A Quick Overview of the Financial Aid Application Process

Last updated Feb 5, 2021

SUBSCRIBE

For most families with college-bound teenagers, the financial aid process begins and ends with the FAFSA or financial-aid-process CSS Profile. But there is more to the process than just those two forms. When it comes to the financial aid process, there are several opportunities for families to improve their standing, from the beginning of the planning process, to the total amount of awards received, to how to pay for the balance that’s not covered by financial aid.

Here’s an overview of the financial aid process, along with some of the milestones and a description of each.

Understand the Expected Cost of College Specific to Your Family

While it’s important that a school be a fit academically and socially, it should also be a fit financially. Although you won’t know the exact cost of college until you are through the entire financial aid process, you can get an idea of what specific schools will cost your family by using Net Price Calculators.

Prepare for Financial Aid Forms

While it is possible to still receive some financial aid even if you submit financial aid forms after the given deadlines, I recommend completing the required paperwork prior to these deadlines in order to receive maximum aid. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to let your financial professionals know in advance what information you’ll need so that they can prepare your taxes, or at least the estimates, in time for you to complete the forms.

Complete Financial Aid Forms

Once you have an idea of which type of admission you are applying for—regular, early action, or early decision—you can determine when you’ll need to complete financial aid forms. The schools you are applying to will also determine the type of financial aid forms you need to complete—in most cases either just the FAFSA or the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. As previously mentioned, it’s extremely important to complete these forms prior to the deadlines set by the schools in order to receive maximum financial aid.

Receive and Interpret Award Letter

Award letters can be confusing. They are also not all created equal. You’ll want to have someone, even if it is only the school itself, review and interpret this award letter for you. In this way you can know exactly what your offer is and how it compares to others you have received.

Negotiate Additional Financial Aid

Most people assume that the initial award letter they receive is the end of the story. But that doesn’t have to be the case. You can increase the amount of financial aid you receive by simply asking for additional funds. Of course, what you say and who you say it to are extremely important.

Understand Financing Options and Payment Plans

Once the financial aid award is finalized, many families are left with determining how to pay for the remaining cost. From navigating education savings plans, to understanding loan options, to evaluating payment plans offered by the school, it’s good to have a resource available to explain your options and provide the pros and cons of each.

Complete Required Financial Aid Forms

Even after filling out the FAFSA and CSS Profile, you will likely have to complete additional paperwork required by the school. There are forms and processes used to confirm financial aid forms, essentially audits, and others needed to accept the aid itself. Make sure you have an understanding of all the requirements prior to the start of freshman year.

This article was contributed by Blaine Blontz, Financial Aid Coach

http://financialaidcoach.com/

financialaidcoach@gmail.com

Phone: 717-372-9685

0 Comments

What They're Saying

    EXCELLENT  
  48 reviews on
 
 
         
   Angela Jay 
 2024-02-15
 
 
   Best Decision Ever!

A+ Tutoring proved to be a transformative experience for me, surpassing all my expectations. Without hesitation, I wholeheartedly recommend A+ Tutoring to any parent or guardian seeking academic improvement and aiming to unlock their child’s full potential.

Prior to selecting A+, I carefully researched and evaluated other services. My goals were twofold: to prepare my son for the standardized testing required for preparatory school and college applications, and to enhance his time management skills and study habits.

Mr. John’s personalized approach resonated with my son’s personality and specific learning needs. Despite my son’s demanding sports schedule, Mr. John was incredibly flexible and accommodating. The sessions were comprehensive, combining instruction, engaging conversations, and homework assignments to reinforce existing concepts and introduce new ones in advanced math, English, and science.

The tangible outcomes were apparent: not only did my son’s grades improve by at least one grade level, but he also secured early admission to prep school! Moreover, I observed a significant boost in his confidence and overall demeanor.

I am deeply grateful to Mr. John, Ms. Dorothea, and Mr. Dan for their exceptional dedication and support. They truly went above and beyond to ensure that we felt fully supported throughout the process. Their contributions have made a profound impact on my son’s academic journey, maximizing the value of my investment.
  
 
 
       
   Kenneth Greenspan 
 2023-11-28
 
 
   Extremely professional and thorough
  
 
 
       
   Leah Reinhard Peshek 
 2023-11-15
 
 
   I just wanted to thank A+ for helping my son achieve his goals. He worked with 2 instructors Andrew and Barbara for both the SAT and AP exams. Whatever they did it was magic! Not only did he get the results he wanted- he surpassed them. It was hands-off for me, he scheduled and communicated with his instructors on his own, which taught him responsibility and accountability. Yet, their lesson follow-up emails kept me in the loop. I can’t recommend them any more highly. If you decide to use them you won’t be disappointed, you will see a student who is better prepared for their studies as well as any tests they choose to take- they even seem more mature and confident. A+ I’m giving you an A+ Thank you so much, Leah Reinhard.
  
 
 
       
   Rebekka Hartwell 
 2023-10-28
 
 
   We had a great experience with A+ Test Prep and Tutoring. I appreciated that the tutor tailored the sessions around our daughter's needs and worked with her strengths. I can definitely recommend this program to anyone needing some extra support.
  
 
 
       
   Rhiannon Kelly 
 2023-08-31
 
 
   My son needed assistance preparing for an exam. We reached out to A+ test prep and they were wonderful. They were able to schedule him for tutoring without an delays. Their knowledge, assistance and guidance speaks volumes. A+ exceeded all outlets expectations. Thank you
  
 
 
       
   Andrea Emmons 
 2023-07-06
 
 
   The tutors were terrific, very thoughtful and really understood my child's needs in terms of studying. The hours worked well with our schedule and the homework assigned was super helpful!
  
 
 
       
   V Penz 
 2023-06-22
 
 
   A+ Test Prep provided superior tutoring custom-tailored to meet my son’s specific needs and learning style. His SAT score increased by 160 points with 12 hours of tutoring!!! That put him well-within range for all of the schools to which he is applying. A+ truly listened to make sure they exceeded our expectations starting with matching our son with Rob. He is an experienced tutor who set goals and developed a specialized plan. Rob taught clear, structured, organized lessons, helped my son plan his practice and homework, and taught test stress-management and relaxation techniques. These lessons also helped fill-in gaps from the pandemic.  The writing, reading and math lessons and strategies  Rob taught gave Dylan a strong foundation of critical-thinking skills which will serve him well in college, the work-force, and beyond.  A+ staff, including Rob, gave prompt, detailed and insightful feedback after each session. You will get ENORMOUS value for your financial investment with A+.  I investigated 6 other tutoring companies and am confident A+ was the best for tailoring their tutoring to a program that best fit my son’s learning style!!
  
 
 
       
   Megan Gasper 
 2023-05-26
 
 
   This tutoring program literally changed my daughters test scores by 1000 points, and they were so helpful, and communicative with me the entire time. I really recommend them for every student, whether they are trying to make their test scores better, or make their scores above excellent
  
 
 
       
   Zarah Adams 
 2023-05-04
 
 
   We chose A+ for Preparation to help our daughter prepare for college entrance exams. May daughter had Pam for the verbal portion of the exam. Pam was amazing! She asked about extra-curricular activities and demonstrated genuine interest in my daughter's role as a student in and outside of the classroom. Pam also noted how important these activities are to colleges. John was the tutor for math and science. He helped my daughter feel comfortable and confident in her skills. My daughter's ACT composite score went up 5 points! I would highly recommend A+ for Test Preparation!
  
 
 
  
 
  Load more