FAFSA question...?

Question

Im the first person in my family to want to attend college so no one in my family can help me...Im 23 and I turn 24 in April, I want to attend college in the fall of 07, I know nothing about financial aid at all... what forms do i need??what are the deadlines?? HELP!! and will my parents info be needed??? Thanks for your help!!

Answer 1

If you go to the FAFSA website it will tell you all the deadlines and what you will need. If you have been living with your parents (they support you) then you may have to have their info.. but I believe you cannot use it after you turn 23. It may turn out better for you NOT to use any of it as if you are only working part time or low income job then you will qualify for more grants. Also, the school your attending should have a seperate form for you to fill out for scholarships/grants specifically from them.

I can tell you to do it asap if you plan to attend next fall =) think the deadline is mid spring =)

Answer 2

The first step is to fill out your FAFSA! All federal programs that give financial aid go by this form. Schools will also require you to fill this out to be eligible for scholarchips through the school.

You can find this form on the web and you will be able to fill it out there too. Or if you want to you can also go to your local library and get a copy.

You will be considered an idependent student since you will be 24 when you go to school so you will only need your info.

They are going to ask for your tax info. from 2006 so the faster you can get your taxes done the better. They will also ask what colleges you wanna attend so have a list of 2-4 ready to go. Also, make sure that these schools have you accepted/enrolled so they can process your info in their systems as soon as they get it from FASFA. The other info is just personal stuff like DOB, address, etc.

Oh, yea and if you are on any kind of gov't assist. programs like Social Security or receiving any child support or anything official like that you also want to have that info ready as well.

The FAFSA does have a deadline according to the state you live in and free money like grants and scholarships go FAST! So the sooner you are getting this done the better. Loans aren't sooooo bad but remember that you have to pay them back after graduation with interest, so free money is always the bes way to go.

It's great that you wanna go to school!! I wish you all the luck in the world!!

Answer 3

If you know what school you are going to, go to their financial aid dept for assistance. They are getting paid to help people just like you to learn the ropes. You will need your parents tax forms from last year for the FAFSA. You can complete the form online but it make be better and more informative if you go to your school where someone can take you step by step through the process. Also, to complete the form online, you need a PIN, which the dept of education will have to mail you, so if you are in a hurry, I would suggest to fill out the paper form that you can sign and send in.
Good luck and congrats on furthering your education.

Answer 4

Sallie Mae's website has tons of information on how to get financial aid for school. Here's their link to deadlines for FAFSA, which is the starting point of all government financial aid.
http://www.salliemae.com/get_student_loan/apply_student_loan/understanding/financial_aid/fafsa/deadlines.htm

They also have information on scholarships, grants and student loans.

Answer 5

Well I live at home so I don't know if you do or not (guessing not) so I'm not sure if you'll need this or not but the only thing they ask about your parents are their tax information (such as salaray, gross income, tax returns, and ect.). Now, I'm not sure if you'll need this information if you're on your own or not but you can always go to fill it out and go edit it later if you do and don't have everything. It saves it all the time so information isn't lost and it's easy to obtain!

Answer 6

You can fill out the FAFSA online, and it will take you through the application step by step.

I think the deadline is sometime in March, but it is best to fill it out as soon as possible.

Answer 7

Financial aid is any funding going towards your education. There are two categories for aid: need-based and merit-based. Need based is, well, strictly based on need. If you need it, you get it; that easy! Merit-based is granted based on grades, essays, or other things.

Aid comes in 3 different forms: scholarships, grants, and loans. They have both need-based and mert-basd scholarships and grants. All loans are need based.

You asked about forms!! Most likely, you have to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Beware; other websites will offer to fill it out for you at a price, but it's free!! To fill out your FAFSA, you need:
-Your Social Security Number (can be found on Social Security card)
-Your driver's license (if any)
-Your 2006 W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
-Your (and your spouse's, if you are married) 2006 Federal Income Tax Return - IRS Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, foreign tax return, or tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia or Palau
-Your parents' 2006 Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)
-Your 2006 untaxed income records - Social Security, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, welfare, or veterans benefits records
-Your most recent bank statements
-Your most recent business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and other investment records
-Your alien registration number or permanent residence card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
Most likely, you will use your parent's info, so you will need the same documents from them.

