Category: Financial Aid


10 Common FAFSA Mistakes & How To Avoid Them

Posted on October 9th, 2019

Now that the FAFSA is available in October, it’s important to make sure you’re filling it out as early as possible.

But filling it out correctly is even more important. If you make a mistake on your FAFSA, you could miss out on financial aid.

Check out the top 10 common FAFSA mistakes from the Federal Office of Student Aid to make sure you don’t miss out on free money for college.

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A Video Walkthrough of the 2019-20 FAFSA

Posted on November 6th, 2018

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available for the 2019-20 school year.

All students attending college in fall 2019 and/or spring 2020 should use this application to apply for financial aid. Watch this video for step-by-step instructions on how to complete the form.

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These 20 colleges give students the most financial aid

Posted on October 12th, 2018

Few students can afford the high price of college without financial aid. So for prospective college students and families, it’s crucial to know which schools award the most aid before applying to college.

The Princeton Review recently ranked colleges based on students’ ratings of overall satisfaction with their financial aid packages at the 384 best colleges in the U.S. According to their analysis, these are the best colleges for financial aid in 2018:

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How to create an FSA ID

Posted on November 3rd, 2017

It’s that time of the year: time for college-bound students and their parents should fill out the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA).

Students and parents should complete the FAFSA ASAP for priority financial aid consideration.

Even if you’ve filled out the FAFSA before, there are some big FAFSA changes you need to know about if you haven’t submitted one in the past couple of years.

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Most private colleges opt out of New York’s free tuition program

Posted on June 27th, 2017

There’s been plenty of talk (and controversy) over the Excelsior Scholarship program, which will provide students in New York from families under specific income levels with free tuition at state public colleges.

One new aspect of the new free college initiative that’s been overlooked by many is the Enhanced Tuition Awards Program, which provides up to $6,000 for students who choose to attend private colleges instead of one of the state’s SUNY or CUNY colleges.

But it hasn’t been all smooth-sailing for this program, either. In fact, a majority of the state’s private colleges are choosing not to participate, The Journal News reports.

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New York’s Free College Program May Be Lottery-Based

Posted on May 11th, 2017

When the Excelsior Scholarship Program was announced, many believed it meant that the majority of students in New York state would now be able to attend college for free.

That’s not entirely the case, as we explain in our recent post about the program. And more details have emerged that should give pause to students and families depending on this program.

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What you need to know about New York’s Excelsior Scholarship Program

Posted on April 24th, 2017

Many of our clients have been asking about the new Excelsior Scholarship program, which will provide free tuition at in-state public colleges for New York state students if their family meets certain income requirements.

While it may sound too good to be true, there are a lot of important details and things you need to keep in mind when considering the program. Read these important FAQs about the program, and contact us if you want personalized help figuring out whether it is a good option for your family.

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How to Fill Out the FAFSA When You Have More Than One Child in College

Posted on February 6th, 2017

When you have multiple kids in college, filling out the FAFSA can be tricky. Luckily, the Department of Education put together a guide to answer your most pressing questions.

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Gov. Cuomo proposes free college plan for students in New York state

Posted on January 3rd, 2017

"It's incredibly hard and getting harder to get a college education today. It is incredibly expensive, and the debt is so high it's like starting a race with an anchor tied to your leg. New York State is going to do something about it." -- New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Great news for New York students considering attending college in their home state in the next few years. On January 3, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a plan that would offer free tuition at state colleges (including community college) for all students with families making $125,000 or less, according to the New York Times. […]

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How to transfer your tax information into the FAFSA

Posted on October 7th, 2016

The FAFSA is available now at fafsa.gov for students attending college in 2017-18. Because of its earlier availability (it usually isn’t available until January 1), the Department of Federal Student Aid is allowing families to use tax information from 2015 to complete the form.

To make it easier to complete the FAFSA, you can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically fill in all of your tax information. This will allow you to submit the form sooner and maximize your chances of receiving financial aid for college.

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