Financial Aid

[tinhuviel]

All you school-type peeples on my friends list: Do you have any advice for me on how to fill out my FAFSA and how I can get as much financial aid as humanly possible? Any input would be so appreciated, I'll name my firstborn after you.

Comments

[quoth-the-maven.livejournal.com]

Go to the website - it's much, much more straightforward and easy to use than the form, but you'll have to sign up for a PIN number...instructions are all on the site: www.fafsa.ed.gov (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov)

As for getting as much aid as possible, if your income is low and you can't be claimed as a dependent (also if you're going to a state school, rather than a private school), you stand a much better chance of getting aid than if you're going to a private school out of state and you can be claimed on someone else's taxes.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

Coolness! I'm waiting for my PIN now and I have no income. Yay!

Isn't that pathetic?

[razzle.livejournal.com]

Nope, not pathetic. Savvy. :)

Your financial aid will be based on your most recent income tax statement. I didn't get much my first school year (having worked a decent job & having no GPA yet) but after that it was very nice.

Also, start poking your school's financial aid office for information on scholarships as soon as possible. And look around for any kind of non-traditional or women's student organizations - they often have special perks like textbook $$ assistance or extra scholarships. :)

[quoth-the-maven.livejournal.com]

Not really. If it works for you, there you go. There are very few situations where having no income actually works for you...getting free money for school from the government is actually one of them. :-)

[bean-nighe.livejournal.com]

have your 2005 tax return info ready - although I'm sure you've already figured that out - there's really no reason why you shouldn't be able to get the max amount - and absolutely yes - do the scholarship thing - those help soooo much!!!!!

[awakened-soul.livejournal.com]

I recommend going out and having 70 children, becoming an orphan, and quitting your job.

I got screwed on F/A because my parents are too educated and I make too much money. Because apparently $1,700/semester is affordable when you make $20,000 per year. *headdesk*

[mizliz.livejournal.com]

Also check to see if the college has a grant program for non-traditional students -- I don't know if vet tech qualifies for women as non-trad or not but it's worth asking.

Sorry I'm coming in so late on this - my brain has been in a blender the last few weeks.

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

I understand. And I totally appreciate your taking the time to give me some advice, considering life right now. :)

[cspenn.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, the deadline for the FAFSA passed on June 30, 2006 for the 2006 school year. Definitely go scholarship hunting and you might have to think about private student loans, sorry to say...

Christopher S. Penn
Daily financial aid internet radio on demand, no iPod required
http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com
Got iTunes? http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com/subscribe/
Need loans? http://www.FinancialAidPodcast.com/studentloan/

[tinhuviel.livejournal.com]

Thanks!