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10 Great Questions to Ask the College Financial Aid Office

By Brian O'Connell

March 6, 2024

Any college student learns that the school’s financial aid office can be the bearer of great news or bad news regarding the financial side of attending college.

Yet the financial aid office is much more than that, and the more you know about financial aid, the better your experience will be for the next four years on campus.

The problem is that most students and their families aren’t as familiar with their financial aid office as they should be.

Many college students are unsure about where their financial aid comes from. They think financial aid begins and ends with the FAFSA, when in reality, college financial aid comes from plenty of non-federal financial add sources, like state governments and private grant and scholarship providers, as well as the college itself.

That type of confusion is all too common among college families and doesn’t need to be that way.

10 Questions to Ask the College Financial Aid Office

To clarify the college financial aid experience, let’s take a deep dive into ten questions every collegian (and his or her parents) should ask when they speak with the college’s financial aid office after receiving the college’s financial aid award letter.

1. What’s the real cost of going to school here?

Most students do not pay the full sticker price to enroll at the college. The cost of attendance includes tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies, equipment, transportation, and miscellaneous/personal expenses.

Financial aid, comprised of grants and scholarships that don’t need to be repaid, discounts the actual college costs. The discounted sticker price is known as the net price.

That’s why discussing the net price of attending college with the financial aid office is so important. It gives you a real-world idea of what comes out of the household budget each year a student attends college. The net price correlates strongly with student loan debt.

Harvard University, for example, offers students a true cost of college calculator that tells a family what they’ll pay out of pocket that year and how much they can expect to earn from grants and scholarships.

Every college has a net price calculator that provides a personalized estimate of your net price. The calculators vary in accuracy depending on the number of questions. The calculator’s net price is usually in the same ballpark as the actual net price on the financial aid award letter.

See if your financial aid office can impart the same knowledge to you.

2. What are your financial aid deadlines, and when will we hear back after filing the FAFSA?

One of the greatest areas of confusion for college families is knowing when key financial aid forms need to be filed and when they’ll hear back on the amount of financial aid.

Your college’s financial aid office can provide a direct list of financial aid deadlines and notification dates or point them out on their website or mobile app.

Most colleges send out financial aid award letters or notifications in March or early April, soon after the offer of admission. Some may make the award letter available earlier, especially for early decision applicants. The colleges must provide you with the financial aid award letter no later than May 1, which is the deadline for accepting the college’s offer of admission.

Your college financial aid office is a valuable source of information on acceptance letters and financial aid. When you visit campus as a prospective student, make sure you get a financial aid timeline.

3. What is the appeal process if we don’t get enough financial aid?

Appeals for more financial aid are submitted to the college financial aid office, not the FAFSA folks.

The college financial aid office can walk you through the demoralizing experience of not getting the financial aid you requested and steer you through the financial aid appeals process .

When you’re in contact with your financial aid office, make sure to focus your questions on key appeal issues, such as whether the college requires you to complete a form or send them an appeal letter, what is considered a special circumstance, and what type of documentation they will need to consider your appeal.

The financial aid office can also provide the fine points needed when you submit the financial aid appeal.

4. How do I receive financial aid from my school?

Your college financial aid office can explain how, in most cases, your financial aid is made available.

The payments are usually made twice yearly, once per term, in a process called “disbursement.”

Financial aid is first applied to the tuition and fees. If you are living in college housing, the financial aid will also be applied to room and board. Any remaining credit balance is “refunded” to the student within 14 days.

Some money may be made available sooner to purchase textbooks. However, if you are a first-year borrower, there may be a 30-day delay in disbursing federal student loans.

Ask the financial aid office if it disburses financial aid payments bi-weekly or monthly instead of in a lump sum. Some colleges allow you to receive the financial aid in installments, like a paycheck. That avoids the issue of blowing through your lump sum payment within days or weeks of getting your financial aid package.

5. What is the average debt of your school’s graduates?

Financial outcomes, as measured by debt, can be as important as academic outcomes in college.

That’s especially the case with the total accumulated student loan debt a college graduate takes away once they leave campus. The average student loan debt after departing a four-year college or university is just under $30,000, but the actual debt level incurred by a college graduate at specific schools can vary greatly.

That’s why asking the expected college loan debt upon graduating is a fair question for college families to ask of financial aid – and the financial aid office has a responsibility to answer it, just like a mortgage lender or auto dealer would have to do.

You can also get median debt at graduation figures from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard tool. The median is usually lower than the average. This figure includes only federal student loans and excludes parent and private student loans.

6. What are the part-time employment opportunities on campus?

College students can really use a steady stream of cash, and that’s exactly what work-study programs and part-time jobs around campus and the surrounding community can provide.

Thus, asking about job leads for work-study or in the community is a no-brainer. Your financial aid office has direct knowledge of work-study opportunities, and there’s a good chance it’s tied in with the Federal Work-Study program.

Many colleges have job boards posted around campus if not a direct student employment office. Know, too, that colleges tend to over-award work-study jobs, anticipating that some students will choose not to accept a job, which means there might not be enough jobs for all students who seek one.

Start your search for a job at the financial aid office and go from there.

7. How will scholarships impact my financial aid?

If you’re the recipient of an outside (i.e., private) college scholarship, that may curb the amount of financial aid you receive from your school, and you’ll want to know how that works.

When you receive a private scholarship, some colleges will reduce your unmet need and student loans, while others will reduce their grants. This is called scholarship displacement.

Your financial aid office can explain how your need-based financial aid will be reduced when you win a scholarship. That might not be bad news – the college may replace student loan dollars with scholarship dollars, reducing your net price.

The financial aid office will know for sure – if you ask.

8. Do you engage in front-loading of grants?

Colleges take different approaches to grants, with some giving more grants up front (called front-loading of grants) and some weaving grants evenly among the financial aid packages for all four years on campus. You might also receive more grants and scholarships during the freshman year since some awards are for just one year, while other awards are renewable for all four years.

If you’re not sure how your grants are paid out, ask. It could save you some headaches later when you realize the grant money has expired.

Understanding the requirements for renewing your grants and scholarships is also important. You might need to maintain a certain grade point average or participate in community service.

9. Does the college really meet full demonstrated financial need?

Colleges may promise they’ll offer 100% of all college aid needed to attend their school, but a look under the surface reveals galore caveats.

Your financial aid office should know about the ins and outs of full financial need and what that means at your school. Chances are, if you’re what colleges describe as a desirable student, your school will do what it takes to make up for any financial aid you’re missing just to get you on campus (through a combo platter of grants, scholarships, and loans).

But if you’re not in the “desirable” category, the going can get sticky for applicants whose financial aid package and family resources fall short of covering the full cost of attending college. Some colleges gap students by leaving them with unmet need. Bring that up with financial aid and see where your college stands on the “meeting 100% need” issue.

10. How will studying abroad impact my financial aid package?

When the opportunity comes up to jet off to Paris or Sydney to study abroad for a semester or two, it’s hard to pass up the opportunity of a young college student’s lifetime.

But, don’t agree to any overseas academic experience until you know how it impacts your financial aid and what help you can expect from your financial aid office to make the finances work for you before studying abroad.

Will the financial aid package cover tuition at the foreign institution only or also travel costs? Does the college offer special financial aid funds to help students study abroad?

Take Full Advantage of Your College’s Financial Aid Office

While there is undoubtedly a sense of discomfort or even fear of talking about money with strangers, that shouldn’t be the case with your college’s financial aid office.

Managers and staffers know full well that weeding through the facts on college aid is no easy task, and they’re available to help.

Start your financial office experience by asking these questions. As other questions pop up, go ahead and ask those, too.

Doing so could save you a bundle of money down the line.

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13 Important Questions you Should Ask your College Financial Aid Office

Whether you’re getting ready to attend college, or you’re currently enrolled, it’s vital to utilize the financial resources available to you. One of the top resources many students and families forget about is the college financial aid office. This office is dedicated to helping students pay for college. Going to the office and speaking with the financial advisors is free and available to every prospective and current student.

We encourage every college student to take advantage of this free resource. The first step is to set up an appointment at your chosen college’s financial aid office. We’ve put together a list of financial aid questions to ask colleges to get you started. These questions will help you narrow down your unique financial aid options and make paying for college a little bit easier.

