3 FAFSA secrets to help you get the most financial aid
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- čas přidán 4. 06. 2024
- Chances are, if you are watching this, you’ve heard of the FAFSA before. Short for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the FAFSA helps colleges to determine eligibility for Federal and State financial aid. In this video, I’m going to share 3 secrets to help your student get the most from their FAFSA scholarship.
00:00 Intro
00:52 FAFSA
02:15 Apply early
05:23 Always fill out FAFSA
07:36 Apply yearly
FAFSA playlist: • FAFSA
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P.S. International Students - This information is meant for US citizens and/or residents in the United States. While many of the tips will be helpful for you (i.e. how to write a well-written essay), we are not specialized in international student scholarships.
Gosh I wish I had found your video years ago! So so helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
I was a 32-year-old homeless US Army veteran, and they wanted my parent's income information in graduate school. I'd never been asked for that at my undergraduate school. It reduced my student aide so severely that I could never afford housing and lived in my car through my entire MS degree.
Great video. You do such good work! Can you give an example of a college that provides “Gap” funding? I’d love to see if I can direct my kids!
It can be called different things at different schools, but here is an example: www.albemarle.edu/costs-paying-for-college/types-of-aid/foundation-scholarships/gift-aid-program-scholarship/
Glad to have found you, wish we would have years ago. Do you have any videos on how current college students can apply for scholarships? Both of my kids received scholarships, however, they went to a local CC and will be graduating with their AA degrees soon. We're looking for info on how to fund their BA pursuits and ensure if the application process works any differently than the process we followed while they were still in HS as well as tips/tricks to get funding.
This article may be helpful: thescholarshipsystem.com/blog-for-students-families/how-to-pay-for-college-as-a-transfer-student/
How can I add my spouse’s information after fafsa form is submitted
If father and mother are divorced and father refuses to pay for any college - mother is residential parent who child lives with - is there any way to show this circumstance in FAFSA or is al this something to be appealed with individual school? Thank you for this great video. It’s very informative and helpful!
The parent who provides the most financial support will be the parent reporting on FAFSA. Additional financial aid appeal can be done with the school directly, after the financial aid award letter is received.
Wow- Thank you for this video. I am new to all of this. Trying to help my daughter. Just learned that FAFSA form for the Fall 2024 year is not yet avail, but should be coming out SOON, sometime in Dec. Do you concur? Also, we are self employed, so it makes things just a touch more difficult. Any tips there? Thank you so much! So glad I found this video. Now to check out your vids on scholarships and everything else.... TY
We're glad you found us! FAFSA will be available by 12/31/23. Since you are a small business owner, you may need to appeal to the schools individually once financial aid award letters are sent out.
thank you for the video, I loved it very much, and I want to know if a green card holder can fill out FAFSA? he's a person who just arrived in the US, he never filled out taxes, and already has a master's degree in chemistry in his home country, but wants to study MLT in a community college full-time. he's living with his cousin and has one income of about $2000 per month. so is he eligible and will he be able to get a grant to cover his studies??
Yes a green card holder qualifies for FAFSA-federal funding. However, he may not qualify for state grants since he may not fulfill the state residency requirements yet. He could contact the community college's financial aid office for more guidance.
Please explain where I can find more info on the Gap scholarships you mentioned.
You would want to contact the financial aid department at the college(s) you are looking at. Not all colleges offer gap scholarships (and it might be called something different at different schools) but it is always worth looking into.
I have probably somewhat of a unique question. I am getting ready to fill out the FASFA with my daughter who is a senior. Our family just recently finalized a divorce. My ex spouse earns a three figure income, but is not able to contribute in any way to my daughters schooling. I am the parent of primary residence, and with my first year teaching income, she would probably qualify for a lot of aid. How are we able to show that my ex spouse is unable to contribute due to massive amounts of debt and fraudulent practices. The government is about to start garnishing his wages for his student loans that have not been paid back. I am very concerned that this is going to hurt my daughter chances at funding her own education!
