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It’s hard to believe that August has arrived. For rising high school seniors, that means that college application and financial aid season is almost here. While the FAFSA and CSS Profile may not have opened yet, August is one of the most valuable months to prepare. The families who spend a little time getting organized now are often less stressed come fall. Instead of scrambling to gather documents and remember deadlines, they’ll be ready to focus on completing applications with confidence. If you’re wondering what you should be doing this month, here’s your ultimate August financial aid checklist. Talk About College Costs One of the most important things you can do is have a family conversation about finances before senior year begins. Open family discussions help prevent confusion later. Make sure everyone is on the same page about your family’s college budget, monies that are available, scholarship and student employment expectations, and potential borrowing. These discussions help students build a college list that’s both exciting and financially realistic, so they’re not putting in time and effort applying to schools that aren’t practical. Finalize Your College List Before you complete financial aid applications, make sure your college list is as up-to-date as possible. If your student has visited campuses over the summer or changed their mind about where they’d like to apply, now is the perfect time to revisit the list. As you narrow your options, research each school’s financial aid requirements. While every college accepts the FAFSA, many private colleges also require the CSS Profile or have additional institutional financial aid forms. Knowing these requirements now will help you avoid surprises later. Create a document with your list where you can add notes and deadlines to keep yourself organized.  Gather Your Financial Documents One of the best ways to reduce stress this fall is to organize your paperwork before application season begins. I suggest creating a paper or digital folder that includes documents such as: Federal tax returns W-2 forms Records of untaxed income Bank and investment information Other financial documents you may need Think of it like preparing for tax season. Filing always goes much more smoothly when everything is organized ahead of time instead of searching for documents at the last minute before the tax deadline. Confirm Login Information One of the most common delays during financial aid season, aside from missing paperwork, is forgotten passwords. Make sure both the student and parent know how to access their FSA ID accounts, College Board account (if the CSS Profile is required), and College portals. Store usernames and passwords somewhere secure so they’re easy to find when applications open. Review Deadlines Not every college follows the same timeline. Some schools have priority application deadlines, while others have separate deadlines for scholarships or institutional aid. Take time this month to review each college’s application and financial aid deadlines and add them to your calendar. Knowing when everything is due for each school and each component of the process, can help prevent last-minute stress later. Continue Researching Scholarships Scholarships aren’t something you have to wait until spring to pursue. August is a great time to begin researching local, community organization, employer-sponsored, and national scholarship opportunities.  Create a spreadsheet or folder to track deadlines, eligibility requirements, and application materials. Even if applications don’t open for several months, you’ll have all the information ready and know where to focus your efforts. Keep Checking Email and College Portals As schools prepare for application season, they often begin sending important updates. Get into the habit of checking email and college portals regularly so you don’t miss information about admissions, scholarships, or financial aid. A few minutes each week can save a lot of confusion later. On top of that, this is a habit you need to get into, as checking portals weekly will be on your to-do list for the next several months! Enjoy Senior Year August marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for rising seniors. Yes, there are forms to complete and deadlines to meet, but there will also be football games, homecoming, senior photos, family traditions, and countless memories you’ll treasure for years to come. Preparing for financial aid doesn’t mean spending every free moment thinking about college and crossing off items on your list. It simply means taking a few intentional steps now so you can enjoy senior year without feeling overwhelmed. Financial aid season can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. The families who feel the most confident during the fall are the ones who took the time to prepare.  More about Jodi and College Financial Aid Advisors Jodi is a FAFSA financial advisor who helps with the financial aid process to help families of college students maximize their financial aid. From completing the FAFSA and completing the CSS Profile to reviewing the SAR, responding to requests for verification, comparing financial aid offers and understanding student loan options, Jodi is a fantastic resource when it comes to student financial aid. Schedule a 15 Minute Power Chat to learn more about finding ways to pay for college.

