It's FAFSA Time--and Other Financial Aid Info...
THE FAFSA: If you haven't already completed it, NOW is the time to get your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completed. (The priority deadline is March 2nd for California students.) The FAFSA is the key to receiving financial aid--whether from the government or from the universities themselves. The link to the official FAFSA site is provided in the Financial Aid Links section of this blog. For those of you in California, the FAFSA form is also the key to applying for Cal Grants--a California state financial aid program for low and moderate income families. After you submit your FAFSA, you will receive information about your family's EFC or Estimated Family Contribution--this is the amount that the family will be expected to pay toward the annual cost. Everything ABOVE that amount, up to the cost of attendance, is considered your "need." Colleges meet that need in a variety of ways--Federal Loans of various kinds, grants, and scholarships. Every...