October 1st is the first day you can file for FAFSA. FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and it's super important if you are planning on going to college.
Filling out the FAFSA is not quick and easy. While you can do it in one sitting, it's a bit of a process. It's best to get a solid start on it so you're not overwhelmed with it just before a deadline.
When You Can Fill Out Your 2021-2022 FAFSA
- Starting October 1, 2020—The 2021–22 FAFSA becomes available on October 1, so you can fill it out that day or any time through the federal deadline mentioned below. Just get it over with.
- By June 30, 2022—This is the federal deadline for the 2021-22 FAFSA—meaning, if you qualify for a Federal Pell Grant, you can apply this late and still get one.
- When you can—Some people don’t decide they’re going to college until after state and school deadlines have passed. But even though you probably won’t receive maximum aid (since much of the state and school aid won’t be available to you), it’s still worth a shot to apply for federal dollars and to see what other aid might still be available. So definitely fill out a FAFSA.
Why You Should Fill Out the FAFSA ASAP
- A better chance at more state and school aid. Need I say more? Schools and states have a limited amount of aid, and a bunch of states have a FAFSA deadline of “as soon as possible after October 1,” (meaning they actually could run out of financial aid) so it’s good to be at the front of the line!
- Get it out of the way so you can focus on other things, like college applications, college coursework, or applying for scholarships.
- It makes comparing colleges easier. If you submit your FAFSA early there’s a chance that colleges will give you an estimated financial aid offer early, giving you more time to compare colleges before the college decision deadline.
- More scholarship eligibility. Some scholarships look at your FAFSA results—and some of those scholarships have early deadlines. Don’t disqualify yourself from those scholarships.
Of course, if this is overwhelming and you need assistance, you can always make an appointment with us at John Wood's Financial Aid Office and we can assist you in filling out the FAFSA. To make an appointment, visit our website at https://www.jwcc.edu/financial-aid/ and fill out the form on the right side of the page. You can also call us at 217.641.4333 or email financialaid@jwcc.edu.
Thanks to the Home Room, the official blog of the U.S. Department of Education, for providing info. https://blog.ed.gov/2018/09/8-steps-to-filling-out-the-fafsa-form-2/
