You’ve been accepted to college. Congratulations! But have you applied for financial aid? Most schools have a financial aid deadline somewhere in the period of January–March, which means students often submit financial aid applications before they’ve been accepted. If you haven’t yet applied for financial aid, you’ll want to make that your top priority, especially if you’ve missed a deadline. We have steps for you to follow right now to get on track.

1. Check the college’s financial aid webpage to find out their deadline for the FAFSA®, the main application for financial aid, as well as any other requirements. Around 200 colleges in the country require the CSS Profile, a separate application, so that may be something you need to complete as well.
2. Submit the FAFSA ASAP, even if your college’s financial aid deadline has passed. You’ll need to set up your FAFSA username and password (called an FSA ID) here, and then complete the FAFSA online here. By submitting the FAFSA, you’ll be considered for federal, state, and college financial aid. If the CSS Profile is required, do that now too.
3. Follow up with the college to determine when they’ll be evaluating your application for financial aid, and if you need to take any additional steps, such as submitting supplemental forms or relevant documentation.
4. Consider other ways to pay for college while you wait for your financial aid offer, including monthly payment plans and private student loans. And discuss with your family expectations on how much each person will contribute toward college costs.
5. Search for private scholarships, which are additional sources of funds separate from the financial aid process. Private scholarships each require their own application, and can be found using search engines such as Fastweb, MEFA Pathway, or Bold.org.

As you continue to navigate through the college planning process, reference our timeline, which provides a checklist for you to complete in the months leading up to college enrollment. And if you have any questions or need additional guidance on college admissions or financial aid, we’re happy to help. Reach us at (800) 449-MEFA (6332) or [email protected].