Top 5 things to do to complete FAFSA for your college-bound senior

Families may start applying for financial aid through FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) beginning October 1 and will be able to submit an earlier tax return for consideration. This opening date well aligns the financial aid process with the college application process

There are more and more students who apply during early application deadlines. For example, Georgia Tech’s Early Action application deadline is October 15 and numerous other colleges, such as MIT, The Ohio State University and Purdue have Early Action Deadlines of November 1. Since the FAFSA application is open sooner, it means that when colleges release their decisions in mid-December/January, they may also have enough financial information to make a preliminary decision about any financial aid awards. This can be a sigh of relief for families who are particularly concerned about the financial support that they may receive in order to make college affordable.

Admittedly, when I first filled out the FAFSA for my oldest son, it felt a bit overwhelming. I was concerned about “all the paperwork” and financial disclosure. Completing the FAFSA was so much easier than I expected. So, if you are completing the FAFSA for the first time, I encourage you to 1) wrap your ahead around the fact that you can get through it, then 2) set aside an hour when you can devote time to completing the FAFSA form.

To feel less daunted by the whole financial aid process, you may follow these 5 tips to save time:

1. Create your FSA ID

Prior to even starting the FAFSA, your teen must create a Federal Student Aid ID. This is simply a username and password to fill out the form and update the information in later years. Keep in mind that the student will have their own FSA ID and the parent will also have their own FSA ID.

Please, please remember to write your usernames and passwords to keep in a safe place. (I even took a photo of mine to keep in my phone.)

2. Start the FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov

Use your FSA ID to begin applying for financial aid through FAFSA. The FAFSA form has over 100 questions. And no worries, you do not have to fill out the form in one sitting. You can start, stop and return at a later time. Keep in mind though that the information is kept in progress up to 45 days.

3. Add FAFSA deadlines to your calendar

Yes, I’m a big fan of keeping a visible calendar as well as mobile calendar for your teen to stay accountable. Add state and college-specific deadlines to be sure. (The federal deadline is typically in the summer following the academic year so I wouldn’t worry about that one.) Focus on and plan to submit your FAFSA prior to the earliest deadline.

Most financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply as early as possible.

4. Gather documents

The student and parent/guardian will need these documents at least to complete the FAFSA:

  • Social security numbers
  • Alien registration number (if not a US citizen)
  • Most recent federal income tax returns, W-2 forms and records of any untaxed income.
  • Bank statements
  • Investment records

Having these documents handy when you’re completing the FAFSA will save you time and give you more peace of mind, for sure.

5. Use the IRS Data Retrieval tool

To speed up the FAFSA application process, you may transfer your federal tax return information directly into your FAFSA with the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Within the financial information section, you may click “Link to IRS” to prefill your information. When I tried this first time, none of my information was retrieved. I did, however, receive a notification later from the university where my son would attend stating that my financial aid report would not be finalized until this financial information was verified through the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

As I completed the FAFSA, there were checks along the way to avoid mistakes and numerous email notices to keep me on track.

I wish you all the best in this process and please post any questions you have.

Randolph College may be coed now, but many traditions still continue

Named #9 of “Top 50 Green Colleges” and receiving many other accolades, Randolph College is situated on a picturesque 100-acre campus in an historic residential area of Lynchburg, Virginia. Students have close access to shopping and entertainment, as well as public transportation, and Washington, D.C. and Virginia Beach are just a short drive away. Founded in 1891 as Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, Randolph became co-ed in 2007 and men currently make up one-third of undergraduates. 

 

Here are a few quick facts about Randolph:

4-year Graduation rate: 52%, 6-year: 56%

Acceptance: 90%

Freshman retention: 71%

Freshmen out of state: 24% 

Most popular majors: biology, sport/exercise studies, history, psychology

Student Community Diversity: 16% Black, 6% Latino, 3% International

 

Housing: Seventy-six percent of Randolph students live in the dorms where the main drawback is that many of the buildings lack air conditioning. Main Hall is known on campus as “The Hilton” due to being the largest dorm and because of its central location on campus. After the first year, housing is selected by a lottery with the college-owned apartments across the street being the most popular option. 

 

Academics: Randolph offers 33 majors and 43 minors and boasts pre-professional programs in engineering, nursing, law, medicine and veterinary studies. The teacher licensure program is enhanced by two graduate degree programs. The two pillars of the general education requirements are core competencies (writing, quantitative reasoning, and language) and ways of knowing (artistic expression, human experience, culture and identity, social and natural science, and physical education). This matrix allows students to explore different areas and take classes in almost every department.  

Eighty-six percent of classes enroll fewer than 20 students and there are no TAs so students get to know their professors and vice versa. All students are eligible to apply for the RISE grant, which provides students with funding for research, international travel and other academic pursuits. Students who are interested in participating in original and innovative research will find the opportunity to do so through the Center for Student Research and the Summer Research Program – an intensive 8-week program that gives undergraduates the opportunity to present findings at professional conferences and/or publish in professional journals. 

Finals week looks a lot different on Randolph campus – students may pick up their final exam when they are ready and take it in the room they choose. This is possible because of the Randolph Honor Code, which is “the backbone of a tight-knit community that gives our students the respect and dignity they deserve as scholars and human beings.” 

 

Similar colleges to consider: Hendrix, Millsapp, Wells, Eckerd

 

Social: There is no Greek life on Randolph campus, so the real social scene is inside The Red Brick Wall, with a number of secret societies, clubs and other social organizations. Macon Activities Council hosts comedians, bands and other entertainers, talent shows and outdoor parties to keep the student populace from getting bored. Popular Randolph traditions include the Even/Odd class rivalry, Never Ending Weekend and the Pumpkin Parade, just to name a few. 

Randolph Wildcats compete in Division III sports. While there is no football team, their equestrian and women’s teams have been most competitive, along with men’s soccer, basketball, tennis, and track and field.

 

Financial: Randolph offers need-based aid, as well as non-need based merit aid. They do not offer any athletic scholarships. The average percent of need met is 79%, with 21% being fully met. Although the tuition and fees are $41,750, the average financial aid package is $35,873. 90% of students receive scholarships.

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