your EFC is higher than expected, review your information. You don’t want to miss out on any grants or scholarships. Seek help: Financial aid counselors are there for a reason. If you have any questions about what should be included in your FAFSA, talk to a financial aid counselor at your school. High school seniors should visit their career center or talk to the school guidance counselor for assistance.
Beware of Websites and organizations claiming to be able to “maximize†your student aid for a fee. There is plenty of free assistance available. College Goal Sunday offers free in-person counseling to students filling out their FAFSA. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) and Lilly Endowment sponsor the program which brings financial aid administrators to students.
If you don’t understand a question or are having trouble filling out the form, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) of visit FinAid.org.
For more information on getting funds for college, check out Top Colleges: Navigating Financial Aid.
Renita Burns is the editorial assistant at BlackEnterprise.com.