The FAFSA application is absolutely critical to your schlarship search process. Think I’m kidding? Then consider this–many colleges award scholarships and other financial aid based on nothing more than your college application and your FAFSA application. Thats right. Just complete these applications and your college may notify you of a scholarship award with no further effort on your part.
Are there other benefits to completing the FAFSA? Absolutely. The FAFSA is a critical step in getting student loans (and I mean REAL student loans, with preferred rates and terms). It’s also a key to getting an on campus work-study job. These jobs often offer convenient scheduling, and your earnings may not “count against you” when your aid for the following year is determined.
Finally, stuff happens. Even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for aid or need loans now. What happens if your parent loses a job or your house burns down. With the FAFSA on file, the financial aid oddice at your college can respond quickly. Without it–no such luck.
From this point, the questions I hear the most are “When should I complete the FAFSA, why should I do the FAFSA online, why should I use the printable FAFSA form, and why do I need a FAFSA pin?
Is it better to use a service like FAFSA.com or file directly at fafsa.ed.gov
There is no reason to pay those at fafsa.com, unless you really just want to spend the money. Do as much as you can on your own, and ask the financial aid office at the college you hope to attend for help. They will!
@Paul Page
Why pay for FAFSA.com? The fafsa.ed.gov site offers great directions/suuport. If you have a truly special situation, or just need more help, check with the financial aid office of a college you’ve applied to.
Thanks for reading!
Randy