Summer before senior year is a unique season. It’s a time to relax after a busy junior year, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy a well-deserved break before one of the busiest years of high school begins. However, summer is also one of the best times for rising seniors to prepare ahead for financial aid. I always encourage my students to take advantage of these quieter months, as they can make a big difference come fall. In between the days at the pool and time spent with family and friends this summer, here are five things every rising senior should do before school starts.  #1 Confirm Your College List  Before applications and financial aid forms begin, it’s helpful to have a solid idea of where you plan to apply. Summertime is perfect for scheduling college visits and determining which schools offer the academic programs you want AND are going to be realistically affordable.   While you are making your list, pay attention to each school’s financial aid requirements, as some colleges require only the FAFSA, while others also require the CSS Profile. Knowing these requirements ahead of time will help you stay organized once deadlines begin approaching. #2 Confirm or Create Account Logins  Even though FAFSA doesn’t open until October, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a head start on the application process. One of the easiest things you can do now is to confirm your account login or get your FSA ID if you don’t have one yet. This can take time, which is why I suggest doing it now. Most new applicants don’t realize that both the student and the parent need their own FSA ID. In order to create a new account, you will need the Social Security number of both the student and parent as well as email addresses.  If you already have an account, or just went through the steps to set one up, confirm you can actually log in successfully. Once you’ve done that, store your login information somewhere safe and where you’ll remember! #3 Learn What Documents Will Be Needed and Start Gathering Them It is never too early to start gathering information and documents. For many rising seniors and families, this is all new. The terminology, deadlines, and even the timeline of the process can seem overwhelming. Taking time now to research what’s needed and what certain terms mean can be extremely helpful. Here is a great list of the documents you’ll need for financial aid to get you started, as well as important financial aid terms you should know for college planning.  #4 Research Scholarship Opportunities Summer is the perfect time to research possible scholarships. I suggest students spend a small amount of time each week searching for scholarship opportunities. There are so many offered both locally and nationally. Many students don’t take full advantage of the opportunities out there. Others can be competitive and getting a head start on them can put you one step closer to being awarded free money, as scholarships don’t need to be repaid! No amount is too small, as every dollar awarded can help you cover smaller college expenses like books and fees, to the larger expenses like tuition and room and board.  As you research, start a list that includes the name of the scholarship, website and other important information, as well as eligibility requirements and application deadlines.  Also Remember, scholarships aren’t just for incoming freshmen. Many are available throughout a student’s college career, so developing good scholarship habits now will continue to pay off in the years ahead. #5 Continue to have Conversations as a Family about Budgeting  Conversations about money and budgets are so important when it comes to college planning. By having these talks now, you’ll know if a school is affordable or not as you are making your final college list. Having clear expectations of budget, who is going to be responsible for paying what, and even whether students are expected to work during college all helps when it comes time to apply and make decisions.   These conversations aren’t always easy, but they help students build a college list that reflects both their academic interests and financial situation. Understanding the big financial picture early also helps families make informed decisions when admission offers and financial aid packages begin arriving.  These 5 things are simple ways you can get ahead this summer on financial aid. While you deserve this break from school, spending just a small amount of time on these items each week will make a big difference in the fall. Whether you’re organizing documents, researching scholarships, or just having open conversations about budget and expectations, every small step counts. Remember, financial aid isn’t just about forms. It’s about building a strategy that fits student’s goals and family’s budget. More about Jodi and College Financial Aid Advisors Jodi is a FAFSA financial advisor who helps with the financial aid process to help families of college students maximize their financial aid. From completing the FAFSA and completing the CSS Profile to reviewing the SAR, responding to requests for verification, comparing financial aid offers and understanding student loan options, Jodi is a fantastic resource when it comes to student financial aid. Schedule a 15 Minute Power Chat to learn more about finding ways to pay for college.

Summer is in full swing and many families are enjoying the sunshine and a little down time too. As your student takes a break from school, now is the perfect time for families to start thinking about the future, especially when it comes to financial aid planning for college. I know it might feel like there’s plenty of time to figure things out, but getting ahead now can make a big difference when those deadlines are quickly approaching. I’ve seen first hand how early preparation helps families make more informed decisions. Not only that, but it helps to reduce the stress that often comes with college applications and financial aid. I often tell families that the students and parents who feel the least stressed in October are usually the ones who prepared ahead of time.  Here’s how you can begin financial aid planning now!  Know Which Schools Require the CSS Profile Most families are familiar with the FAFSA, however the CSS Profile isn’t always as well-known but it is just as important. Many colleges, particularly private institutions, require the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. The key difference between the FAFSA and the CSS Profile is that the CSS Profile is administered by the College Board and allows colleges to award their own institutional aid. Therefore, unlike FAFSA not every school requires it, which is why summer is the perfect time to review your college list and determine which schools require only the FAFSA, which ones require both the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and whether any schools have additional financial aid requirements. Researching this information now and keeping track of it all helps so much in the fall when you are actively applying and submitting multiple applications.   Secure Logins   One of the most common frustrations families experience during financial aid season is forgetting usernames and passwords, or needing to set up their account. Both students and parents need their own FSA IDs to complete and electronically sign the FAFSA. In addition, you’ll likely have multiple college portals and College Board accounts to manage. I recommend setting up your accounts now if you haven’t already as it does take some time.  Once accounts are created, log in to each account to make sure the information is accurate and you can log in. Then, create a secure system for storing all your usernames and passwords.    