Financial Aid Questions to Ask Your College

• What are the full costs associated with attending your college? Besides tuition and housing, ask about meal plans, transportation costs, campus or course fees, and books and supplies needed for classes.
• What type of payment plans do you offer? Can I pay in installments rather than bulk payments? Is there a fee for different payment plans?
• What financial aid options does your college provide? Are they need-based or merit-based?
• How do I apply for your college’s financial aid options?
• Are there any deadlines I should be aware of?
• When should I expect to hear what financial aid I’ve been awarded?
• Do I have the option to appeal that decision if I don’t feel I’ve been given enough aid? How does the appeals process work?
• What is the average amount of debt a student of your college graduates with?
• Are there employment opportunities, either through work-study programs or otherwise, available on campus? How do I apply to these positions?
• Where do you recommend I look for additional financial aid options, like private scholarships or grants?
• If financial aid is offered to a student that ultimately decides not to attend, are you able give that aid to a different student?
• If I’m awarded aid, how do I receive that aid? Is it awarded up-front, or spaced out throughout my semesters? Am I responsible for distributing the aid to your office?
• Will my financial aid package be reduced if I receive outside scholarships or grants?

Best Practices for Working with a Financial Aid Office

Your college’s financial aid advisors are there to help you. But it is important to be professional and organized when working with them. In order to get the best results, follow these tips.

• Set up an appointment to meet with an advisor as soon as possible.
• Come prepared with a list of questions to ask, like the ones provided above.
• Make note of all important deadlines they tell you, and meet those deadlines.
• Keep copies of all important information and paperwork associated with your financial aid package.
• Be open and honest about your financial situation so they can find the best solutions for you.

Paying for college can be an overwhelming experience, but speaking with your financial aid office can alleviate the stress of the situation. Use these financial aid questions to ask your college how it can help you.

Read our Financial Aid Guide

Prepare yourself for paying for college with our detailed guide . We’ll break down the best way to pay for a college degree in three easy steps. This guide is for students and parents alike, and talks about everything from scholarships to the FASFA. Read it now!

What Is the Financial Aid Office?

Writer & Reviewer

• The financial aid office manages all forms of financial aid for college.
• The office walks students through the aid application and distribution process.
• Financial aid advisors help students take out loans and make a plan to pay for school.
• Many financial aid offices also provide emergency aid for students.

Most college students rely on financial aid . In fact, 86% of first-year, full-time undergraduates in 2018-19 used some form of financial aid to pay for college. As a result, many institutions have an entire office devoted to financial aid education and problem-solving.

The financial aid office is a great resource for students figuring out how to pay for college. But many students have no idea where the financial aid office is located on campus or what it does. And that can mean missing out on scholarship opportunities and financial aid counseling.

What Does the Financial Aid Office Do?

The financial aid office helps students access loans, grants, and other forms of financial aid. The office also makes sure students receive their financial aid disbursements.

For example, after applicants fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the financial aid office receives their financial information. College financial aid advisors then put together a package of federal loans, institutional aid, and other funding sources to cover unmet needs. Students receive a financial aid offer letter from the office detailing their options.

In addition to managing financial aid offers, the office provides information on scholarships and helps students deal with any problems related to their financial aid paperwork or distribution. Financial aid advisors can also recommend strategies to help make college more affordable .

7 Common Reasons Students Visit the Financial Aid Office

Students visit the financial aid office for all kinds of reasons. While some financial aid business can take place remotely, other circumstances require an in-person visit.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many financial aid offices now offer virtual visits to handle the following reasons for going to the office.

1. Review Financial Aid Offers

Colleges send out financial aid offer letters that detail the types of aid students can receive. However, students don't need to accept all the aid in the offer.

Students can visit the financial aid office to discuss their aid package. Financial aid advisors will then recommend how to prioritize forms of aid to limit debt .

2. Sign Loan Paperwork

When college students take out loans , they can either sign in person or electronically. Why would students visit the financial aid office to sign the paperwork? It's a great option for students unclear about the terms of the loan or those who want additional information before signing.

3. Completing Entrance/Exit Counseling

At most colleges, borrowers need to complete entrance counseling before taking out a loan. While some schools offer online entrance counseling, others may require an in-person visit with financial aid counselors at the office of financial aid.

Borrowers who are graduating or leaving college early must complete exit counseling . The exit counseling walks through students' repayment obligations and monthly payments. As with entrance counseling, some schools allow online exit counseling, while others require a visit to the office.

4. Reapply for Institutional Aid

Continuing students may need to visit the financial aid office annually to reapply for aid and/or sign paperwork. The financial aid office can also recommend funding sources for current students.

5. Learn About Scholarships and Grants

Colleges award scholarships and grants through their institutional aid programs. The office of financial aid recommends options based on the student's circumstances. It also tracks outside scholarships and grants available to students. Students can visit the office to learn more about their options.

6. Resolve Problems With Aid Distribution

Students typically receive financial aid disbursements multiple times a year. But sometimes grants, loans, and scholarships don't arrive on schedule.

Several factors might hold up disbursements. For example, first-time borrowers may need to wait 30 days after the start of the term. The financial aid office can help with any disbursement problems.

7. Apply for Emergency Aid

Many schools offer short-term, emergency aid programs for students experiencing financial hardship. Often, the financial aid office manages the emergency aid program, including the application process and the distribution of emergency aid.

The learning doesn't need to stop here

Explore the rest of our collection of financial education resources to continue your journey to a healthy financial future.

Why Might You Meet With a Financial Aid Advisor?

Financial aid advisors work in the financial aid office, but they do more than simply distribute aid. They also advise students and their families on how to pay for college .

That means advisors connect students with scholarship opportunities, review which financial aid offers to accept, and create financial aid plans to minimize debt. For example, advisors can instruct borrowers on how to save money by prioritizing federal subsidized loans.

Financial aid advisors also help students complete paperwork related to their aid package. When students run into problems, advisors can recommend solutions. Students can ask advisors about reapplying for renewable scholarships, identifying new scholarship opportunities, and extending the student loan grace period after graduation.

If you've never been to the financial aid office at your school, use your college's official website to locate it on campus. For most students, it's worth the time to visit. After all, a trip to the financial aid office may mean graduating with less debt.

Explore More College Resources

How to appeal financial aid to get more money.

The 10 Most Generous Universities for Financial Aid

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Your Guide To The Financial Aid Office

Genevieve Carlton

Contributing Writer

Learn about our editorial process .

Updated April 12, 2023

AffordableCollegesOnline.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

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College costs continue to rise. So does the number of students who receive financial aid. In 2020, 86% of college students used financial aid to pay for their degree. The federal government alone distributes $30 billion in financial aid every year. But where does that money go? And how can students make smart choices about their financial aid options?

Each college has a financial aid office to manage the many forms of financial aid . What does the financial aid office do? The financial aid office distributes scholarships, grants, and loans. The office also distributes the college's scholarships and grants. Applicants may receive a financial aid offer letter from the financial aid office. Students also visit the financial aid office to learn about funding opportunities and debt management.

This guide walks through financial aid advisors' services and the most important questions for your financial aid office.

What Does the Financial Aid Office Do?

What does the financial aid office do? And what services does the financial aid office provide? Financial aid offices distribute aid to students, calculate financial aid awards, and help students navigate the financial aid process.

The office manages aid coming from multiple sources, including federal and state aid. Sources also include external scholarships and school aid. The office helps applicants determine their eligibility for aid and complete the required paperwork.

What is a Financial Aid Advisor?

A financial aid advisor works directly with prospective and current students to manage their financial aid. They inform students on their eligibility for aid, the FAFSA application process, and the school's aid process. Financial aid advisors also inform students about the attendance cost and financial aid opportunities.

Advisors educate students on financial aid and make sure students receive their aid. Financial aid advisors can also help degree-seekers make decisions about student loans and other financial aid.

What Services Does the Financial Aid Office Provide?

College financial aid offices help students understand their financial aid options, complete financial aid applications, and receive financial aid. They also provide information on the attendance cost and institutional aid. Students should contact their school's financial aid office to ask about the specific services they provide.

