PARENTS
Time to dive in! Let's discover ways to get involved in your child's learning journey.
We serve as a platform for transparent communication aimed at recognizing, tackling, and educating every family member on effectively pursuing financial aid for college. Keeping pace with technological progress remains an ongoing challenge in the contemporary landscape. By acknowledging this reality candidly, we empower all individuals to advocate for optimal strategies and simplify instructing and comprehending the essential roles each individual must grasp and undertake in guiding the student.
Let’s understand why you are here and address the purple elephant in the room with the following question: Can you help us understand and direct us to apply for school?
Below are listed questions and answers (FAQs) to many of the common concerns parents have expressed over the years with clear and concise answers that clarify with supporting sites and information. By listing Q&A’s with links, supporting information, and websites in an online library collection, we have taken the time, energy, and route that will teach all parties responsible for searching, applying, and streamlining the financial aid process in a one-stop shop.
Was that direct enough for you? If so, then that's good. Now, let’s explore this world of financial aid together.
We know your time is precious and limited, so here we go!
How can you determine the financial aid assistance required to help pay for school?
Great question! Determining the amount of financial assistance required for each school of choice will help narrow your affordability when searching for aid. When applying for Federal Financial Aid, a student can list up to 10 schools while seeking assistance. This is a practical approach to ensure that the institution of choice is attainable, and knowing the GAP (remaining cost after Financial Aid is applied) will then frame the additional effort required to reach the needed cost of attendance. As listed below, the Department of Education has a free estimator for you to use called 🔗Federal Student Aid Estimator that will aid in calculating your eligibility for Federal Aid.
Please have the following items at hand when you are ready to submit your application for Federal Financial Aid.
Federal tax returns check 🔗FAFSA for the years being evaluated)
Date of birth
Full names for student and parent/s (must match social security cards)
Social security numbers (student and parents)
Household size (How many are being supported by household income?)
Recipient information on benefits (based on questions in FAFSA used to determine eligibility)
Click 🔗FASFA4caster to begin your estimate, which provides estimated funding options. Please note that these are estimates until you officially submit your FAFSA application and receive a "Confirmation Page" summary at the end.
When is the best time to apply for financial aid? The best response is as soon as possible—practice, practice, practice.
High School Junior year—This is a friendly reminder for parents to follow the outlined steps when their child is a Junior. This would be the best practice as one prepares for the upcoming Senior year. Understanding that the Senior year is a fast-paced, hectic year of final classes, saying goodbye to childhood friendships, and preparing to finalize one's degree and institution of choice, it is no wonder practicing the steps a year in advance is suggested.
High School Senior year – As your child prepares to start their final year in secondary schooling, take some time to ensure that the following steps are outlined on this website to make the best advancement toward seeking funding to aid in your child's pursuit of their dream career.
Where do we begin to search for scholarships & grants?
The search for scholarships can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Depending on the criteria submitted or the information sought, this hunt can be directed in many ways.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL - Many scams are out there seeking your personal information.
Click to view🔗Types of scams
Our best suggestion is to use the larger free search engines to apply for the most significant scholarships available at the time of submission. A widespread “BLAST” of applications is the best way to explore, but continue with the “BLAST” and apply for as many scholarships as possible.
Listed below are some of the larger scholarship search engines currently available.
We have listed the top scholarship search engines; click to view 🔗Scholarships
NOTE: Once you have explored these search engines, dive in deeper for specific scholarships based on the career path that your child has chosen. Make every effort to apply when the scholarships become available; again, be cautious if asked for personal information like DOB, SS#, etc). In many cases, applications might open to accepting applications by the end of the year before Christmas (during the Senior year while in school) or at the very beginning of the new calendar year. Links below are not in any particular order except for the categories in bold.
When can my child file for financial aid on their own?
According to the Department of Education, based on specific criteria on the following site: click to view eligibility at🔗Federal Student Aid to see if they are considered dependent.
As we know, making such decisions does show that the child is moving toward independence; according to the Department of Education, however, they are still in the family unit. Knowing this fact will streamline the application process for assistance regardless of the family income.
Required items:
Parents’ personal information (D.O.B, SS#, Legal status in the U.S., Adjusted Gross Income). Please note that depending on the school your child chooses, federal financial aid is limited and has a yearly max, which would most likely leave a remaining balance that still needs to be covered (aka a GAP).
Let’s return to the subject of determining dependency:
Note: All applicants under 24 will be asked questions. Please note that should a student answer "YES" to any of the required questions, their chosen school will seek supplementary documentation to verify and clarify the selection following the Department of Education's verification rules. Click to learn about 🔗Dependency Status. Please consult your institution of choice on any additional steps required to clarify any special circumstances.
Can my child file for assistance on their own?
We suggest checking with your institution of choice on the process of submitting legal documentation supporting the reason why they responded to any of the above questions as “YES” and showing financial means of self-support for review and a final determination from the campus’s Financial Aid department.
What if I am on limited income or benefits? How can I still help? (ie. Social Security, General Assistance, Disability, Work Man’s Comp, EDD - Unemployment, etc).
Consult with the Financial Aid department of the institution of choice to see if any additional programs or documentation are required to submit for additional funding benefits for your child. When visiting the campus’s financial aid department, be prepared and bring in ALL tax information, family benefits, or other supporting documentation to present when applying for assistance. Ask for any campus-based aid (scholarships or grants) available while you are on campus.
What if I am a Step-Parent? Can I still apply and help?
In cases where a parent is remarried, the step-parent is also considered to be part of the family unit, allowing one the availability to seek out assistance to pay for school. Please consult with your school’s financial aid department for specifics.
Does my U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen (legal status) determine the type of aid my child is eligible for? What kind of documentation is accepted: Visa, Residency Card, Work Authorization, etc?
Click the link and learn more: 🔗Eligible-Noncitizen
What if I do not live with my child? Can I still help?
Regardless of which home the student resides in, it is the parent’s responsibility to seek out any opportunities available to aid their child in this endeavor of funding options to make school more affordable.
In some family structures, parents do not want to help the student apply for assistance because they do not wish to accrue debt on the student’s behalf.
“It is the student’s responsibility to pay for school.”
While it's feasible to submit financial aid applications in this manner, it's essential to recognize that the aid the student might qualify for will likely only cover a small portion of the total expenses. The remaining balance would then need to be covered solely by the student through cash payments or private loans, which typically have cosigner requirements and are credit-based.
As a result of this constraint, your child will have to evaluate their available financial resources and select an affordable school to thrive. This involves effectively managing debt and choosing a school that aligns with your financial capabilities.
Please consult with the institute of choice for specific steps and any mitigating situations to be reviewed.
What do I need to help my child apply for financial aid?
You will need the following items at the time of submission:
Two years back of federal tax returns, check with 🔗Studentaid.gov for the years being evaluated
Date of birth
Full names for student and parents (must match social security cards)
Social Security Numbers
Recipient information on benefits (based on questions in the FAFSA used to determine eligibility)