Michelle answers:

The March 30 deadline for “maximum consideration” for a financial aid package by your univ. Means that all FAFSA applications filed before March 30 will receive consideration before any applications filed after March 30.

It is in your best interests to complete and submit the FAFSA application before March 30.

You can complete & file your FAFSA (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov) application now, using estimated income figures from your parents’ 2009 (last year’s) income tax filing. Later on, you can go back and amend the income data, after your parents have filed their 2010 income tax forms.

Best wishes

Michelle answers:

First start by completing the FAFSA after you have received your pin. NOTE: Change your pin immediately to something you will remember in the future. You will need it every year when you complete the FAFSA or make changes. To complete the FAFSA you will need you and your parents tax returns if your a dependent student (under the age of 24). Be sure to enter the school code of the University you plan to attend (you can enter more than one code if you haven’t made up your mind yet).

Once you’ve completed and submitted your FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) by mail or email that determines your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). It basically determines if you are eligible for financial aid. Your school will most likely require that you complete verification forms and provide copies of you and your parents tax returns. The sooner you get this done the better in order to receive funds before school starts. Also, some need base scholarships provided by the school require the completion of a FAFSA. Funds do run out so it is important to inquire about scholarships provided by your university with a financial aid counselor Usually, schools will defer your fees until your aid comes in if they haven’t processed your aid yet.

Michelle answers:

Is 1.5 his gpa at the community college

if so, then he is not eligible for FAFSA until he brings the gpa up to a minimum of 2.0

there are other criteria, such as successfully completing & passing 67% of the classes you enroll in

I don’t see how he is going to be eligible for FAFSA by changing schools
the school in Boston is going to see his transcript from the community college

it isn’t like he can hide the grades from the community college

even if he lies & said he had not been to college… The new school will see the record of the old school

Michelle answers:

Put it on a credit card now or if you don’t have the funds wait until your check arrives (or is direct deposited.)

It’s not paid through FAFSA. That is just the name for the general application for aid of all types.

* To be honest, sometimes it is better to wait to get books until after class starts to see what you *really* need. I cannot tell you how many times I have bought books from the list that were never used. Major textbooks most likely will be used but sometimes they add on unneccessary books.