Applying for College Financial Aid? Marquette Offers Helpful Advice for Parents and Students Released: Dec.1, 2004 Today, as baby boomers' children travel through the education system, 14 million students are expected to attend college in 2005.  For most families college costs are intimidating, but it does not have to be that way.  Marquette expert Dan Goyette has advice that can help you navigate the often confusing maze of financial aid. Goyette has been Director of the Office of Student Financial Aid at Marquette University the last 25 years. He knows his material!  The following is a list of the top tips to remember when applying for financial aid: Be Inquisitive. Ask the colleges what their procedures and deadlines are for scholarships and other financial aid programs. Be Organized. Once you have this information, keep close track of your progress for providing what each college requires.  Although many similarities in financial aid exist among all colleges, there are enough differences to warrant creating a file folder for each college that includes information about its process. Be Aware of Deadlines. File the FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid, as soon as possible after January 1st.  The FAFSA is required by all colleges to determine eligibility for financial aid.  Colleges may require other forms, but the FAFSA is the most important. Many colleges will tell you to file the FAFSA in January even if you have not filed your taxes.  You can estimate and then update the FAFSA later if your actual tax information is different. File online at www.fafsa.ed.gov rather than filing the paper version.  If in the process of completing the FAFSA you realize there are circumstances about your financial situation not covered by the form, write a letter about those circumstances and send the letter to the financial aid office at each college your student is considering attending.  Special circumstances could include anything affecting your family's financial strength and, therefore, your ability to pay the costs associated with attending college. Follow Up. Keep in contact with the college financial aid office. Don't make the mistake of filing the FAFSA and then forgetting about it until school starts next fall--you may not have any financial aid waiting. Once you file the FAFSA, expect confirmation that your application was received by the federal processor.  You should then receive an aid award notification according to the college's timetable.  Call the college financial aid office if you have any questions, particularly if you have concerns after receiving the aid award notification. Follow the college's directions to accept and reserve the financial aid they offer you. Investigate. Search for scholarships and plan to work part-time while attending college.  Ask about community-based scholarships at your high school guidance office and then search the web for nationally available scholarship programs through free search engines like www.fastweb.com . Searching for scholarships, whether through fastweb or through your college's financial aid office, is something you should do on a regular basis throughout your college career.   Equally important and rewarding is part-time work while attending college.  Working 10 to 20 hours per week closely correlates with academic, social, and financial success at college.  Students who work part-time at college learn to organize their time more effectively, get to know the faculty, staff, and other students, and are able to pay more of their own personal expenses.  Parents should encourage their students to persist in pursuing student employment options.  All too often opportunities for employment are missed for lack of follow-up by students.  The financial aid office at each college should be able to assist in the part-time employment search. Reapply. File another application for financial aid early each year!  Most colleges have reapplication deadlines that come soon after January 1st, with loss of some or all aid as the penalty for late filing.  Find out from the aid office what the reapplication procedures are and follow them carefully. With increasing tuition costs nationwide, attending college can seem out of reach. However, with these helpful tips on applying for financial aid, you can get the head start you need on funding a college education.   Office of Public Affairs Contacts Christopher Stolarski Media Relations Specialist Phone: (414) 288-1988 Send e-mail