The 2019 FAFSA Deadline Is Approaching
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is due June 30. Whether you want access to grants, scholarships, federal student loans, or work and study opportunities, you still have time to complete the FAFSA to qualify. (Remember that to receive federal aid, you must apply by June 30th after the school year. Therefore, June 30th, 2019 is the deadline for the 2018-2019 school year.)
The earlier you apply, the more likely it is that you will be provided with some form of assistance, such as a work-study program. And you need to fill out the form every year that you are in school, even if you have filed it in the past.
Aid has expired for many states, but you can still get federal aid next year. If you tend to wait until the last minute, set a calendar reminder for October 1st, when many apps open for the first time. Then you will have ample time to apply and possibly get better assistance options.
Complete the FAFSA
If this is your first time filing the FAFSA, here’s what to do:
- Createa FederalStudent AidID on the Federal Aid website. You will use it for the foreseeable future to fill out an application and access loan information after graduation.
- Gather all the information you need . You and your parents will need a ton of financial documents. Here’s a checklist from NerdWallet .
- Fill out the online form .
- Complete any other school or state assistance forms .
- Transcribe your financial aid letters . These letters can be confusing , so make sure you know what each school is offering you and what number you will actually be responsible for.
- Appeal your award . If you think you deserve extra help or your FAFSA application no longer reflects your financial situation, you can appeal the letter of help. As I wrote earlier , this will probably only work if you are facing significant life changes, such as a medical debt or a parent’s job loss.
- Set a calendar reminder for next year . As I mentioned above, you need to apply for assistance every year, so be sure to complete the FAFSA next year if you are still in school.
And if you need help, you can write to the Federal Center for assistance on e-mail or call 800-433-3243.
This story was originally published on 6/11/18 and was updated on 6/28/19 to provide more recent information.