Some colleges require you fill out the CSS/PROFILE; that you have to pay for.

Deadlines for the 2007-2008 School Year (July 1st, 2007 - June 30th, 2008):
-FAFSA on the Web and Renewal FAFSA on the Web applications must be submitted by midnight Central Daylight time, June 30, 2008. Corrections on the Web forms must be submitted by midnight Central Daylight time, September 15, 2008. State deadlines may be earlier, and the school's deadline may be even earlier!!

State dealines:
Alabama Check with your financial aid administrator
Alaska April 15, 2007 - date received
American Samoa Check with your financial aid administrator
Arizona June 30, 2008 - date received
Arkansas For Academic Challenge - June 1, 2007
date received
For Workforce Grant - check with your financial aid administrator
California For initial awards - March 2, 2007
For additional community college awards -
September 2, 2007 - date postmarked
Colorado Check with your financial aid administrator
Connecticut Check with your financial aid administrator
Delaware April 15, 2007 - date received
District of Columbia June 30, 2007 - date received by state
Federated States of Micronesia Check with your financial aid administrator
Florida May 15, 2007 - date processed
Georgia Check with your financial aid administrator
Guam Check with your financial aid administrator
Hawaii Check with your financial aid administrator
Idaho Check with your financial aid administrator
Illinois First-time applicants - September 30, 2007
Continuing applicants - August 15, 2007 -
date received
Indiana March 10, 2007 - date received
Iowa July 1, 2007 - date received
Kansas April 1, 2007 - date received
Kentucky March 15, 2007 - date received
Louisiana July 1, 2007 (date received)
Maine May 1, 2007 - date received
Marshall Islands Check with your financial aid administrator
Maryland March 1, 2007 - date received
Massachusetts May 1, 2007 - date received
Michigan March 1, 2007 - date received
Minnesota 30 days after term starts (date received)
Mississippi Check with your financial aid administrator
Missouri April 1, 2007 - date received
Montana March 1, 2007 - date received
Nebraska Check with your financial aid administrator
Nevada Check with your financial aid administrator
New Hampshire May 1, 2007 - date received
New Jersey June 1, 2007 if you received a Tuition Aid Grant in 2006-2007
All other applications - October 1, 2007, for fall and spring terms;
March 1, 2008, for spring term only - date received
New Mexico Check with your financial aid administrator
New York May 1, 2008 - date received
North Carolina March 15, 2007 - date received
North Dakota March 15, 2007 - date received
Northern Mariana Islands Check with your financial aid administrator
Ohio October 1, 2007 - date received
Oklahoma April 15, 2007 (date received) for best consideration
Oregon March 1, 2007
Final deadline - Check with your financial aid administrator
Palau Check with your financial aid administrator
Pennsylvania All 2006-2007 State Grant recipients and all non-2006-2007 State Grant recipients in degree programs - May 1, 2007.
All other applicants - August 1, 2007 -
date received
Puerto Rico Check with your financial aid administrator
Rhode Island March 1, 2007 - date received
South Carolina June 30, 2007 - date received
South Dakota Check with your financial aid administrator
Tennessee For State Grant - March 1, 2007
For State Lottery - September 1, 2007 - date received
Texas Check with your financial aid administrator
U.S. Virgin Islands Check with your financial aid administrator
Utah Check with your financial aid administrator
Vermont Check with your financial aid administrator
Virginia Check with your financial aid administrator
Washington Check with your financial aid administrator
West Virginia March 1, 2007 - date received
Wisconsin Check with your financial aid administrator
Wyoming Check with your financial aid administrator

In any event, contact the school's Office of Student Aid, and sens it in ASAP!