Seniors Need to Apply for Financial Aid NOW

I am a high school counselor and I am telling all my students how important it is to fill out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on January 1st and I cannot tell you how many of them will not do this. I want to get the word out. Maybe if you put something in print for ALL HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS some of them will listen and if I post a newspaper column telling the kids it is necessary, more might do it.
High school seniors need to fill out their FAFSA on January 1st if at all possible. Seniors will not receive any of these grants or loans without filling out this form first. Families should visit the website right away to gather the tax forms and information they will need to supply so that they can fill the form out as soon as possible. The website is http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ and you can fill it all online. They make this as easy as possible. There is no excuse for not doing this on the first day.
When I was a senior in high school, my counselor Mr. Tsuji made me fill out these forms and helped me turn them in on time. He insisted college was possible and he made it possible for me. I put myself through college with the help of the grants I got all because he helped me with this process. College is possible and there are grants and loans out there, but they are first come, first served, so if kids want a shot at any of this money, they need to fill out the form January 1st.

Time to Prepare your FAFSA, Jan 2008 for high school seniors

It is almost time for High School seniors to fill out and turn in their FAFSA forms. Could you remind your readers how important it is that they turn this form in if they are hoping for any financial aid in college?

Over the holiday, many students and parents should sit down and figure out their tax information in order to prepare their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms. In order to receive any federal financial aid, as well as many types of state student aid, families need to have this form filled out and turned in starting January 1st. The sooner the better is my philosophy. Students also need to check with the financial aid offices of the colleges they are considering to check on additional deadlines and forms these schools may require.

When you fill out the form, you can list up to six colleges, including junior colleges and four-year universities if you are trying to decide between the two. Some families decide to have their child attend community college in the hopes of saving money for the first two years. Regardless of the path your child is taking next year, fill out the form. There is money for kids attending junior college as well as universities.

You will never find what you do not seek.

For more information on the FAFSA and to apply on-line in January, go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov . Visit the California Student Aid Commission for information on Cal Grants and other student aid information and timelines at http://www.csac.ca.gov .