Provides Student Aid Options to Students

Helps students navigate the financial aid process, educates students on cost of attendance and aid availability, assists students with financial aid issues, what questions should i ask my financial aid office.

Once students familiarize themselves with their college's financial aid office, they should reach out to get specific information about their school and financial circumstances. Make sure to ask "What services does the financial aid office provide?" along with "What's the total cost of college?" This section covers key questions for the financial aid office.

What's the Bottom Line: How Much Does it Cost?

Colleges post their tuition rates online. Many colleges also estimate fees, textbooks, and even living expenses. But students need more exact numbers when calculating their financial aid.

Visit the financial aid office to learn more about what expenses the school includes in their attendance cost numbers. Students can also ask about the difference between the net cost and actual attendance cost. Finally, learners may want to talk to the financial aid office about where they can cut costs. For example, colleges may offer multiple room and board or dining hall options. Choosing less expensive options will decrease the actual attendance cost.

How Do I Apply for Financial Aid?

Students at every accredited college can apply for financial aid. But schools use different financial aid forms and deadlines. The financial aid office can explain the process of applying for financial aid.

For example, most schools provide a financial aid timeline with suggested dates. Many schools recommend filing the FAFSA as soon as possible. The federal financial aid office makes the application available for the next year after Oct. 1. That's because many colleges award institutional aid on a first-come, first-serve basis .

Students can ask the financial aid office about what information they need to apply with their school. Degree-seekers should also find out when they will learn about their financial aid award.

What is My Financial Need?

Financial aid programs use different formulas to calculate the expected family contribution (EFC). That number represents how much the student and their family can pay out of pocket for college. The financial aid office can provide more information on the financial need calculation. The office can also explain how the attendance cost helps determine financial need. At most schools, financial need equals the attendance cost minus the EFC and any other financial aid.

Students with financial need may qualify for need-based aid. Merit-based aid, by contrast, funds students regardless of their financial need.

What is a Financial Aid Offer Letter?

After submitting college applications, most applicants fill out their prospective schools' financial aid forms. Around the time schools send out admission letters, they also send financial aid offer letters.

These letters detail the attendance cost, the student's expected contribution, and the applicant's eligibility for financial aid. Funding can come from federal grants and loans based on FAFSA data. Sources may also include institutional aid like scholarships or grants. Comparing financial aid offer letters from multiple schools helps applicants choose a school.

The financial aid office can provide information on when applicants will receive the letter.

Will My Financial Aid Award Stay the Same?

Prospective students should always ask the financial aid office about their financial aid award terms. Eligibility for federal financial aid may change every year based on the student's financial circumstances, for example. Students who qualified for a Pell Grant one year may not qualify the next if their family's finances increase. Similarly, students who experience unemployment or other drops in income may qualify for more aid.

Institutional scholarships and grants may offer a one-year award or a multi-year award, depending on the school and award. Before accepting a financial aid award, contact the financial aid office to ensure you understand the award terms.

What If I Need More Financial Aid?

What if your financial aid award does not cover your costs? The financial aid office can help students appeal their financial aid award or explore other funding options. For example, financial aid advisors can connect students with information about student loans.

Financial aid varies widely depending on the college. For example, some schools commit to meeting every student's financial need, while others do not. As a result, students should ask the financial aid office about the school's policies on aid and work-study opportunities.

Will My Scholarship Affect My Financial Aid Award?

Private foundations, professional associations, businesses, and community groups award scholarships to college students. But before accepting an outside scholarship, students should visit the financial aid office. These scholarships can affect a student's financial aid award.

Colleges calculate a student's financial need when awarding aid. Scholarships lower students' financial need, which can potentially mean less financial aid. Schools may lower their institutional aid depending on the scholarship amount — a process known as scholarship displacement.

Students who receive scholarships can still apply for financial aid. However, they should report their scholarships to the financial aid office. The office also distributes outside scholarships to students.

Will I Have a Lot of Student Loan Debt?

Currently, 43 million Americans owe student loan debt — and the average debt is approaching $40,000 per borrower. Before taking out student loans, degree-seekers should visit the financial aid office to ask about debt management resources. The financial aid office connects students with financial education resources. These resources help students understand their monthly payments and debt terms.

The office also helps students reduce the number of loans they need to take out for school. Financial aid advisors can recommend other aid sources that do not require repayment. And they can help students evaluate the benefits of federal student loans over private loans.

Financial Aid Resources

Current and prospective students benefit from many financial aid resources. The following sites provide information on different types of financial aid, completing the FAFSA, and making the most of financial aid opportunities.

Genevieve Carlton holds a Ph.D. in history from Northwestern University and earned tenure as a history professor at the University of Louisville. An award-winning historian and writer, Genevieve has published multiple scholarly articles and a book with the University of Chicago Press. She currently works as a freelance writer and consultant.

See articles by Genevieve

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Financial Aid Finder

Your Guide to Maximizing your College Financial Aid

The Financial Aid Office and You! (Part I)

August 6, 2012 By MarkAllen

With the start of a new school year right around the corner you’re probably already getting ready. Besides getting items for your dorm or picking up your books, you also are getting more paperwork from your school then you know what to do with!

Among that pile of paperwork, there are letters and documents concerning your school charges and your financial aid information . If you don’t want to have money surprises when you return back to school, it’s time to pull all those letters out and start reviewing them. But it’s important to remember that you aren’t alone when trying to navigate all that information. The best resource that you have (besides this website!) is the financial aid office at your school. That is what they are there for! In fact, many of the people who work in financial aid offices want to help you understand how your financial aid works.

Here are the tips to help you make the most of your visit to the financial aid office.

Preparing for a Financial Aid Office Meeting

Next, write down all your questions. While this may seem silly, it’s actually a great way for you to figure out what you are confused about. Maybe you are comfortable with filling out the FAFSA but you don’t understand how your student loans work. Or maybe you don’t know anything about how to apply for financial aid but you know how much your school is going to cost. Either way focusing on what you need to cover during your appointment will make the most of your time there and make sure you don’t miss anything!

Also, remember that the FA office is different than the student accounts office at your school or “bursar” as it is often called. The bursar is who bills you your tuition and other charges. If you have a direct question about your bill or something you were charged, that requires a visit to them. But if you are wondering about how much financial aid you are eligible for to cover those costs, then you want to visit your FA office.

See Part II – Meeting with your Financial Aid Adviser

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College Application Checklist

Find the right college for you., junior summer: ─do before applying to college checklist.

• Set up a professional-sounding email address.
• Create a balanced list of reach, match, and safety colleges.
• Go to the application website.
• Note the regular application deadline.
• Note the early application deadline.

Junior Year: Take Tests and Other Exams for Admission

• Find out if an admission test is required.
• Take an admission test, if required.
• Take other required or recommended tests (e.g., AP Exams, IB exams).
• Send admission test scores, if required, with your application.
• Send other test scores.
• Retest by summer of junior year or fall of senior year.

Early Senior Year: Get Letters and Essay Ready.

• Request recommendation letters. Provide a résumé for reference.
• Send thank-you notes to recommendation writers.
• Start the essay drafting and revision process 2 months prior to the application deadline.
• Draft initial essay.
• Proofread essay for spelling and grammar.
• Have 2 people read your essay.
• Revise your essay.
• Proofread your revision.

Fall of Senior Year: Make a Campus Visit. Apply for Financial Aid.

• Interview at the college campus, if required.
• Submit FAFSA® if eligible.
• Submit CSS PROFILE if needed.
• Make a note of the priority financial aid deadline.
• Make a note of the regular financial aid deadline.
• Submit college aid form if needed.
• Submit a state aid form if needed.
• Check the college's financial aid website to see if you need to submit any additional institution forms.

Submit the Application. Pay Fees by Deadlines.

• Complete college application.
• Save copies of your application and application materials.
• Pay application fee. Submit an application fee waiver if eligible.
• Submit application.
• Request high school transcript to be sent.
• Request midyear grade report to be sent.
• Confirm receipt of application materials by checking your application status online.
• Send additional material if needed.
• Tell your school counselor that you applied.
• Receive letter from admissions office.

Senior Spring: Make Your Selections.

