FAFSA.ED.GOV
By now this website should be on your favorites list. This is the financial aid website that almost all of you in the United States at least should be applying for. Or at least you should be on the website and have created a PIN number for yourself. You don’t need to do anything else but create a PIN for identification and to at least have your account created. This will not speed up your financial aid process, nor will you get to the front of the line.
Remember this will be financial aid for next school year, 2012/2013.
You have to wait for certain documents to be provided to you so you can start financial aid. Your taxes have to be done mostly in order for you to technically have everything. But check out my post on all the documents needed for proper financial aid filing. This is important as your filing can be delayed if you do not have all the documents required.
Those of you high school seniors, your financial aid should be at least started now. Either go to FAFSA.GOV or check with an admissions representative at a college that you have already chosen. If you have NOT chosen a college yet, then no need to check with them Just go to the website and create a PIN number which starts your account.
Below are federal and state financial aid deadlines dates as published on FAFSA.GOV:
Alabama Check with your financial aid administrator. Alaska AK Education Grant & AK Perf. Scholarship – June 30, 2012 midnight, CST. American Samoa Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required. Arizona Check with your financial aid administrator. Arkansas For Academic Challenge – June 1, 2012 by midnight, CST. For Workforce Grant–check with your financial aid office. For Higher Education Opportunity Grant – June 1, 2012 by midnight, CST. California For initial awards – March 2, 2012. Applicants encouraged to keep a record of their submission by printing out their online FAFSA confirmation page or obtaining proof of mailing the FAFSA. Additional form may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. For additional community college awards – September 2, 2012 – date postmarked. Applicants encouraged to keep a record of their submission by printing out their online FAFSA confirmation page or obtaining proof of mailing the FAFSA. Additional form may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. Colorado Check with your financial aid administrator. Connecticut February 15, 2012. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Additional form may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. Delaware April 15, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. District of Columbia June 30, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. Additional form may be required. For priority consideration, submit application by May 15, 2012. Contact your state agency for more information. Federated States of Micronesia Check with your financial aid admin. Add’l forms may be req. Florida May 15, 2012 – date processed. Georgia Check with your financial aid administrator. Guam Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required. Hawaii Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required. Idaho Opportunity Grant – March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Additional form may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. Illinois As soon as possible after January 1, 2012. Awards made until funds are depleted. Indiana March 10, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. Iowa July 1, 2012 by midnight, CST; earlier priority deadlines may exist for certain programs. Kansas April 1, 2012 by midnight, CST. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Add’l form may be required. Contact your financial aid admin. or your state agency. Kentucky As soon as possible after January 1, 2012. Awards made until funds are depleted. Louisiana June 30, 2013 (July 1, 2012 recommended). Maine May 1, 2012, by midnight,Central Time. Marshall Islands Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required. Maryland March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. Massachusetts May 1, 2012 by midnight, CST For priority consideration, submit app. by date. Michigan March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. Minnesota 30 days after term starts by midnight, Central Time. Mississippi MTAG and MESG Grants – September 15, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. HELP Scholarship – March 31, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. Missouri April 2, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. Montana March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Nebraska Check with your financial aid administrator. Nevada Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required. New Hampshire New Hampshire is not offering a state grant this year. New Jersey 2011-2012 Tuition Aid Grant recipients – June 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. All other applicants – October 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time, for fall and spring terms; March 1, 2013 by midnight, Central Time, for spring term only. New Mexico Check with your financial aid administrator. New York June 30, 2013 by midnight, Central Time. Applicants encouraged to keep a record of their submission by printing out their online FAFSA confirmation page or obtaining proof of mailing the FAFSA. Additional form may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. North Carolina As soon as possible after January 1, 2012. Awards made until funds are depleted. North Dakota April 15, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Early priority deadlines may exist for institutional programs. N. Mariana Islands Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required. Ohio October 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. Oklahoma March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Oregon OSAC Private Scholarships – March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. Oregon Opportunity Grant – February 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. Palau Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required. Pennsylvania All first-time applicants at a community college; a business/trade/technical school; a hospital school of nursing; or enrolled in a non-transferable 2-year program – August 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. All other applicants – May 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. Puerto Rico Check with your financial aid administrator. Rhode Island March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. South Carolina Tuition Grants – June 30, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. SC Commission on Higher Education – As soon as possible after January 1, 2012. Awards made until funds are depleted. South Dakota Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required. Tennessee For State Grant – As soon as possible after January 1, 2012. Awards made until funds are depleted. For State Lottery – September 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Texas Check with your financial aid administrator. U.S. Virgin Islands Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required. Utah Check with your financial aid administrator. Vermont As soon as possible after January 1, 2012. Awards made until funds are depleted. Additional form may be required. Virginia Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required. Washington Check with your financial aid administrator. West Virginia Promise Scholarship – March 1, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Additional form may be required. Contact your financial aid administrator or your state agency. WV Higher Education Grant Program – April 16, 2012 by midnight, Central Time. For priority consideration, submit application by date specified. Wisconsin Check with your financial aid administrator. Wyoming Check with your financial aid administrator. Additional form may be required.
If you have a college in mind that you selected and you have been working with admissions, this will be your time to meet with a financial aid advisor to get this financial aid stuff done. They should guide you through the process or at least point you in the right direction.
Questions about the process? Let me know 🙂
Your Success is My Success,
Keith Lipke
I’m a careers and college recruiter, coach, public speaker and leader at The Career Closet. His passion is to educate, inspire, and give hope to young people who need it upon their search for the right career and college
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