I know FAFSA is super important for financial aid, but I'm not sure when I need to start filling it out. Do I need to complete it during my junior or senior year? Any advice is appreciated!
Hello there! It's great that you're being proactive about the financial aid process. The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, should be completed during your senior year of high school. Specifically, you can start filling it out as early as October 1st of the year before you plan to attend college. For example, if you're going to start college in the fall of 2024, you would begin the FAFSA process in October 2023.
Keep in mind that some colleges and states have priority deadlines that are earlier than the federal deadline, so make sure to research the specific deadlines for the schools you're interested in! Also, remember that the FAFSA needs to be filled out every year you're in college, so it's something you'll want to mark on your calendar as an annual task. Feel free to reach out if you need help navigating the process when the time comes!
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