• Apply for housing and meal plans, if applicable.
• Receive financial aid award letter.
• Accept financial aid offer.
• Notify whichever colleges you’re not planning to attend.

What things do you need to provide in the college application process?

When applying to college, you’ll need to provide information regarding personal details, your academic background, your extracurricular activities, and achievements you want to highlight. You’ll also need to submit standardized test scores and letters of recommendation, if required. Along with that, you’ll want to submit any required essays, making sure they highlight your aspirations and your personality. You can even strengthen your application by including additional information about yourself and a résumé.

Most colleges will require an application fee. If you require financial assistance to cover this fee, ask your school counselor about application fee waivers.

What are five things you need to know about college application process?

When navigating college admissions requirements, consider these five points:

• Go through each college's admissions requirements, including transcripts, test scores, essays, and recommendations.
• Pay close attention to submission deadlines to ensure you deliver all required documents on time.
• Familiarize yourself with the admissions criteria, including academic performance, extracurricular activities, and personal attributes.
• Check out the available financial aid options, such as scholarships and grants. Follow the designated application timelines.
• Visit the colleges you're interested in. Take advantage of any interview opportunities to express your interest and gain valuable insights into the institutions.

Is the admissions process the same for all colleges?

The admissions process can differ between institutions. Colleges you apply to may ask for standardized test scores and recommendation letters. Or they may have more specific requirements. Before you even begin an application, you’ll need to review the admissions guidelines of each college you plan to apply to and personalize your application to their needs.

How important are extracurricular activities in the college admissions process?

Participating in extracurricular activities can significantly influence the college admissions process. Colleges seek students who aren’t only academically accomplished but also have a diverse range of interests and a demonstrated dedication to their passions. Being actively involved in clubs, sports, community service, and leadership roles can positively impact your application and highlight your potential contributions to the college community.

Are interviews required for college admission? How should I prepare for them?

Colleges may require interviews as part of their admissions process, or they may not require them. You’ll want to verify the specific requirements of each college. If a college recommends an interview or it’s mandatory, make sure to prepare yourself thoroughly. Practice answering common interview questions, research the college, and think about how to express your objectives and interests effectively. Interviews offer a chance to present yourself in a more personal and engaging way, so take advantage of this opportunity.

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Published October 03, 2022

Why You Should Visit the Office of Financial Education

Kelci Koonce

Financial Education Specialist

What is the NYU Office of Financial Education and what does it do?

We are a team of certified personal finance coaches dedicated to supporting and empowering our students and their families with a wealth of financial literacy tools. Our office helps students and families understand overall college costs and equips  them to make sustainable financial plans for their student life and beyond in this rapidly changing world. We are within the Office of Student Success- so your success is our priority!

What other types of information does your office supply?

We offer information on how to search for outside scholarships, budgeting, student loan management, and managing credit cards and credit scores. Living as a student goes beyond tuition and fees, and we are here as a resource to help students and families navigate through their financial lifestyle as a whole with a good plan. We also are very active on social media providing weekly definitions of common financial terms, the ‘best financial advice’ from some of our NYU colleagues, and even highlight some free and low cost events around the city!

What is the most important thing for students to know about financing their education at NYU?

It is important to understand this is a big financial decision. Attending any college or university is a multi-year conversation that should be discussed regularly. We want you to succeed academically and financially and there are many different options to financing your education.  Your journey is yours, so we want you and your family to do what is best financially for you and we are here to get you all the information you need for that informed decision.

What can students do to prepare themselves financially for college?

There are three things we think students can do to prepare themselves financially for college:

• Talk about it: The first big step is to start having a conversation about your finances. Speak with your family and support network about what resources are available to sustain your plan through graduation. Talking about finances can feel overwhelming at times,  but it is very important to be honest and realistic about what you can contribute to funding your education. 
• Search for scholarships: It is never too early to start researching scholarship opportunities, so do that now and often. Apply for as many as possible, especially as you get more focused in your major as there are many opportunities out there. Every cent counts!
• Ask questions: Sometimes award letters and financial terms are viewed as a new language, so understanding what you are reading will help you have more supportive conversations around finances.

So as a student, we want finances to not be tricky for you throughout your career and want to make sure your college experience is filled with growth in all areas- finances being one of them. If you just wanna talk it out, the NYU Financial Education team is here for you ! 

Kelci Koonce (she/her) is NYU’s Financial Education Specialist and dedicated to supporting students and families with lifelong financial literacy skills to help them maintain their financial plans and reach goals. Supporting Student Success is a huge passion of mine, and I  want to be the bridge to help folks progress academically and financially successfully through life.

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Going to college? Here’s what you should know about student loans

FILE - New graduates line up before the start of a community college commencement in East Rutherford, N.J., May 17, 2018. This summer, millions of Americans with student loans will be able to apply for a new repayment plan that offers some of the most lenient terms ever. Interest won’t pile up as long as borrowers make regular payments. Millions of people will have payments of $0. And starting in 2024, undergraduate loan payments will be reduced by half. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

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NEW YORK (AP) — If you’re heading to college or starting to think about where you’d like to apply, you’re probably considering options for funding your education. If you need to borrow money to pursue your dreams, you are far from alone.

According to the Federal Reserve, 30% of all U.S. adults said they incurred at least some debt for their education. Borrowers owe a collective $1.77 trillion in student loan debt , including federal and private loans.

“Borrowing is almost at the point where it’s a requirement,” said Dana Kelly, from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators .

If you’re a high school senior or a college student, you’ll want to apply for federal student loans through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA, in December for the 2024-2025 school year . For private student loans, you can apply whenever you need the loan.

When you take out student loans, it’s beneficial have to have an idea of what professional field you want to pursue, calculate how much you need to borrow, and understand the basics of loan interest. If this sound like a lot, don’t worry — we’ll break it down for you. Here’s what you need to know.

WHERE DO I START?

The first step is to fill out the FAFSA . You will have to answer questions about your family’s financial contribution, along with other questions that will help determine if you qualify for federal or state financial aid and which loans you can apply for. You’ll fill out the application each year.

Cathy Mueller, executive director of Mapping Your Future , a non-profit that helps people navigate higher education, recommends exhausting every possible funding option to reduce the amount you need to borrow.

If you’re looking to apply for scholarships to fund your college education, you can check out the College Board’s scholarship search directory .

As you fill out the FAFSA, Mueller recommends that you estimate the amount you will need to borrow for your entire college career, but also be realistic about what you will be able to pay back.

A tool that can help is the Debt/Salary wizard from Mapping Your Future, an interactive calculator that helps determine how much you can borrow based on your estimated future earnings.

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT DATES TO KNOW?

In previous years, the FAFSA opened on Oct. 1. This year, the government is making big changes and the application will be available in December, but the date has not yet been announced. The FAFSA application usually closes the following June.

Once the application is open, you need to check your state’s deadline to apply for state financial aid. Since financial aid is first-come, first-served, you’ll want to apply as soon as you can to qualify for both federal and state grants.

For private student loans, the timeline looks different. Private lenders require you to have proof of enrollment, so experts recommend you apply a couple of months before your tuition is due.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS AND PRIVATE LOANS?

Federal student loans are backed by the government and private loans come from banks, credit unions or other private institutions.

In general, federal student loans offer lower interest rates and more opportunities for affordable repayment plans, such as the Public Service Forgiveness Plan or the various income-driven repayment plans.

Kelly recommends that students try to only use federal student loans, though there are borrowing limits.

“More than likely, private loans are going to cost a student more over the life of the loan,” Kelly said.

Private loans come with a different set of requisites and application process.

WHAT IF I RECEIVE MORE MONEY THAN I NEED?

It’s recommended that you calculate the amount that you will need to cover your education before you accept a student loan. You might get offered a bigger loan than you need. If this happens to you, Mueller recommends that you return the money you don’t need, since it’s a loan at the end of the day and you will have to pay back that amount with interest.

If you find out that you’ll want to return student loan money, contact your school’s financial aid office to begin the process.

WHAT ARE SUBSIDIZED AND UNSUBSIDIZED STUDENT LOANS?

There are several different federal student loan options: direct subsidized loans, direct unsubsidized loans, direct PLUS loans and direct consolidation loans. But the most common are direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans, which are taken by the person who is completing the college degree.

