Archive for the ‘Fafsa Help’ Category
RoadFish.com Encourages FAFSA Filing by Students and Parents, Even If They Believe They Will Not Qualify, and as Early as Possible this Year
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) March 01, 2012
RoadFish.com mens lifestyle and finance magazine today urged parents and students to go through with FAFSA filing, even if they believe that their financial bracket will not qualify them for financial aid. RoadFish.com commented on the average amount of student loan debt today, and how getting state and/or federal aid and low-interest loans in the present can lower students hefty loans in the future. FAFSA is linked to most of the countrys federal and state grants, and counts as a prerequisite for federally subsidized loans.
The FAFSA, which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, determines students and families eligibility for financial aid, including the Pell Grant, federal work-study programs, and federal subsidized student loans which carry a lower interest rate than private loans. The FAFSA application offers students consideration for nine federal student-aid programs and 605 state aid programs.
Mandi Woodruff of the Business Insider reports that FAFSA form is six pages long and includes a total of 153 questionsmore than twice the number found on a federal tax form. In an interview with Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Finaid.org and Fastweb.com, Kantrowitz offered some FAFSA tips such as not waiting until after youve filed your taxes to file for FAFSA, getting marital statuses straight on the application, making sure not to miscalculate certain assets, and above all never to fudge information. Kantrowitz stated that the U.S. Department of Education and the IRS are working hand in hand to crack down on families who provide fraudulent information on their FAFSA applications, and under-report their taxable income to try to obtain more aid. The current fraud rate is 4-5%, which the IRS and Dept. of Education hopes to lower in the coming year.
RoadFish.coms Senior staff writer is quoted as saying, Its absurd the amount of debt students walk away from school with these days. It is just so, so crucial to obtain as much aid, scholarships, and grants as you can to help minimize your financial responsibility after graduation. Your best shot at that is FAFSA. Even if you think you wont qualify for much or anything at all, you sure as heck wont get anything if you dont apply. Do it! Its a pain in the butt form, and a few hours out of your life, but it could save you and your kids a bunch of money.
The U.S. Department of Education begins accepting FAFSA applications on January 1st each year, and the federal deadline is June 30th. Since most aid is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis, many families are scrambling to turn in their forms in than the June deadline this year. FAFSAonline.com recommends turning in the FAFSA paperwork as early as possible to maximize eligibility for aid. Though the federal deadline is not for a few more months, certain states, such as Maryland, Oklahoma, and Montana, have deadlines as early as March 1st to apply for state aid. Check FAFSAs website for a complete list of states and deadlines, as they vary state to state.
RoadFish.com feels that escaping college with as little debt as possible starts with filling out a FAFSA form, and stated, Were in dire enough economic times as it is. Unemployment is high, credit report scores are low, debt is through the roof. Its a crime that college is as expensive as it is, but as students and parents of students, its your responsibility to make wise financial decisions in the present that can dramatically impact your future.
The FAFSA form should be prepared each year by both current and prospective undergrad and graduate college students, and applicants who filled out and filed a FAFSA the year before are able to submit a renewal FAFSA form for the upcoming year.
About Roadfish
RoadFish.com is an online men’s lifestyle and finance magazine targeted toward men in their 30s and 40s that have already attained a moderate level of success in life, and are striving toward more. It goes over current events of interest to this group, such things as exciting adventures, consumer interests, financial struggles, and dating tips, as well as ways to make more and save more money. It is a publication owned by Purpose Inc.
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FAFSA help!?
Question by Katie L: FAFSA help!?
I just changed some of the answers on my FAFSA to reflect that I have moved out of my house and am now living on my own. Why isn’t FAFSA seeing me as poor and giving me money?? I’m too old in the eyes of the government for my parents to be contributing anymore so it’s not them. Do I need to fill out the FAFSA online and then submit it somehow to my school? Or are they supposed to do that?
