Know the Financial Aid Application Deadlines for Your State
Yes, states give financial aid too!  It is important, however, that you pay attention to the deadlines for submitting financial aid forms.  Missing a deadline seriously impacts your ability to obtain federal and state financial aid as well as institutional aid and scholarships.
We have compiled a list of state deadlines for May 2011 as well as provided some tips to help you and your family understand how financial aid deadlines work. 

Tips:  

• The FAFSA is the federal application for financial aid, but it is also used to apply for aid from other sources, such as the state.
• The deadlines for the state or colleges may be different from the federal deadlines and you may be required to complete additional forms.  
• Check with your high school guidance counselor or a college financial aid administrator about state and college sources of student aid.
• Refer to the state in which you live, not the state of the school that you may attend.
• Pay close attention to the college's definition of an application deadline - whether it is the receipt date and time or the process date and time of the application. 

State financial aid deadlines: 
Pennsylvania - May 1
Maine - May 1
Massachusetts - May 1
New Hampshire - May 1
Florida - May 15

If you state is not listed, it is because the state deadline is later than the month of May or may have already passed.  Visit collegepreparationevents.blogspot again for additional deadlines and tips.

For more information on completing the FAFSA form:  http://www.fafsa.ed.gov


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READ MORE - Need Additional Financial Aid for College? Don't Forget Your State!

Time is money-  and running out of time means No money for college!

Missing a deadline for financial aid - what does it really mean?
I was recently asked by a family, "what does it really mean if we are late submitting our financial aid applications", so I thought I would share my response to this issue.

FAQs:  Will my late application be reviewed, considered, processed?  I'm only a few days late, does it really matter that much?  Can I be considered for something else?

The short answer to the issue is that missing a financial aid deadline basically means that you will have  a very slim chance to get the funding from that source (e.g. college financial aid deadline, scholarship deadline, state grant application deadline,etc)

Advice- Yes, you may loose an opportunity to take advance of one resource but don't give up completely.  Keep up the search for other scholarships, grants and loans that still have open or available application dates.

There was a time when you may have been able to squeeze an application in if it was only a couple days late.  However, now with the economy in the state that it is in and people and foundations losing  money, and more families in need then ever before, a late application is less likely to be considered.

Advice -Pay attention and get or stay organized.  Every source of money for college has its own deadline and this creates much confusion.  Starting early and staying on top of your planning helps enormously.  If you are already late and have missed a deadline or two, know that the aid could be lower or you may have missed that opportunity altogether.  Contact the source of the aid (college financial aid office, scholarship contact, etc) and learn more about your next steps and other options.  Keep searching for additional sources.  Don't give up!  Stay connected and watch for the information posted here.

More State Financial Aid Deadlines

May 1:
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New York
Pennsylvania


May 15:
Florida
 

READ MORE - Time is Money - Don't Miss Financial Deadlines