Subsidized loans have their interest covered by the government and are granted to students with demonstrated financial need. Subsidized loans have their interest covered while you’re in school at least half-time, for six months after you graduate and if you qualify for deferment, which allows you to stop making payments temporarily. Unsubsidized loans are available to most students, but they are responsible for paying the interest.

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT STUDENT LOAN INTEREST RATES?

Student loans must be paid back with interest, which is additional money that you pay for borrowing. The interest on your student loan depends on your type of loan and when your loan was made available for you to use for the first time.

If your loan is disbursed on or after July 1, 2023, but before July 1, 2024, you will have a fixed interest rate of 5.5%.

WHAT SHOULD I DO BEFORE I SIGN MY STUDENT LOAN AGREEMENT?

Before you accept your student loan offer, regardless if it’s federal or private, you want to make sure you understand the details, said Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors . Those include when interest accrues, if interest is capitalized and if there are any late fees.

If reading the details on your own feels daunting, Mayotte recommends speaking with a financial aid counselor, either at your university or elsewhere.

If you meet with a counselor, it’s good practice to come with prepared questions about repayment programs for when you need to start paying back your loan.

Good questions to ask yourself or a counselor, according to Kelly, include:

1. If I get this amount of a loan as a freshman, is that rate going to be flat over my four years? Or do you anticipate that I’m going to need to borrow more each year?

2. Does my opportunity for scholarships go up so the amount I need to borrow can come down?

If you are taking out federal student loans, it’s a requirement that you complete an entrance counseling course. Kelly recommends that you pay extra attention to this process and not rush through it.

WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY STUDENT LOAN?

If you have specific questions about your student loans, there are many resources available. You can visit the Federal Student Aid website or reach out to your college’s financial aid office or community or non-profit organizations such as Mapping Your Future.

WHAT ARE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO MANAGE MY STUDENT LOANS?

Mueller recommends that you keep track of how much you are borrowing each year so you have an idea of how much you will owe by the end of your college career and how much your monthly payments will be.

Mueller also recommends that, if you are working during college, you consider paying some of the interest that accumulates each year.

“You’re not required to make those interest-only payments. But if you do, you’re saving yourself money in the long run,” Mueller said.

Interest payments while you are still in college are generally low, but they get capitalized once you’ve graduated or left school, which means your loan gets larger and you would be paying interest on the interest, said Mueller.

The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.

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How to Get the Financial Aid You Need to Afford College

C.I.G. is supported in part by its readers. If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read more here.

College isn’t cheap.

According to EducationData.org , the average yearly cost of attending a 4-year institution for the 2022-2023 academic year was $25,707 (for in-state students). While that number can vary widely based on the state and specific university you choose, it’s still more money than most people can afford on their own.

Luckily, there are a variety of financial aid programs to help you pay for college. Whether it’s federal grants and loans or college-sponsored scholarships, there are many opportunities to make college more affordable.

However, the process of applying for financial aid can be confusing. Even if you’re lucky enough to have a college counselor to guide you, the deadlines, essays, and paperwork are still a lot to handle.

To help you navigate the financial aid process, we’ve put together this guide. Learn about all the types of financial aid available, how to conquer the FAFSA, and get answers to common financial aid questions.

What Is Financial Aid? (The 5 Main Types)

Financial aid is a broad term. It refers to any money you receive to help cover the cost of college. In general, there are five main types of financial aid to consider as you apply for college:

Scholarships

Federal work-study, military-related aid.

Let’s take a look at each of these in detail, starting with scholarships:

Scholarships are the best-known type of financial aid, and for good reason. There are thousands of scholarships available from private entities, non-profits, and universities.

Some are based on talents and achievements, such as high grades, test scores, or athletic ability (to name just a few). Others are based on your background, major, or even religion. And many are awarded based on a combination of factors (athletic scholarships, for instance, often come with certain GPA requirements).

Because there are so many types of scholarships available, we encourage you to spend as much time as you can applying for them. It’s free money!

To learn more about the types of scholarships available, as well as how to get them, check out our guide to getting the scholarships you need to avoid debt .

Up next, we have grants. Grants are similar to scholarships in that you don’t have to repay them.

The main difference is that grants tend to be based on financial need, not personal achievement. Pell Grants and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), for instance, are based on your ability to pay for college.

Additionally, some grants require you to take certain classes and pursue a certain career path post-graduation.

A federal TEACH Grant , for instance, can help you pay to become a teacher. Provided, of course, you participate in a qualifying program and agree to teach in a low-income area upon graduation.

Generally, all you have to do to be eligible for grants is fill out the FAFSA (more on that later).

However, don’t forget that states and private organizations also offer grants in some cases. You’ll need to do your own research to find these, as the full range is too broad to list here. But don’t rule them out; it’s still free money.

I’m sure you’ve heard of student loans; they’re a constant fixture in the news, and around 44 million Americans have them .

When we discuss student loans in the context of financial aid, we’re usually referring to federal student loans such as Direct Subsidized or Direct Unsubsidized loans .

The main difference is that Direct Subsidized loans don’t accrue interest while you’re in college, while Direct Unsubsidized loans do.

You can only use Direct Subsidized loans to pay for undergraduate education, while you can use Direct Unsubsidized loans to pay for undergraduate, graduate, and professional education.

Finally, you must demonstrate financial need to be eligible for Subsidized loans, while anyone can apply for Unsubsidized loans.

There’s also a lesser-known federal loan program called Direct PLUS loans . You can get one of these if you’re a graduate or professional student OR a parent of a dependent undergraduate student. Besides these differences, they work much the same way as other federal student loans.

Beyond federal loans, there are also private student loans. Banks and other financial institutions offer these loans to cover college costs that federal loans and other types of financial aid cannot.

We strongly discourage you from taking out any student loans if you can avoid it, but especially private loans. They tend to have higher interest rates, and they come with fewer protections than federal loans.

Need help paying off your student loans? Read this next .

Getting loans, scholarships, and grants is great, but there’s also the old-fashioned way of paying for college: working .

Even if it doesn’t cover all of your college costs, having a job while in college is a great way to get experience outside the classroom and make extra money to help with your expenses.

While anyone can get a job while in college , Federal Work-Study is a program to help students with financial need find jobs.

If you’re eligible for the program, your college will receive money to pay the wages of your on-campus job. Because of this, colleges tend to give work-study students priority when applying for campus jobs. (It’s also possible to get a work-study job off-campus, but it’s much less common).

A popular misconception about the program is that you have to use the money you earn to pay for college costs. While this is a good idea, there are no rules about how you use the money you earn through work-study. You can use it for whatever you want.

To learn more about work-study, check out this guide .

If you or a family member served in the military, you may be eligible for special scholarships, grants, and other education benefits.

Here are the main types of military-related aid to investigate:

ROTC Scholarships

The Army, Air Force, and Navy offer Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarships at a variety of colleges and universities.

The requirements vary based on the branch of the military, but essentially the military helps pay for your college in exchange for completing military service upon graduation.

To learn more about the ROTC scholarships available, visit one of the following websites:

• Air Force ROTC

VA Education Benefits

If you served in the military, then the VA may be able to help you pay for college or job training.

There are a variety of educational assistance programs available through the VA, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill , the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty , and the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve . The VA also offers education benefits to dependent or surviving children and spouses of veterans .

To learn more about all the education benefits available through the VA, visit this page .

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants

The final type of military financial aid to discuss is the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant program.

If your parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan, then you may be eligible to receive a special grant to help you pay for college. You can learn more about the program here .

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Now that you understand the general types of financial aid, it’s time to start the application process.

Depending on the type of financial aid you’re trying to receive, the steps of this process will vary. If you’re trying to get scholarships, for instance, you may need to write essays, complete interviews, or attend tryouts.

But regardless of the financial aid you seek, it all starts with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . This is the document that determines your eligibility for federal, state, and college student aid.

Filling it out is free and shouldn’t take long (according to the FAFSA site, it takes an average of 55 minutes ).

The small amount of time and paperwork is trivial in comparison to the financial benefits you could receive. So don’t skip filling it out because you “don’t have time” or “don’t think you’ll qualify.” It can only help you.