Best answer:
Answer by Bleedin B
Go to the financial aid office at your school and talk to them. The fafsa is a government funded operation and they usually have only computers reading your submitted forms. It isn’t like a real person is considering your situation and how poor you are. You’ll have to either contact the irs (via the support hotline on the fafsa page) or your financial aid office at your college/university.
Give your answer to this question below!
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Bay Area Planners Announces New Concept in College Planning the 7 Steps to College Program
(PRWEB) August 31, 2011
Bay Area Planners announces a new concept in college planning hourly planning on an as-needed basis, at seven key points in the college application process.
College planning usually revolves around a comprehensive college plan a document that can cost a thousand dollars or more. The problem is the plan can easily go out of date as circumstances change; for example, by adding new colleges to the list. What parents really want is help that is up-to-date, inexpensive, and on an as needed basis.
This is just what the new program from Bay Area Planners delivers. The 7 Steps to College program consists of planning sessions at seven key points during the high school Junior and Senior years. These are the times at which parents need to pay attention to how they are going to pay for college. Instead of reading from an outdated comprehensive plan, parents return to the planner at any of these points they cannot handle themselves. Each of the sessions is timed to be done in one hour, and parents only pay for the steps that they need.
These key points are (1) Setting the Strategy, (2) Winning Private Scholarships, (3) Selecting the Colleges, (4) Filing the FAFSA, (5) Evaluating Offers, (6) Planning Cash Flow, and (7) Taking Education Loans.
Many parents feel confident doing some of the work themselves, and only need help with a few of the steps. By paying hourly for each step, this works out at a fraction of the cost of a typical plan. Plus, parents feel more in control and have a greater understanding of the overall process.
The concept of hourly planning at the seven key points in the college planning process was developed by David Beck, the owner of Bay Area Planners. David is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and has specialized in college planning since 2006. His business is fee-only, and no sales of financial products are involved in the sessions.
Videos on the http://www.baplan.com website explain what is covered in each of the key steps, together with the process for working with David if you are outside of the San Francisco Bay Area.
At last, an inexpensive way of working with an expert in college planning on an as needed basis is available to the parents of college-bound high school students.
Company Info:
About Bay Area Planners
Bay Area Planners is a fee-only financial planning firm dedicated to college planning. Founded by David Beck in 2006, Bay Area Planners provides education and personal advice to parents of high school juniors and seniors facing the huge cost of college. Creator of the innovative 7 Steps to College program. Located in Cupertino, California, but available for consultation by internet/phone.
To learn more about Bay Area Planners please visit http://www.baplan.com
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College Financial Aid for Dummies
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Would you or your child like to apply for college but aren’t sure how you’re going to pay for it? Has it been years since you’ve been in school and you’d like to continue your education without going broke? Are you overwhelmed and confused by all the financial options available today? If you think you have to be rich to go to college, think again!
College Financial Aid For Dummies cuts through the financial jargon and provides you with tips, techniques, and suggestions for navigating the financial aid maze and getting the money you need for college.
Inside, you’ll discover how to
- Understand the differences between scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs
- Locate aid sources from the government, schools, private organizations, employers, and more!
- Organize your finances and plan for your entire college career
- Use your good grades, special talents, and other achievements to qualify for merit scholarships
- Fill out financial forms with ease and avoid costly mistakes
- Use the Internet to find the money you need, submit aid applications, and more
- Discover alternatives to paying back your loans and design a payment plan that works for you
List Price: $ 19.99
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Campus jobs are scarce: Students struggle against budget cuts
Student Employment Services. Photo by Frankie Sanchez. WT students will have a hard time finding an on-campus job with the University’s increased fall enrollment and budget cuts. The university has raised tuition and cut million out of their fall budget, according to the Amarillo-Globe News. With the new budget cuts, departments have to decide how many job offerings to fund. Kim Bruce, a mass …
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CAMP informs high school advisers about CSU
Sacramento State’s College Assistance Migrant Program provided updates about California State University’s financial aid, applications and deadlines in a conference for secondary school advisers on Friday.
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