The answer? It’s the college clock – the one with all the important deadlines related to planning, filing, and paying for higher education.
Lucky for you, we know that clock well. And we’ve got a snapshot of it for you right here. Use it wisely ... and contact us for a free consultation to help you stay on schedule.
January, Senior Year of High School:
File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1st. Remember, Federal aid is first come, first served, so you don’t want to wait for the filing deadline!
And if you’re applying to a school that requires the CSS Profile, get going on that process at www.collegeboard.com, and handle any unique forms your school requires – now, not later.
February or later:
After filing your FAFSA, you’ll usually receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within 3-6 weeks. Study it carefully, and be ready to make any changes or add schools as needed.
April and May:
College and university award letters start coming out via postal mail and email. These letters reveal in detail what kinds of financial aid your school choices propose. Compare, contrast, and contact us to get help negotiating your awards!
May 1st of Senior Year:
It’s the National Candidate Response Date – the day you choose which school to attend, the award package you’ll accept, and the deadline for sending in your initial tuition deposit.
In the summertime:
The student loan process gets into the heavy paperwork phase, and you’ll have to determine how to meet your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) – the part of your college costs not covered by grants and loans. And there are options. Lots of them, in fact! Contact us to discover some of the creative ways to meet your EFC.
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