Planning and filling out your FAFSA early is crucial! Figuring out how you are going to pay for college before you start will help ease the process and allow for you to be prepared to pay for your future. I know you have heard it before, but the earlier the better. This is especially true when it comes to the Financial Aid process. We have put together some of the most important reasons to fill out your FAFSA sooner rather than later.
Limited Amounts of Student Aid
There is only so much financial aid that is available to be distributed 💰 The sooner you complete the application, the better chance you have at not only receiving aid in the first place, but you have a higher chance of receiving more aid. So get it done ASAP!
Check It Off the List
Applying for the FAFSA can sometimes be intimidating – especially if this is your first rodeo. However, you will feel so much better after checking it off your to-do list! Since it is now a requirement for graduating high school, it is so important to get this task done. Don’t put off the FAFSA. Make it a priority!✅
Early Application = Earlier Response
The sooner your application is submitted, the sooner you will hear back. Not only do the earlier submissions have a better chance at receiving aid, but they will also receive an earlier response! This allows you and your family to review the response and decide how much aid you want to accept and come up with a payment plan earlier. This also allows you to meet with a Tarleton financial aid advisor to discuss your aid offer and answer any specific questions you have about your offer. For our planners out there, we know you want to see that awarded aid sooner rather than later, so get that FAFSA filled out! 😉
The Deadlines Are REAL
Due date does NOT equal do date. A lot of times, there are outstanding action items that students need to take care of, like verification or parent signatures. By completing the application early, you will have more time to complete action items after submitting the FAFSA, like taking care of holds that you may have. The FAFSA deadlines are real and are there for a reason!
Even if You Are Unsure if You Qualify, Fill It Out
Filling out the FAFSA can’t hurt you and has the potential to benefit you! Even if you are unsure if you will receive aid, go ahead and fill it out! You may be awarded aid when you weren’t expecting it. Plus, there are different types of aid. Such as grants, scholarships, work-study jobs, loans, and more. If you are offered aid that you do not want, you’re not required to take all the aid offered to you. It is nice to have it there – just in case!
See more information on the different types of aid here 👉 https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types
Truly Compare Your College Costs
By filing your FAFSA and receiving your award letter back, you will be able to truly compare what your college costs are going to be among your top choice schools. Cost of attendance and net costs are NOT the same thing. Fill out your FAFSA so you can make a more informed choice one where you choose to attend college!
We hope that this blog has helped you realize how important it is to fill out your FAFSA early! To start the application process, visit Tarleton’s FAFSA page here https://www.tarleton.edu/finaid/.
Bleed Purple!
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