will have information on federal and state financial-aid programs as well as application procedures. It will also have information about local scholarship opportunities. Be sure to contact the financial-aid office at the college your child would like to attend for information on financial-aid programs and the forms that need to be submitted.
It is very important to understand that the federal and state governments, colleges and employer-paid plans are the primary sources of financial aid. Explore these resources before looking for private scholarships, which provide a very small piece of the financial-aid pie.