Can anyone get financial aid? I want to apply and never have?

Question

I have 2 more semesters of school and have never applied because my parents always said we dont qualify?? Does that make sense?? What are the restrictions and can I apply for summer class aid?

Answer 1

If you are attending school in the US (or if you are an American citizen) do you know if your parent(s) completed a FAFSA?

The FAFSA is the form that must be completed or there is no way to determine if one is eligible for financial aid. Even if your parents did fill one out years ago for an older sibling, circumstances could have changed. The FAFSA is used to determine if a college student is eligible for financial aid. There is another form some colleges also require called PROFILE.

Whether or not a college student qualifies for financial aid depends on the resources ($) the family has to work with vs. the cost of attending a particular college. There are indeed families whose income or assets make them ineligible for financial aid, but sometimes there are types of student or parent loans that are still possible, even with very high income or assets. And if you are not eligible for need-based financial aid, there might still be scholarships at your school you can apply for that are based on merit--how well you are doing, etc.

Parents sometimes assume their son or daughter will not be eligible for financial aid because one or both parents have a high salary. But there are factors that could still make the son or daughter of parents with pretty high income eligible for at least some financial aid. Some of the things that may offset high income might be:

* a very high mortgage or other costs of living,
* whether or not the college you are attending is very expensive,
* if there are several children in the family,
* or if more than one kid is in college,
* if there are unusual circumstances such as high medical bills,
etc.

You or your parents might be surprised. Or maybe they did fill out the FAFSA recently and the SAR (Student Aid Report) came back saying you were not eligible. (You would probably know if they filled out a FAFSA because there is a section the student is supposed to fill out.) Even families with a high income might discover that some financial aid is possible. The only way to know is to complete the FAFSA. This should be done ASAP, ideally as early in the new year as parents know (or can estimate) what their previous year earnings are. It forces parents to get their taxes done ASAP. A lot of parents work on these forms in January or February; you have to check with your college about its deadlines.

The FAFSA is long and a pain, but well worth doing. You do it for each year you are in college. I find it easiest to print a copy to use as a draft, round up all the needed documents, and do it on line. Once you've filed on line once, the next time it's a lot quicker and easier. To file on line, you have to get a PIN number which can take a few weeks. Your parent(s) will also have to submit copies of their income tax returns. Some colleges have limited ability to give a lot of financial aid, so it's crucial to follow the instructions of your college's financial aid office about when & how to apply. There may be other factors that make a student ineligible for federal financial aid, but you would probably be aware if this applied to you.

I believe summer financial aid can be possible, if the FAFSA has been filled out and income tax returns submitted, as long as you are taking a certain amount of credit hours per summer session. Again, ask your college financial aid office.

If you are not eligible for any aid, and there is still a shortfall in what you need to pay for college, you need to talk to your parents about what they can and cannot do to cover the costs. You may have to talk with your college about what could be done to lessen the financial load--for example, if you took summer classes at a community college to earn credits and save money, would these credits be accepted by the school you go to and would they count towards your program/graduation? The two year community colleges are often cheaper than a public four year college and definitely cheaper than a private college.)

You are probably already working and helping to contribute in one way or another--maybe by working in the summer or having a part time job during the school year. If not, make sure you are doing your part to contribute, however you are able. Good luck, and I hope this has been helpful to you. This link will provide you with more information:
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

Answer 2

If you are a US citizen (or Permanent Resident), then to apply for Fin. Aid, you have to fill out a FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov). On that form, your parents have to report their income tax info & their assets. Often, if they own a home, that's basically enough for the gov't to tell the school that you don't need much money.

BUT, most schools know how the FAFSA calculates your need, & they take this into account.

Also, ask the Fin Aid director at the school (you can just call or email them) if they award any merit-based fin aid (most do).

And ask about any scholarships you can apply for. There are hundreds that you can just write an essay.

Answer 3

Your college or university will have an entire department on finicial aid, go visit them and see what you can apply for, and what your parents will have to also sign for. Alot is based on your parents income, if they make over certain income levels some aid will not be available to you. But you will not know till you go talk to them

Answer 4

yes you should always apply there is some formula that is used. typically small liberal arts colleges provide FA. call your schools FA office.