You'll have to submit the FAFSA using the most correct information that it's asking for - then you'll want to follow up with her financial aid office and file an appeal to have her financial aid based on your current situation.
Hello. I am a pastor and I am given a housing allowance and as a result, I have a lower salary. Is there anything I need to know in entering these items into my daughter's FASA? Thanks for your help.
The housing allowance should be entered as untaxed income in the parent's section of the FAFSA application. It will be considered as income for FAFSA purposes.
Great video!! I am separated, but not legally divorced, filing separate, we live in two different states.
Does my senior father need to file fafsa as a contributor?
For students whose parents are divorced or separated, the Custodial Parent on FAFSA will be the parent who provides the most financial support.
my husband is older and receives Social Security check, daughter has also been getting money from social security. does that need to be listed or will that automatically come up on the 2022 taxes?
Most untaxed items have been removed from the FAFSA application. If Social Security is taxable and/or appears in your tax return, that will be reported to FAFSA since all tax return data will be imported and considered for FAFSA purposes.
This is my second year applying to FAFSA, (my kids are a sophomore and Junior transfer). This year I don't have access to update my total cash, savings and checking account, current net worth or my ex husbands information. Is this part of the new system? Also, my last name is spelled wrong and when I go to correct it it states this action will temporarily disable my application. Thank you for your help.
Corrections will be made available later in April. Some families don't need to report assets if their income is under a certain amount.
I retired in Oct of 2022 and my husband was already retired. We both have pension would this change our fafas form?
Pension income is reported on FAFSA via your tax return. If it shows up as income in your tax return, it will be considered for FAFSA purposes.
If a rental property is under an LLC, does it have to be listed as an asset?
If you are a member/owner of the LLC, yes.
Hii
I am unable to access 2023-24 fafsa form. whenever, i am trying to access form, the website shows that the form is not available we are working on the issue. do you have any idea? what's going on with website and why i am not able to access the form?
FAFSA has been undergoing a lot of maintenance and updates because of the 2024-2025 changes. If you still have issues, you may consider contacting your school to see if they have additional guidance or an alternative application form.
So just to clarify, do i apply for fafsa every year i’m in college?
yes.
Hey I applied and received a response from my school, but when I applied I didn’t think I’d live on campus. How do I change that? Or is that even possible to revise?
You will have to contact your school's financial aid office to see if they want you to update FAFSA or if the school can update it themselves.
My daughter has a very specific in her type of school and major. She our scholarship search be as specific?
You can make it specific but also consider searching for scholarships based on other factors - location, hobbies, sports, etc.
I have a hard of hearing student going into her senior year of college. Do you have any scholarships available for students with disabilities? So far we have received no help for the first 3 years. We didn't realize there was resources like this as her high school was not the best. Thank you
This article may help: thescholarshipsystem.com/blog-for-students-families/22-scholarships-for-students-with-learning-disabilities/
When my child attends graduate school, do we file the FAFSA?
Yes - but they will mostly be eligible for just student loans.
Hi, I have green card but I don`t have tax record in US yet. I just move in to US a month ago. Can I apply for FAFSA?
Same question here. Did you get it ?
I change my change job into lower salary this year 2024.. how can I show that my income is lower now this year 2024.. thank you to your video I learned. Angelo
You will have to appeal to each school and let them know of your change.
Good evening,
Our son graduated in 2020 during the PANDEMIC. He graduated with 3.2 GPA and did not continue with the university. Now, he wants to continue with his education. Now, it is April 16 2024, should we wait until October to apply for FATSA for 2025 - 2026 fall year? He wants to start with a community college 2 years and university.
What do you suggest?
Thank you
It's still not too late to apply for the 2024-2025 school year. Many community colleges accept FAFSA until June or so! Contact the school's financial aid office for deadline information just to make sure.
Can we apply now, but what are the chances to get any help from the government for the 2024 -2025 school year?
Very high. This year FAFSA processing has been delayed. So many schools are just receiving student information. Most school's Financial Aid Award Letters have not been sent out yet.
I am an US citizen and file taxes but by husband is a non residential alien? Do we have to share his income/assetts?