But how do you fill out the FAFSA, exactly? Here’s an overview:

1. Create an FSA ID

Before you go any further, take a couple of minutes to create an FSA ID. This is a username and password that you can use to sign your FAFSA electronically, as well as expedite the process of filling out the FAFSA overall.

To create an FSA ID, visit this page . You’ll need your legal name, Social Security Number, and date of birth.

If you’re a dependent student, one of your parents will also need to create an FSA ID (whichever parent is reporting your family’s info on the FAFSA, it doesn’t matter).

Note that your parent needs to create their own account; they can’t share yours, as each FSA ID acts as a legal signature.

2. Gather the Required Information

The actual process of filling out the FAFSA doesn’t take long. The most time-consuming part is gathering all the necessary information .

For this reason, take some time to collect the following info before you fill out the FAFSA:

• Your Social Security Number
• Your parents’ Social Security Numbers (if you’re filing as a dependent)
• Your driver’s license number (if you have one)
• Your Alien Registration Number (if you’re not a U.S. citizen)
• Federal tax information or tax returns. Typically, this will be your Form 1040 unless you’re living abroad or in a U.S. territory. If you’re filing as a dependent student, you’ll also need your parents’ tax information.
• Records of untaxed income. This includes child support, interest income, and veterans noneducation benefits. If you’re filing as a dependent, you’ll need this info from your parents as well.
• Information about cash and assets. This includes savings/checking account balances; investments in stocks, bonds, or real estate (excluding the home you live in); and business and farm assets. If applying as a dependent, you’ll also need this information from your parents.

As you can see, finding this information could require you to sort through a lot of paperwork. For this reason, it’s best to begin the FAFSA early.

Also, if you can’t find all of this information at once, don’t worry. You can complete the FAFSA in multiple sessions, saving your progress as you go.

3. Fill Out the FAFSA Electronically

Now that you have the information you need, it’s time to fill out the FAFSA. Unless you’re unable to, I highly recommend filling it out electronically. It will be faster to submit than a paper copy, and you can save your progress along the way.

To start filling out the FAFSA online, visit this page .

If you’d prefer to use your phone, you can also fill out the FAFSA with the myStudentAid app ( Android | iOS ).

If you’ve created an FSA ID (which you did, right?), then you can enter it to pre-fill some of your FAFSA info, including your name, SSN, and DOB. You’ll also need an FSA ID if you’re filling out the FAFSA in the myStudentAid app.

If you get stuck during the process, consult the official FAFSA Help page . You can also contact the financial aid office at the college you plan to attend for further assistance.

4. Sign and Submit Your Application

Once you’ve completed the FAFSA, you need to sign and submit it.

If you signed in with your FSA ID, then you won’t be asked for additional signature information (yet another reason to create an FSA ID). One of your parents will also need to sign with their FSA ID if you’re a dependent student.

If you or your parent didn’t (or can’t) create an FSA ID, you also have the option to print, sign, and mail a signature page. Learn more here .

Once you’ve submitted the FAFSA, you can check its status by logging in at fafsa.gov .

Note that this will only tell you if your FAFSA has been successfully processed and received. To find out how much financial aid you’ve received, you’ll need to check with your college’s financial aid office.

More of a visual person? Here’s an infographic of the FAFSA process .

Beyond the FAFSA: Other Financial Aid Considerations

Filling out the FAFSA is the key to getting most types of financial aid. However, there are likely additional steps you’ll need to take.

If you plan to apply for scholarships through your chosen college(s), then consult their financial aid website for specific information. And if you’re applying for outside scholarships, you’ll need to refer to the particular scholarship provider’s website to find their requirements.

Beyond that, be sure to keep track of all deadlines. Put them on your calendar so you don’t miss them. If you need help setting up a calendar, consult this guide .

The federal deadline for submitting the FAFSA for the 2022-2023 school year is 11:59 p.m. Central time (CT) on June 30, 2023.

However , your state and college may have their own deadlines, and they could be earlier than the federal deadline. You can view your state’s deadlines here , and you should check with your college’s financial aid office for their deadlines.

Financial Aid FAQ

You should now have a good overview of how to apply for financial aid, and especially how to fill out the FAFSA.

However, there are still some important topics to address. Below, you’ll find answers to some common questions about financial aid:

What is the Expected Family Contribution (EFC)?

The EFC is a number that financial aid offices use to determine how much financial aid you will receive.

The formula to calculate EFC is complicated, but it takes into account factors such as your family’s income, assets, benefits, family size, and number of family members attending college during the year.

It is not the amount your family will have to pay for college or the amount of aid you receive. Rather, it factors into financial aid calculations.

How do colleges calculate financial aid?

So how do colleges calculate the financial aid you receive? There are a couple of steps, starting with need-based aid calculations.

Need-Based Aid Calculations

First, the college calculates if you’re eligible for need-based aid. Need-based aid is financial aid you receive based on your family’s income. It includes grants, direct subsidized loans, and federal work-study.

To calculate if you’re eligible for need-based financial aid, colleges use this formula:

Cost of Attendance (COA) − Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Financial Need

COA is a number that estimates the full cost of attending a college, including:

• Tuition and fees
• Room and board
• Books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and miscellaneous expenses
• Child or dependent care
• Costs related to a disability
• Costs for eligible study abroad programs

Once your college has subtracted your EFC from your COA, the result is your financial need . This number determines your eligibility for the grants and loans we mentioned above.

Non-need-based Aid Calculations

After determining your eligibility for need-based aid, your college will then determine if you’re eligible for non-need-based aid. This includes direct unsubsidized loans, direct PLUS loans, TEACH grants, and scholarships.

Unlike need-based aid, non-need-based aid doesn’t depend on your EFC. Instead, your colleges calculate it with this formula:

Cost of Attendance (COA) − Financial Aid Awarded So Far = Eligibility for Non-need-based Aid

Financial aid awarded so far includes aid from all sources, including private scholarships. This process is in place to prevent you from receiving more aid than you actually need to cover the cost of college.

To learn more about financial aid calculations, visit the official guide from Federal Student Aid . You can also contact your college’s financial aid office.

Should I file as a dependent or independent on the FAFSA?

For most students just out of high school, the answer is probably “dependent.”

But it depends on factors such as your age, marital status, and too many other criteria to list here. To help you decide, we’ve created a separate guide .

How early can I fill out the FAFSA?

The updated FAFSA comes out on October 1 of each year.

Beyond that, the earlier you submit it, the better.

Do I have to fill out the FAFSA each year?

Yes, you need to fill out the FAFSA for each year you plan to attend college or career school to be eligible for financial aid.

However, the process will be quicker if you’ve filled out the FAFSA before. Much of the information will be the same, and you just need to update what’s changed. Learn more here .

Does it cost money to fill out the FAFSA?

Nope. As the name says, it’s the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Is there a list of FAFSA questions I can see before I fill out the form?

Sure. Check out this sample FAFSA worksheet . Note that this form isn’t an actual copy of the FAFSA; it’s just a preview of the questions the FAFSA asks.

Can I get financial aid if I’m not a U.S. citizen?

In many cases, yes.

To start, many private and institutional scholarships are available regardless of your citizenship.

Beyond that, you may be able to qualify for federal student aid if you’re a U.S. national or a U.S. permanent resident. And there are many other cases as well, including if you have a certain immigrant status or are a citizen of one of the Freely Associated States .

For a full list of ways you can get federal student aid without being a U.S. citizen, visit this page . If you’re unsure if you meet these requirements, consult with your college’s financial aid office.

Get the Student Aid You Deserve

I hope this guide has helped you understand how financial aid works. If you take nothing else away from this article, remember to apply for financial aid . If you don’t, then you could miss out on major college savings.

Besides financial aid, there are plenty of other ways to make college cheaper. Check out these 39 ways to cut the cost of college to learn more.

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Why an Honest Conversation with a Financial Aid Officer Matters

It’s important to meet with a financial aid officer when you visit colleges if you can.

(Some colleges don’t publish that as an option on their campus visit website, but ask if you can meet with a financial aid professional anyway.)

Financial aid officers work in the office that delivers your financial aid award letter. Now you see why you should meet with someone in that office!

