What should you do before college?-- U.S. Department of Education

What do I need to do before I go to college?

This is a general financial aid process timeline. It begins with a student´s senior year of high school, but you might have already completed some of these steps. Remember that you can submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as of Jan. 1 of the year you plan to begin college.

During the summer, between your junior and senior year in high school: Request applications and information from colleges. Visit campuses. Look into college programs that let you visit the campus overnight.

September Mark your calendar for college fairs and visits from admissions representatives. Meet with your high school counselor to develop a college admission plan. Register for the ACT or SAT. Create a schedule of admission and financial aid deadlines.

October Search college and scholarship information. Begin completing college applications and essays. Request transcripts and letters of recommendation from your high school.

November Complete essays and applications. Follow up to ensure that letters of recommendation are submitted.

December Complete, photocopy and submit college applications. Obtain any other financial aid forms that may be required by your target colleges.

January This is when the financial aid application process begins. Complete the FAFSA as soon as you can on or after Jan. 1. If you are required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to file a federal income tax return, you will need your family's prior year income tax information. Keep a copy of this information because you may need it later to verify your information. If you haven't filed your taxes yet, you can estimate your taxes and correct the information later.

February Contact the college's financial aid office to see if financial aid programs exist on a state or campus level. You might have to fill out additional forms or applications. Be sure that you have submitted all required forms: the college admission application, the FAFSA, any private scholarship applications, and any state or campus forms required for financial aid programs outside the federal student aid programs.

March Watch for your Student Aid Report (SAR), which you´ll receive electronically if you entered an e-mail address on the FAFSA, or by mail if you did not provide an e-mail address. The SAR is the result of your processed FAFSA that contains your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your college will use the EFC to determine your eligibility for federal student aid.

April Receive admission notification(s). Compare your financial aid awards to cost of attendance. Make a final enrollment decision and submit the enrollment deposit, if requested. Notify any colleges that have accepted you but that you have chosen not to attend. Sign and return any additional financial aid forms required by the college you will attend. Use your completed federal tax returns to make any necessary corrections to your FAFSA.

May Take any applicable Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Send final grade transcript to your chosen college. Contact the college's financial aid office to check the status of your financial aid award.

June Complete any remaining financial aid forms. Plan for college orientation, transportation and housing.

July Finalize college transportation and housing for the fall.

What does everyone need to do to ensure that I receive federal student aid?

Not all colleges participate in all three federal student aid categories: grants, work-study and loans (check with your college to find out which programs your college participates in). However, everyone has a role, something they need to do, to ensure you get the funds needed for your education.

You, the student: You need to apply for federal student aid as soon as possible on or after January 1 of the year you plan to attend college by completing the FAFSA. Use FAFSA on the Web to apply online, or complete and mail a paper FAFSA. A complete list of what you'll need in order to complete the FAFSA is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Next, watch for your SAR, which you'll receive electronically if you provided an e-mail address when you submitted the FAFSA. Verify that the information on the SAR is correct, and update the income information upon filing your taxes if you used estimated amounts when you applied.

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid: After processing your FAFSA, Federal Student Aid will send you a Student Aid Report (SAR), and will make an electronic copy of your results available to the colleges you list on your FAFSA.

We are not responsible for the college's curricula, policies or administrative practices, but we do oversee how the college administers our federal student aid programs.

Your college: Colleges use your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to determine the types and amounts of federal student aid for which you qualify. The formula used to calculate your EFC is established by law and is intended to measure your family's financial strength on the basis of your family's income and assets. The EFC is used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid and indicates how much money you and your family are expected to contribute toward your cost of attendance for the school year. If you qualify for financial aid, the colleges to which you are applying will prepare a financial aid package to help you meet your financial need.

Your college will notify you of your eligibility for financial aid.

Lenders/Banks: Depending on which loan program your college participates in, you will have either a Direct or FFEL loan. If the college of your choice participates in the Direct Loan program, your lender is the U.S. Department of Education. If it participates in the FFEL Loan program, either a bank or private entity is your lender. But the federal government funds and guarantees both loan programs.

Site Last Updated: Sunday, April 29, 2007

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Help from Uncle Sam

Financial Aid Resource Publications

from the U.S. Department of Education

Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid is a comprehensive resource on student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education. Grants, loans, and work-study are the three major forms of aid available through the Department's Federal Student Aid office. Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid tells you about the programs and how to apply for them.

The 2006-07 version of the Guide, which covers July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007, is available in both English (PDF and HTML) and Spanish (PDF and HTML).

The 2007-08 version of the Guide, which covers July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008, is now available in English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF).

To apply for federal aid and to apply for many state student aid programs, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Electronic versions of the FAFSA make applying for financial aid faster and easier than ever.

If you have any questions, or require additional information on student financial assistance, you may contact your high school guidance counselor, the financial aid officer at the postsecondary institution you plan to attend, or the Federal Student Aid Information Center.

Federal Student Aid Information Center

1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)

This is a toll-free number.