myUsearch blog

In his October speech, President Obama outlined a new federal loan program that could mean big savings for students borrowing money to pay for college. Let’s look at how the law could affect your college choice.

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Filing for financial student aid can be a daunting task. There’s a reason why there’s been a push for simplifying the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) with almost every recent election cycle. Luckily, with online filing and our suggestions below, you can get aid for college faster! Here’s what you’ll need to get your aid for college as fast as possible:

Photo by Steve Wampler

1. Determine whether you need to file a separate form for state and federal aid. Some states don’t require you to fill out a separate form from the FAFSA, while others do.
2. Collect your and/or your parents’ tax forms . You’ll just need the forms with the total number of deductions, total taxable income amount, taxes paid, etc, so search for the actual form that you and/or your parents filed. If your parents claim you as a dependent, the amount of aid you are eligible to receive from state and federal funds will be determined by your parents’ income.
3. Apply for a PIN (Personal Identification Number) for FAFSA processing— Students with PIN numbers registered with the U.S. Department of Education can complete their application online and receive aid for college faster. You’ll need to apply for a PIN to be sent to your home address, but once you have it, you can use it for the rest of your college career.
4. Remember to cancel any federal or state aid package from a former school when transferring mid-semester. Schools check state and federal databases for duplicate entries before awarding aid for college to prevent a student from receiving two or more aid packages. If you don’t cancel the aid package from your former school, your new school may not be able to offer you a package and will cancel any package they formerly extended.
5. Be Honest. It’s important to keep in mind that the FAFSA is a federal document. Lying on this form can come with harsh punishment, including a steep fine and possible prison time. You also need to be aware that those convicted of certain crimes, including drug offenses, are not eligible for federal aid for college. If you have any questions, you can contact your school’s financial aid office or the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID.

Good luck!

Why pay full price for college? Here are five strategies that can cut costs by 25 percent or more and take the pain out of finding aid for college. 

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Are you an American student heading off to study abroad? Or a non-U.S. student bound for America?

Whatever your situation, international scholarships are waiting for you. Let’s see if we can hook you up with some financial aid.

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Today we have a guest post from Mary Fallon from Studentaid.com

The most confusing part of college planning is understanding your net price and out-of-pocket costs before applying.  Your specific cost of college is a mystery because your eligibility for student aid, which reduces costs, usually isn’t provided until after a college accepts you and issues an aid award letter. By then, it’s too late to comfortably comparison shop to find which college will offer you the best deal.  Not having a choice among affordable colleges may lead to borrowing huge amounts that will take many years to pay back after college graduation.

Photo by Medium Boy

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