You’ve just made the decision to come to college! You’re excited and maybe a little bit nervous at the same time. At some point in the process of taking your next steps, someone probably told you about applying for the FAFSA and bam that excitement goes out the window. You’re really confused on what you need to be doing and you decide to do what many of us choose to do in college; procrastinate. I’m here to tell you why procrastinating isn’t your best option for the FAFSA and to clear the air on a few other myths.
Earlier = Better Options
The earlier you apply for the FAFSA, the better. Financial Aid is awarded on a rolling basis which means that the earlier you apply, the more likely you are to receive a better aid package. It’s that simple!
Most Students Qualify
A lot of times students might not think they will qualify for aid. For most students, this isn’t true. Most students qualify for at least some aid and even if you don’t, filling out the FAFSA makes you eligible for other grants and scholarships.
Decoding Prior-Prior
You’re going through the process of filling out the FAFSA and notice this confusing term called “prior-prior”. Relax, it’s one of those terms that’s more confusing that it sounds. Prior-prior simply means two years ago! For example, if you’re applying for the 2019-2020 FAFSA you’ll need your prior-prior tax returns from 2017.
Keep all of these things in mind when you’re going to apply for the FAFSA! And remember to go and apply earlier rather than later.
Onondaga Community College is here to walk you through the financial aid process if you have questions! You can reach out to us by calling 315-498-2000 and ask for the financial aid service center to get started with your financial aid process.
