Does the financial aid process seem a little foggy? That is expected; especially if you have never experienced the college admissions process. A large majority of high school students do not know what financial aid consists of or how to apply for it. This can be true for a first-generation college student or a student whose high school was not helpful with financial aid. It could be even more confusing for students who are undocumented. Even if you are undocumented it is still possible to find assistance paying for college. This means that you may have to search for different options available to you and it could be a little more challenging.
The fact that a large majority of college bound students aren’t properly educated on the financial aid process is a little alarming. Various negative outcomes could occur if you do not go about the financial aid process properly. For instance, being properly educated on the financial aid process can alleviate a large amount of student loan debt. I don’t know about you, but debt is not something I want added on to my to-do list.
In addition, decreasing the amount of loans you take out can be accomplished by knowing how to apply for scholarships and grants. Not only knowing how to apply, but when to apply, is most important. Financial aid deadlines can make or break a student. Meeting a financial aid deadline can make a huge difference in the amount of gift aid you receive. The admissions deadline you choose can also affect whether or not you will be considered for scholarships. Yep! That’s right, the application deadline matters. This is something I wish I knew when I was applying to colleges.
Knowing what options are available to you is key. There are so many resources that students and families can take advantage of, if only they were aware. Knowing your options can lighten the confusion that comes with applying for financial aid and make the college admissions process easier. Being well informed will allow families to take full advantage of the funds available to them.
So the question is, “How do I learn more about the financial aid process?” Easy, just ask your coaches at Right C3. We are here to help make this process easier and help you avoid the same mistakes many of us made. Our goal is to have our clients prepared for the financial aid process, be literate in the financial aid terms, and make good financial decisions about college. We look forward to hearing from you!
