Have you started thinking about and preparing for the 2009-2010 school year’s financial aid process? Do you think I’m crazy for asking that question six weeks before the FAFSA applications are even being accepted?
While FAFSA is need-based, it is also first-come-first-serve. Just because you need the money doesn’t mean you’ll get it if enough people who also need the money are ahead of you in line.
Here are two important things to remember when it comes to Financial Aid applications this year:
More students than ever are going to be applying to receive federal money for college
The economic downturn is sending a lot of people from the workforce to the classroom. When someone loses a job or has their hours cut, it is a natural reaction that they would want to increase their education and skills to stay competitive in a less forgiving job market.
These students going back to college are also likely to need more financial aid and tuition assistance. If they had the money, they wouldn’t be going back to school. Obviously, not every new student fits into this demographic group, but historical trends suggest they will be a significant number of new faces on campus.
The Time Between Now and January 1 is Full of Holidays, Tests, and Travel
FAFSA applications will be accepted after January 1st 2009, but the time between now and then includes: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Finals for college students, and Midterms for high school students.
Chances are, a lot of you who are in college will be traveling, worried about finishing semester-long projects, and the last thing you’re likely to worry about is how you’re going to pay for next year’s academic bills.
How to Get Started Today
- Make sure you are eligible for financial aid
- Fill out a FAFSA worksheet to familiarize yourself with the process
- Make sure you have a PIN number to apply with or get one now
- Organize financial documents from 2008 (Although your income could change between now and then, organizing and collecting income and tax documents will help you get started)
To help ensure that you’ll be selected for Federal financial aid, make sure you are applying as close to the January 1, 2009 start date as possible. Get the prep work out of the way early so all you have to do is finalize some signatures when January rolls around.
Of course, don’t forget to finish the semester with a strong effort – and don’t forget to have fun over the holiday seasons!
December 8th, 2008 at 8:51 am
im really happy that your oraganisation has granted the students with the facility of financial aid and im really interested in it as my father is a government teacher and his earning is not eligible to pay off my monthly fees which is around Rs.10,000 per month and i will be really thankful if you consider my problem
January 8th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Its really great info as a new year present
its a good idea to apply a financial aid at the first time when others still going on vacations
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:33 am
oh great news. i am going to apply. but i hope i am not that late. it sounds like there will be huge rush. but i donot like the policy first come first serve. because the money should be given to those people only who needs that money.
March 4th, 2009 at 1:48 am
My view on financial aid is that the government does not realize how much a family can really afford to pay for college. Even though the government is all for everyone getting an education because we are the future, yet they do not supply enough money for students to do so.
October 11th, 2009 at 2:54 am
salam dear sir i m will be pretty happy and thankful to u if u consider me for the scholar ship plz sir my father is a farmer. he could not bear my college dues. it will be so kind of you to help poor like me.
October 18th, 2009 at 12:36 am
i m a student of “University of engineering and technology”
fee of one semester is only RS.13425/-.My father has no job and my two sisters are still studying. i am also doing part time job but fail to fulfill the family needs so please pay heed to my this comment.I shall be very thankful to you for your favour.
December 1st, 2009 at 5:01 am
em really glad to know that ur organization is supporting students financially and granted scholarships. i want to be a doctor of pharmacy as i am doing pharm-d from university of south asia lhr. My per smester fee is 90,000/- but as am not able they allow me per month 15000/- but our family is not able to afford even 1500/- per month. my mother is doing job in factory and my father left us 15years before. we are 3sisters only. please just help me in my studies expense we are very upset i want to study more…03124001688, 03237242738
we will b very thankful to u
thnks
October 18th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Is this the everything i need or has the situation changed from 2009/2010
December 18th, 2010 at 10:19 pm
i m a student of “University of engineering and technology”
fee of one semester is only RS.13425/-.My father has no job and my two sisters are still studying. i am also doing part time job but fail to fulfill the family needs so please pay heed to my this comment.I shall be very thankful to you for your favour.