College financial aid application season is here. If you are a parent of a high school senior or you are a senior, that means that you should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CSS PROFILES (if applicable) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. A number of merit aid scholarships require the FAFSA or CSS PROFILE to be filled out, and you don’t want to miss those deadlines!
The FAFSA also determines eligibility for federal student loans and the federal student-work program. Registering for an FSA ID and password is the first step you need to take. Create your FSA ID here.
Florida students, make sure to register for the Florida Bright Futures and other grants and scholarships offered by the State of Florida: http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/ssfad/bf/
For any questions about filling out the FAFSA, here are some tips to help you.
Before submitting the form, make sure you understand what is required. Using a name that does not match what is on your Social Security card or submitting any other wrong information can cause delays or reporting errors.
Important documents you will need to complete FAFSA include tax returns and financial documents. FAFSA does allow you to use tax records from one year earlier. For the 2018-19 application, for example, you can use the 2016 tax return.Here is a quick list: 7 Things You Need Before You Fill Out the 2018-19 FAFSA Form
Remember, there is no fee for filling out the FAFSA. Make sure you only use the official website: https://fafsa.gov/
Over 400 schools also require students to fill out the CSS/Financial Aid Profile alongside the FAFSA. Filling the CSS Profile out is not easy, but it’s worth the time. CSS is a large resource for college funding that can’t be accessed through the FAFSA alone.
Even if you think you may not be eligible for financial reasons, fill out the FAFSA. You will not know if you can receive aid unless you apply.
The college advisors at International College Counselors are available to help you. Please contact us with any questions you may have.
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS
International College Counselors helps students from all over the world find, apply to, and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert educational consultants are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college admission process. For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college advisor, please visit http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.
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College Admissions: What Colleges Look for and How to Get In!
Saturday, October 14 at 2:30pm
Huntington Learning Center of Aventura: 19072 NE 29th Ave., Aventura 33180
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