Category Archives: FAFSA

FAFSA, financial aid

Amping Up for the FAFSA

 

amping up for the fiefs

If you have a college-bound teen, the FAFSA is how you celebrate the New Year. Honestly, not many parents celebrate filling out the FAFSA, but you should. The FAFSA is your golden ticket for college money. Without it, your student won’t get a dime (even many scholarships ask if you’ve completed the FAFSA).

This should be your FIRST New Year’s resolution: complete the FAFSA within the first week of the new year. It becomes available online on January 1st and although I can’t picture you waiting by your computer at midnight, you should make it a priority over the next few days. And while you’re waiting during the countdown, you should be amping up for the FAFSA.

I wrote an article for University Parent last year (and it’s been updated for the changes) that should help you prepare: An Easy Guide to the 2016 FAFSA. Here’s an excerpt:

If there’s a piece of advice I give parents over and over again, it’s this: whatever your income, complete the FAFSA. Many parents believe that the FAFSA should only be submitted by financially needy students. Nothing could be further from the truth. Colleges use the FAFSA data to determine all types of financial aid, not just need-based. If your student doesn’t complete the FAFSA, he won’t qualify for any aid from the college or the government, including student and parent loans. You may be able to pay for your son or daughter’s education, but why not complete the form? It’s free and you have nothing to lose.

Take a few minutes to read the entire article which includes information about FAFSA basics, the documents you will need, how to team up with your student to get the form completed, and some technical terms, definitions and changes to the upcoming FAFSA.

It would also be good to read Diane Schwemm’s post: Changes to the FAFSA.

You can’t bury your head in the sand and ignore the FAFSA. Get pumped and start amping up for the FAFSA–your golden ticket to free money for college!

FAFSA, financial aid

Everything You Need to Know About the FAFSA

 

 

fafsa

Do you have questions about the FAFSA? or financial aid? Have you looked at the form and find some of the instructions complicated or ambiguous? You’re not alone. If you have a senior headed to college in the fall or you just want to be prepared for your future college bound teen, you should join tonight’s #CollegeCash chat. I’ll be the guest and @JodiOkun and I should be able to answer all your questions.

What: #CollegeCash

When: (Tonight) Thursday 8PM ET

Where: Twitter using #CollegeCash hashtag

Who: Host @JokiOkun and guest @SuzanneShaffer

Don’t forget to follow both of us on Twitter. If you’ve never attended a Twitter chat, here are some simple instructions.

How to Take Part in a Twitter Chat

See you there!

 

FAFSA, financial aid, parenting

FAFSA Tips, Reminders, and Mistakes to Avoid

 

fafsaIt’s FAFSA time. “Yuck”, as one parent said. “Dreading, dreading, dreading” from another. “It’s my least favorite time of year (other than income taxes)”, said another. I get it. Nobody likes filling out federal forms, especially when money is on the line. And with the FAFSA, money is on the line.

Today I am sharing some of the best FAFSA advice I’ve found online. If you have a college bound teen, this information will be invaluable. Don’t just skim it, however; you need to read every last word. Not knowing can mean the difference between receiving aid and receiving a big fat zero. Trust me, I have learned from experience and listened to so many parents that neglected to do the research before completing the form.

Avoid These FAFSA Mistakes

My first piece of advice comes from Lynn O’Shaughnessy of The College Solution blog. Her advice is spot on and goes into great detail about some key points regarding marital status, household size, and reporting assets. It’s an easy to understand guide for parents and breaks the government lingo down into simple language.

Read more . . .

10 Tips to Prepare for the FAFSA

I wrote this article for TeenLife.com giving parents tips on what they need before completing the FAFSA. You want to be the first in line for financial aid. Students who complete the government form early are more likely to receive funds set aside by the colleges for financial aid. If you don’t complete the FAFSA, you won’t receive any aid. Everyone should file the FAFSA, even if you think you won’t qualify for federal aid.

Read more . . .

False FAFSA Assumptions

Jodi Okun of College Financial Aid Advisors wrote this piece for AboutMoney.com. One of the most common statements I hear from parents is, “I’m not going to file because we won’t qualify for financial aid”. Jodi points out the huge mistake in making this assumption and others.

Read more . . .

7 Legal Ways to Squeeze More Money Out of the FAFSA

It makes perfect sense, just with your taxes, that you should receive what is owed you. With the FAFSA, this affects your student’s financial aid award. Kim Clark of Time.com/Money shares her best advice on how to complete the form properly to ensure you get the most financial aid.

Read more . . .

Do me a favor and pass this information along to other parents. The more you know, the more you will maximize your financial aid. And…sharing is caring!