The financial aid award, also called a financial aid package, details the costs of attending a college for one academic year. Most colleges send out financial aid award letters around the same time as admission offer letters, but the timing differs from school to school.

Meeting with a financial aid professional prior to receiving your financial aid award can give you insight into what you can expect on that aid award letter.

How to Introduce Yourself to College Financial Aid Officers 

Does your mind go blank as soon as you’re sitting across from someone really, really important?

You had 1,000 emails already written in your mind, but they just floated away the second you sat down. Sound familiar?

Totally understandable. That’s why it’s a great idea to prepare a list of questions ahead of time so you know exactly how the conversation will go. 

Just remember that you can still call, email and stay in touch. You’ll still have opportunities to connect later.

Step 1: Introduce yourself. 

You want the financial aid officer to know you as a person so he or she can help you. If you talk about your love for creative writing, that’s a perfect time for a financial aid officer to say, “That’s great! We have a fantastic creative writing scholarship, renewable every year for four years.”

See how this goes?

Step 2: Ask for the basics, then go into more than just surface-level information.

Talk about general costs, then ask the financial aid officer to go deeper.

Push the person you meet with for more information beyond the standard, “Here’s the tuition, room and board and fees you’ll pay.” Ask for hidden costs like activity fees, lab fees, printer fees and more. 

Ask about your potential for earning grants, scholarships, work-study or loans—your personal potential for earning those, not just what each school “generally” offers.

Note that listing a college on your FAFSA form doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get financial aid from that college. Ask the financial aid office when you meet what more you need to do to apply for aid at that college.

Step 3: Ask for help if you need it.

The financial aid office should say, “We’re more than happy to help you file the FAFSA/apply for aid/ help you read your financial aid award letter /whatever else!”

Don’t think that even for a second you should hesitate to ask.

Any financial aid officer should offer to help you directly or point you toward another resource. That’s their job.

Step 4: Ask for your exact next steps.

Any financial aid office you work with should be able to direct you toward what’s happening now, what should happen next and what’s coming down the pipeline.

For example, when you both talk about filing the FAFSA and the CSS Profile, the financial aid officer should also give you thorough steps and guidelines so you know what to do next. 

Step 5: Initiate tough conversations.

Did you get a financial aid award that really surprised you?

In other words, it’s way more expensive than you thought it would be—or more fees got added than you expected.

Yes, it’s normal to feel emotional about the financial aid award. You might even feel completely unprepared to get these conversations going with the financial aid office.

Here’s how you can tackle them, and the steps you can take next. (As always, check with the financial aid officer you connect with on your visit for exact steps you need to take.)

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How to Appeal for More Financial Aid

The first step is to look for those email addresses or phone numbers for the admission office or financial aid office. Ask if you can appeal your child’s financial aid award. Most colleges will ask you and your student to write a letter.

Write Down a List of Concerns

Don’t discount how you could get emotional talking about financial aid, but try to keep that out of your list of concerns. Identify the special circumstances that affect your ability to pay for college, such as a job loss, a sudden (expensive) health issue or another child in the family who has special needs, etc. 

You appeal for more financial aid because you have special circumstances. Wanting more money is usually not enough of a reason for a financial aid appeal, though you can certainly ask. 

Put Together Your Letter

Keep your letter concise, limiting it to one or two pages. The letter should summarize the special circumstances and the impact they have or have had on your family. If you have more than one special circumstance, put all of them in a bulleted list.

Gather Documentation

Gather documentation of your special circumstances. Layoff notices, medical bills, bank statements, receipts—anything that can show your family’s situation.

Teachers, school counselors, social workers, doctors or clergy members could write a letter, but make sure these letters relate to your special circumstances.

Complete Special Circumstances Forms

Complete any forms the college financial aid office requires. These forms help the college see your financial circumstances in a single glance. Most colleges perform a comprehensive review of your financial circumstances when you appeal for more financial aid.

Call or email each financial aid office to make sure you’ve given them the right information. Find out if the college needs more information in addition to what you’ve already provided.

Again, this process can make you feel emotional, but the best tool you have in your toolkit is to work closely with financial aid professionals. Many families have been impacted by COVID-19, but remember that schools still have to fill seats—they want to work with you!

Continue the Relationship

You want to get to know as many people as possible when you’re visiting colleges.

Don’t skip the financial aid office when you visit. It can be kind of nerve-wracking to talk to financial aid professionals because so much remains on the line. 

You’ll understand quite a bit about what the school has to offer financially, ways to get college paid for , how financial aid works at that particular college and how much it will likely cost to attend that school.

Author: Melissa Brock

Melissa Brock is the founder of College Money Tips and Money editor at Benzinga. She loves helping families navigate their finances and the college search process. Check out her essential timeline and checklist for the college search!

More Articles By Niche

As a parent, the thought of college expenses can be overwhelming, but with the right understanding and approach, paying for college can be manageable and less stressful for the whole family.

The FAFSA has undergone several changes this year, causing unexpected delays for both students and colleges.

Luckily, there are several ways to pay for college that’ll lighten the financial burden of your studies. Without further ado, let’s review a few ways to pay for college.

How to Survive Financial Aid Delays and Avoid Summer Melt

• Posted April 9, 2024
• By Elizabeth M. Ross
• College Access and Success
• Education Finances

In response to this year’s troubled rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a number of colleges and universities have pushed back their enrollment and deposit deadlines beyond the traditional May 1 decision date. However, as a result, some seniors may find they no longer have the support they need to complete numerous tasks and successfully matriculate, after they graduate from high school.

Accurate numbers are hard to come by, but every year a portion of college-intending high school graduates don’t show up in the fall because they have been overwhelmed by the many steps needed to get there. Research has found rates ranging from 10 to 40 percent. The phenomenon, known as “summer melt,” is most common among low-income and historically underrepresented students, and some high school counselors and college access advocates are now worried that the problem could be exacerbated because of this year’s FAFSA delays and challenges. Almost 30 percent fewer high school students had submitted the FAFSA form by the end of March, compared with the same time last year, according to the National College Attainment Network . 

Group text nudges

“Even seemingly simple tasks can become significant barriers to timely college enrollment,” particularly for first-generation students whose families have no prior experience with the process, states the Summer Melt Handbook: A Guide to Investigating and Responding to Summer Melt , produced by Harvard’s Strategic Data Project. Its authors encourage school districts to pursue active outreach efforts and interventions over the summer to help college-bound students, including digital prompts.

At the Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School (APR) in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Boston, members of the college placement team have helped structure low-cost anti-summer melt campaigns to support counselors with high ratios of students. With a “group text nudge you can front-load a lot of information and you can pre-schedule [it] with some of the texting platforms,” using personalized messages for individual students, explains Diane Scott, Ed.M.’97, one of the team’s co-directors.

Scott and her colleagues have found that a checklist can be especially helpful for graduating seniors. Their list includes important tasks that students can be reminded about over the summer, via text messages.

APR’s pre-matriculation checklist:

• Complete any required verification paperwork . Students need to be prepared to prove the accuracy of any information they listed on their application for financial aid, including income and asset data, as well as citizenship status, explains Scott.
• Set up student portals and an email account with the college or university you plan to attend.
• Complete online entrance loan counseling. Scott describes the process, which is designed to help students understand the terms and conditions of any federal loans they have accepted, subsidized or unsubsidized, as similar to taking an open-note quiz. Students are required to sign a master promissory note to acknowledge their understanding.
• File a financial aid appeal if your family’s current financial situation does not reflect the information that you listed on your FAFSA.
• Waive your college’s health insurance if you are already covered by a parent/family plan.
• Take college placement tests , if required.  
• Attend an orientation session.
• Request any special accommodations. This is relevant for students who received services in their school districts through a 504 Plan or an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
• Provide proof of state residency if attending an in-state public institution. 
• Set up an initial advising appointment. 
• Complete housing forms if planning to live on campus.
• Provide proof of immunizations.
• Get set up with a federal work-study job , if eligible.
• Try to get connected with a point person or affinity group on campus to help foster a sense of belonging.

