| Many different types of financial aid are | | | | year in which you start college... |
| available to you in the form of scholarships, | | | | |
| grants, and loans. With billions of dollars | | | | - Contact the Financial Aid Offices at the |
| at stake, it is important to begin the search | | | | colleges of your choice for deadlines and |
| process early and to apply on time. Follow | | | | additional documents they require |
| these guidelines for applying for financial | | | | |
| aid: | | | | - Complete the Free Application for Federal |
| | | | Student Aid (FAFSA). Available at this form |
| Three to four years before you plan to begin | | | | is your key to most financial aid, and to all |
| college... | | | | Federal and state grants and loans. When you |
| | | | complete your FAFSA, be sure to list all the |
| - Review your high school coursework and | | | | schools you're interested in attending (up to |
| activities. Colleges will look for | | | | six), even if you haven't yet been accepted. |
| challenging coursework, a good grade point | | | | Be sure to keep copies of all of the forms |
| average, and extracurricular activities such | | | | you submit. |
| as sports, volunteer work, and community | | | | |
| involvement. | | | | - Fill out your tax returns as early as |
| | | | possible so you have accurate tax information |
| - Take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude | | | | for your FAFSA |
| Test (PSAT) to prepare for the standardized | | | | |
| tests (SAT and ACT) that you'll take later. | | | | - Complete the CSS Financial Aid Profile if |
| If you do well on the PSAT, you may be | | | | it is required by your college |
| eligible to receive a National Merit | | | | |
| Scholarship. | | | | - Find out which financial aid applications |
| | | | your college choices require and when the |
| Two years before you plan to begin college... | | | | forms are due. |
| | | | |
| - Begin researching your financial aid | | | | - Send midyear transcripts to the schools to |
| options by talking to your career counselor | | | | which you have applied. |
| and researching grants and scholarships | | | | |
| through books and the internet | | | | - About four weeks after you submit your |
| | | | FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report |
| - Start planning to take the SAT and/or ACT | | | | (SAR) that contains federal financial aid |
| exams, depending on what is required by your | | | | information. Submit the SAR and, if |
| college. | | | | requested, your tax forms to the Financial |
| | | | Aid Office. Contact each office to make |
| - During your college visits, meet with a | | | | certain that your application is complete. |
| Financial Aid Officer to find out what types | | | | Find out what else you need to do to |
| of aid are available. | | | | establish and maintain your eligibility for |
| | | | financial aid. |
| As soon as possible after January 1 of the | | | | |