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3 Things To Do NOW For Federal Student Aid

3 Things To Do NOW For Federal Student Aid

If your high school senior is college bound, you may be familiar with the acronym FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid.)  But you may not realize that starting on it now is important, considering that the first day to apply is Jan 1 and the final deadline is Jun 30.  The reason for expediency is that some colleges have individual deadlines as early as Feb 1; and some of the funding is available on a first come-first served basis.

Here are 3 things to do right now: 

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1. Apply for two PINs, one for the student and one for the parent (https://fafsa.ed.gov/.) You will need them to submit electronic signatures for online application.

2. Download the FAFSA worksheet to review the questions you will be asked and the documents you will need to complete the official application (http://studentaid.ed.gov/sites/default/files/2014-15-fafsa-worksheet.pdf.)

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3. Get an early estimate of your eligibility for federal aid at FAFSA4caster to start thinking about affordability of individual colleges (https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/f4cForm?execution=e1s1.)

Students and families can get private, personalized guidance about the college admission process from an independent educational consultant.  Call 703-899-2778 or visit BetterCollegeChoices.com.

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