Additional resources

• Summer Melt Tools
• Summer Melt Handbook: A Guide to Investigating and Responding to Summer Melt

Explore other stories in our FAFSA series:

Tips for navigating financial aid, getting to college: fafsa challenges for first-gen students.

• Can School Counselors Help Students with "FAFSA Fiasco"?

Usable Knowledge

Connecting education research to practice — with timely insights for educators, families, and communities

Related Articles

The first in our series on how students, families, and colleges can find their way through the government’s “FAFSA Fiasco”

Can School Counselors Help Students with "FAFSA Fiasco"?

Support for low-income prospective college students and their families more crucial than ever during troubled federal financial aid rollout   

The hurdles faced by first-generation college students as they make their way through the financial aid process — and how to help them overcome the barriers

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Introducing Your Financial Aid Officers: Who They Are and What They Do

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Financial aid is a tremendous resource and a tool that can make college affordable for a far greater range of high school students than could pay for college out of pocket. However, since accessing financial aid involves submitting lengthy paperwork , navigating complex policies , and waiting for decisions to be made by institutions, it can also be a major source of stress for college applicants.

When your ability to afford a college education hangs in the balance, it’s important that you’re able to communicate effectively with the administrators who manage financial aid at your college. Getting in touch with the right person and understanding how the process works can make all the difference when you’re trying to make college affordable for your family.

In this post, we’ll go over the role your financial aid officers will play in your life during admissions season, what you can expect from your financial aid officers, and what you need to know to make your relationship with them as effective as possible.

What’s a Financial Aid Officer?

A college’s financial aid office may be made up of a variety of different staff members, from part-time administrative assistants to high-ranking directors and deans. The size and makeup of an individual college’s financial aid office will depend upon factors like the size of the student body, the percentage of students receiving aid, and the available financial aid budget. However, the title of “financial aid officer” is one that you’ll find at almost every college.

Financial aid officers are the staff members who are most directly responsible for connecting individual students to aid opportunities, helping them manage their aid, and addressing any problems that might arise. Typically, they’re the people who review financial aid applications and make initial decisions or recommendations about your aid award, though these decisions will often need to be approved by a higher-level administrator or committee before they’re final.

How much power your financial aid officers will have to individually determine your award depends on your school. However, their job is to work and advocate on your behalf to ease the financial burden of your college education. Once your applications are submitted and processed, they’re responsible for pulling it all together and getting an award package into your hands.

If you contact a college’s financial aid office with general questions, or if you just want to check that your application has been received, an administrative assistant or other staffer may be able to help you. If you have specific or detailed questions about your own application or award, your assigned financial aid officer is the person who’s best equipped to give you specific answers.

During the Application Process

When you’re a college applicant, your interactions with a college’s financial aid office will be centered on submitting your financial aid application. Before admissions decisions are released, your job is to make sure that the financial aid office has all the information it needs to determine your aid eligibility.

You can read more about the specific facts and documents you’ll need to provide in our post,  FAFSA, CSS Profile, IDOC, Oh My: A Guide to Financial Aid . Each school has its own requirements, but usually, you’ll need to submit the details of your family’s income and assets, as well as copies of their tax returns. In order to receive your award letter promptly, you’ll have to meet the financial aid application deadlines set by the school.

Some students wonder why colleges ask for so much information. In order to accurately assess your financial need and distribute need-based aid fairly, the college must get a full picture of each student’s financial circumstances. Without documentation that demonstrates your need, the college can’t and won’t award you need-based financial aid.

Financial aid awards are typically not determined until after admissions decisions are made, especially at schools with need-blind admissions policies . The college needs to have all the necessary information at hand so that if you’re accepted, your award can be calculated and made available before you have to make a final decision about where to attend.

At this stage in the process, you may or may not have a specific person acting as your assigned financial aid officer — schools differ in their practices. Even if you don’t have a designated financial aid officer yet, however, staff members at each college’s financial aid office should be able to answer your general questions or confirm receipt of your important documents.

The reason why some colleges don’t assign financial aid officers to students at this stage is that until admissions decisions are made, it’s likely that no one has even looked at your financial aid application yet. Especially for schools with a large number of applicants, it doesn’t make sense to put work into evaluating financial aid applications for the many students who will end up not being accepted.

Financial aid offices know that students are anxious to hear back about how much financial aid they’ll receive, but it’s often not possible for them to give estimates or make commitments until the full evaluation process has taken place. Once that happens, however, you’ll have more help and support from your financial aid officers as you figure out what your award means and whether it makes that college a viable option for you.

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After You’re Accepted

Once you have acceptances in hand, your relationship to your financial aid officers at the schools to which you’ve been accepted changes. You’ll usually be assigned to a particular officer, so you’ll have an established contact at the office who’s familiar with your situation and can offer personalized advice and assistance as you try to make a final decision.

Colleges usually aim to send out financial aid award letters at the same time as or slightly after admissions decisions are released. However, the timing can vary, especially if the office didn’t receive your full aid application on time. If your aid application was late or incomplete, you may have to wait a while after you receive your admissions decision to learn about your financial aid.

If your award letters are delayed, your financial aid officer will work closely with you to obtain the necessary information, track your application’s progress, and resolve whatever issues come up. Financial aid officers know that affordability is a major concern when you’re deciding where to attend, so they’ll do everything possible to ensure that you hear back about your aid before the response deadlines you need to meet.

Once you receive your award letter, whatever the timing, you may find that you have questions or concerns about your award. Your financial aid officer can help you decipher the cost of attendance breakdown and aid offer it contains, and also provide insight into how your award was determined.

If you feel that a mistake was made or important information wasn’t taken into account when your financial aid award was calculated, you may decide to appeal your award. (Check out our post Can I Appeal My Financial Aid Award? for more about how this reconsideration process works.) Again, speaking to your financial aid officer will be the first step in filing your appeal, and your officer will be your main contact throughout the appeal process.

You should be aware that your financial aid officers are dealing with large numbers of other prospective students (and possibly also current students) besides you. They’re not always going to be available to respond or help immediately, and especially around the time of major deadlines, they’re likely to be swamped. However, they understand the urgency of the situation, and they do their best to ensure that all the students they’re assigned get the help they need.

Other staff members may be able to provide some assistance, but certain matters must be discussed with your assigned financial aid officer. If you can’t reach your officer immediately and have to wait for a response, be patient — they’re probably busily working on your behalf or waiting for a response from someone else, and will update you once they have more information to convey.

At some schools, the financial aid committee only meets every week or two to discuss and finalize awards, so your financial aid officer may simply be waiting for your turn on the docket. Even if it takes some time, your assigned officer is still most likely the best — and possibly the only — person to help you solve your problem.

Once you receive your award letter and make a decision about where to attend, you’ll further strengthen your relationship with your financial aid officer. That officer will be the person to answer any additional questions you might have, guide you through any remaining paperwork (such as loan applications and work-study forms ), and help you understand what you can expect financially when you arrive at college.

As with any other staff members at the colleges you’re considering, in order to keep your relationship with your financial aid officers positive and effective, make sure you treat them with politeness and respect. They’re working within school policies and other constraints to try to help students get the funding they need, and that job is often difficult, especially when applicant pools are large and deadlines inch ever closer.

From my personal experience working in a financial aid office, however, I can say that every financial aid officer I’ve worked with has been genuinely dedicated to helping make excellent educational experiences possible for a broader range of students, regardless of their financial backgrounds. If you take the time to build a good relationship with your financial aid officer, there’s a lot that officer can do to make your transition to college smoother and easier.

For More Information

Financial aid can be complex to consider and apply for, but it can also change your life by expanding your college options.

If you’re in the process of planning for college, you already know that your college applications will require a great deal of time, energy, and work from you. It’s worth it, however — the potential rewards of getting accepted to a college that’s a great fit for you are substantial.

CollegeVine’s experienced and trained application consultants are here to help you put your best foot forward in the application process. They can assist you in putting together a great application, crafting brilliant essays, and navigating the often confusing world of college admissions.

Visit these posts on the CollegeVine blog for the information you need to get started with your financial aid search:

• Tuition vs. Total Cost of Attendance: Understanding Your College Expenses
• 15 College Financial Aid Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Filling Out the FAFSA
• Borrowing for Beginners: An Introduction to Student Loans

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