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FAFSA – An Important College Scholarship Reason to File
Filing the FAFSA should be #1 on your list of finding money to pay for college, and this is why.
[2023 Edition]
Becoming familiar with financial aid terms is an important part of trying to get as much help as possible in paying for college.
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form is 100% free to submit.
Applicants and their parents are directed to answer each question with helpful suggestions and information provided along the way. The form should be filed as soon as possible after it becomes available each year. The FAFSA is open for submission on October 1 (NOTE: For the 2024/2025 school year, the FAFSA will open in mid-December).
The FAFSA should always be submitted in a timely matter in order to get as much federal and state financial aid as possible for college.
There are many websites offering assistance in completing the forms and although they may be helpful, they are costly and give no guarantee that the student will receive more aid as a result of using their services. If you truly think you need expert help in filling out and filing the FAFSA, I highly recommend Jodi Okun and her book, Secrets of a Financial Aid Pro available here.
Have you filed your FAFSA yet?
Here is another reason to file, a college scholarship reason!
In addition to the aid that a student may receive from federal and state agencies, many scholarship applications include a box to check asking whether the student has submitted a FAFSA.
Even if a family thinks they make too much money to receive any federal or state aid, the form still should be submitted; as it may qualify them for low-interest loans and shows scholarship providers they are serious about finding money to help pay for school. Never assume a family makes too much money and ignore the FAFSA, just do it!
Open to High School Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors! APPLY NOW HERE
Related: HOW TO GET THE MOST FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE
Monica Matthews is the author of How to Win College Scholarships. She helped her own son win over $100,000 in college scholarships and now shares her expertise with other parents and their students. She truly has “been there, done that” in regard to helping parents and students navigate the scholarship process.
Her method of helping students in finding college scholarships, writing unique and compelling scholarship essays, creating amazing scholarship application packets, and more have taught desperate parents to help their own students win thousands of scholarship dollars. She teaches them how to apply S.M.A.R.T. with outstanding results.
Monica’s scholarship tips have been featured on many prominent websites, and she has been dubbed the “Go-To” expert on college scholarships.
Okay, just to let you know I popped by and I’m going to stumble this. It looks very useful for Americans – but not much help to me as a S.African. 🙂 Well done for approaching a difficult topic.
Thanks so much, Shirley!
Some of the most prestigious, and lucrative, scholarships in the USA also require students to interview. Do not take this opportunity lightly. These interviews are highly competitive and you will need to practice ahead of time to outstrip the competition.
Great point, Mark! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
The families should look on the front page of the FAFSA’s right-hand side banner to see the due date for their state.
Even though the Federal due date if June 30th, states may have earlier dates for their funds.
In my state, California, we must file before March 2nd.
Also, I like to assure parents that it is OK, and necessary to file an estimate before they file their taxes. I am doing FAFSA workshops all over Southern California now thru February.
Yes, there are different FAFSA due dates for each college, state, and at the federal level. Thanks, Jim!