From the dewiest-eyed freshman still learning his way to the dining hall to the battle-tested senior already halfway through her thesis, most students would welcome some extra cash. And yet, a significant number of students don't bother applying for financial aid while attending college. Find out what current college students at all levels should do to ensure maximum financial help.
Keep Filing Your FAFSA
One of the best (and easiest!) ways to ensure you're receiving all of the aid you qualify for is by submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each and every year. If you've filled out the FAFSA before, you can use the Renewal FAFSA, a shorter (and quicker!) version. Most colleges review financial aid applications on a first-come, first-served basis, so file your FAFSA as soon as you can after January 1 (filing before this date will result in a rejection).
"I think a lot of students receive some or no financial aid when they begin college, and [later] there are significant shifts in their family's financial circumstances," says Jim Sumner, dean of admissions and financial aid at Grinnell College. "I worked with a student who qualified for no need-based when he entered college. His sister entered a different college the very next year. All of a sudden, each one of them was eligible for more than $15,000 in aid. "
Many colleges also use your FAFSA to determine if you're eligible for need-based aid, another excellent reason file one every year. ...
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