Yes. FAFSA looks at married parent's financial information, regardless of tax filing status or immigration status. (Nonresident aliens residing/working in the US should be filing taxes with an ITIN#.)
my husband doesnt earn any money in US tho? only in a foreign country.
@@TheScholarshipSystem
Hi….im applying for fafsa soon but didn’t file for some reason my 2021 tax returns. What do I do???? Do I have to file for fafsa? I have to mail in the returns which is gonna put me past my deadline
For 2024-2025 academic year, FAFSA requires 2022 taxes. Not 2021. So as long as 2022 taxes are done, you should be fine.
Hello, I haven't filed my 2022 tax return . I have to paper file now but my income has decreased significantly. What should I do
I have twins going to separate schools. Is there any help or relief for Mia's parent with twins?
Unfortunately, the new FAFSA does not consider multiple children in college. The Student Aid Index is for each individual child. However, an appeal can be done at the school level, and colleges can take that into consideration so that they consider awarding more aid.
Do I need to have really low financial income in order to qualify?
Federal awards do have income limits to qualify. However, schools have ultimate say on other awards they can issue out. But they need FAFSA information to determine that.
Is there a way to get grant for a tech school ?
As long as a tech school is accredited and they are not a for-profit school, they may qualify for FAFSA. Check with the school to see if they accept the FAFSA application.
I want my daughter to change it to independent because she is 18 now but she doesn’t have a job so if will affected her
It is not easy for an 18 year old student to be independent for FAFSA purposes. Here is more information. studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/dependency
What about if you are online student. Can you still apply for this kind of financial aid?
If your online school is a Title IV school, that means it accepts the FAFSA. You can check if your school participates here: fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/resource-type/Federal%20School%20Code%20Lists
@@TheScholarshipSystem thanks
Does this work for high school?
Yes. For HS seniors attending college the following year.
Does it matter where you live in order to get aid.
US citizens and US residents qualify to apply for FAFSA, regardless of where they live. However, some states have additional criteria to qualify for state-based aid.
Did I hear that correctly October of 2023 the application for 2024 will open?
At the time of recording, the filing start date was October. However, the new FAFSA filing date is December 2023 for the 2024-2025 academic year.
My daughter is a US Citizen (she lives in the US). My wife and I aren’t US Citizens (we don’t live in the US). She isn’t considered “Independent “ but, since we don’t live in the US, as we understand, she doesn’t qualify for many Financial Aid or Loans. Any suggestions on resources she can look to see her chances to be awarded Financial Aid or Loans?. We don’t have the resources to pay for all her financial needs to go through a Public University.
Are foreign students from Africa qualified for this process?
No. FAFSA is for US residents and citizens.
Can my cousin living in California be the legal guardian so my daughter can apply in financial aid in California?
Students need to prove residency to qualify for in-state financial aid.
Do we need to complete CSS if none of the scholo
s applied to look at it?
No. Only certain schools require the CSS profile. You can see which schools require it here: profile.collegeboard.org/profile/ppi/participatingInstitutions.aspx
I haven't seen fafsa ask for income, but only student assets which seems backwards to me. It would reward irresponsible financial behaviors that way
FAFSA uses the income information from the tax return that was imported, so it doesn't have any income questions.
How is the financial information important
Financial information is used by colleges to award financial aid to pay for college.
My daughter was accepted in UCLA, USC , Berkeley , my husband and I we made 140k ( not her dad ) FAFSA told her us not elegible for any help it breaks my ❤ see her crying
FAFSA only awards federal based aid. Schools can provide additional state and school based aid. You won't really know the final financial picture until receiving the financial aid award letter.
Can you fill out FAFSA earlier? We would like to start applying for scholarships this Summer and many require FAFSA forms.
FAFSA is filled out fall of senior year of high school and for every year in college. Unfortunately, FAFSA is not for other grade levels in HS.
Should you report more adults in household like my grandpa
Yes. Everyone in the household should be reported even though they may not be listed in the tax return.
@@TheScholarshipSystem Will, they give you more money the more people, or that doesnt matter.