Get Organized   Fall has a way of arriving quickly. Between senior sports, activities, school events, and college applications, it can feel overwhelming to track down paperwork at the last minute. Summer is the ideal time to begin gathering all your financial information, including tax returns, w-2s, documentation of other income sources, and investment and savings information.  On top of financial information, you can also start tracking and organizing other items that will be a part of college applications like extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and any part-time jobs or internships.  Simply knowing where all the documents and information is located and having them organized in one place can make the process significantly easier. For all of this information, I suggest creating either a digital folder or spreadsheet, or a physical folder if needed, to keep everything organized in one place. Begin Scholarship Research Scholarships are a wonderful way to pay for college, and while many students wait until spring of senior year to look for scholarships, I highly recommend starting the summer before you enter senior year. It is never too early. Begin compiling a list of scholarship opportunities, tracking deadlines, requirements, and eligibility. That way you have all the information you need when it’s time to apply. Even spending a few hours researching now can save valuable time later, and put you ahead of the game when it comes securing scholarships to pay for your college education.  Have Honest Conversations About College Costs Summer is also a wonderful time for families to discuss finances openly. Ensuring everyone is on the same page before the process officially begins is extremely important. Discuss as a family what you can realistically afford, the expectations regarding student loan repayment, what savings are available, any scholarship or financial goals, and the financial responsibilities for both parents and students. These conversations may not always be comfortable, but they help students make informed decisions when building their college lists. Financial Aid Planning Starts Before The FAFSA Opens As important as preparation is, remember that this is also a special season and college planning doesn’t have to take over your entire summer. Just a little preparation now goes a long way toward reducing stress later in the fall, because the truth is, financial aid planning starts before the FAFSA opens. Families who begin preparing during the summer often find themselves feeling far more confident and ahead when the busy months of senior year begin. More about Jodi and College Financial Aid Advisors Jodi is a FAFSA financial advisor who helps with the financial aid process to help families of college students maximize their financial aid. From completing the FAFSA and completing the CSS Profile to reviewing the SAR, responding to requests for verification, comparing financial aid offers and understanding student loan options, Jodi is a fantastic resource when it comes to student financial aid. Schedule a 15 Minute Power Chat to learn more about finding ways to pay for college.

For most students and families, summer feels like a chance to take a break from school schedules, homework, and college planning.  If you are a rising senior, after a busy junior year, that break is well deserved! The reality for incoming seniors might also be hitting them too – they are about to enter their final year of high school! Senior year brings many fun, exciting, and memorable experiences, but it is also a year of planning and preparation for the next stage of life. Summer provides valuable time to get ahead on items related to college admissions and the financial aid process. That doesn’t mean spending every day working on college applications. It simply means taking advantage of a season when there is a little more time and a little less pressure. Here’s what rising seniors should be doing this summer to prepare.   Start Building Your College List One of the best things rising seniors can do this summer is begin finalizing their college list so they know exactly what schools they want to apply to. If your student has already visited some campuses, now is a great time to reflect on what they liked and didn’t like. If they haven’t visited schools yet, summer offers a perfect opportunity to schedule campus tours and information sessions. As students build their list of schools, make sure to consider the academic programs and majors offered, the campus size and culture, the distance from home and whether it is realistic, and last but certainly not least, the expected cost and affordability. Working on your list now, before senior year begins, makes application season much less overwhelming. Create or Confirm Your FSA ID The FAFSA may not open until later in the year, but there is one important task families can complete now: creating their FSA IDs. Many families don’t realize that both the student and parent will need separate FSA IDs to access and sign the FAFSA electronically. Create these accounts and logins now so you’re ready to go!  If you’ve already created your FSA ID – great! Just take a few minutes to make sure you know your username and password, your email address is current, and you can successfully log in. If everything works, then store this information somewhere safe. Every year, families lose valuable time trying to recover forgotten login credentials during financial aid season. Gather Financial Documents Early One of the biggest causes of stress during the financial aid process is trying to locate documents at the last minute. Summer is the perfect time to start gathering these documents and creating a file for everything that you will need later. Here are a few different financial documents you will need:   Federal tax returns W-2 forms  Other income documentation  While this isn’t an exhaustive list, as oftentimes more detail and information is needed, especially for the CSS Profile, preparing documents now puts you one step ahead, making the FAFSA and CSS Profile process much smoother.   Talk About College Costs as a Family Summer is also a great time to have honest conversations about college finances as a family. Many students create college lists without fully understanding what their family can realistically afford. Having these discussions now can help avoid disappointment later. These conversations are crucial and should include discussions about budget expectations and limitations, scholarship goals, potential student loan borrowing, as well as goals related to paying for college. These conversations aren’t always easy, but they help ensure everyone is on the same page and assist families in making informed decisions throughout senior year.  Enjoy the Summer Too As important as preparation is, don’t forget to have fun too! This is your last summer before senior year. You should absolutely take time to make memories, go on vacations, and simply enjoy the season. College planning over the summer is important, but it shouldn’t be burdensome or take over the entire summer. A little preparation now can make the months ahead feel much more manageable. When application deadlines, financial aid forms, and college decisions begin arriving this fall, you’ll be grateful you used the summer to get organized. More about Jodi and College Financial Aid Advisors Jodi is a FAFSA financial advisor who helps with the financial aid process to help families of college students maximize their financial aid. From completing the FAFSA and completing the CSS Profile to reviewing the SAR, responding to requests for verification, comparing financial aid offers and understanding student loan options, Jodi is a fantastic resource when it comes to student financial aid. Schedule a 15 Minute Power Chat to learn more about finding ways to pay for college.