FAFSA for University of North Texas?

Hi all, I've been looking at UNT and I'm a bit spun around by financial aid stuff. How does the FAFSA work with them? Are there any specific deadlines or steps I should be aware of? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Navigating financial aid is new territory for me.

Understanding the financial aid process can indeed be a bit confusing! First things first, you don't apply for FAFSA specifically for a certain school, there's a single application that you fill out, but you add the University of North Texas (UNT) as one of the institutions to receive your data. This way, UNT will have the information they need to determine your financial aid package.

The following is a general timeline and process for dealing with FAFSA:

1. Prepare: Before you sit down to fill out the FAFSA, gather all necessary documents. This includes your Social Security Number or Alien Registration Number, your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned. If you're a dependent student, you'll need this information for your parents as well.

2. Apply: Starting from October 1st of the year preceding the academic year you're applying for, you can submit your FAFSA application. For example, if you were going to college in the fall of 2025, you'd be able to start your application on October 1, 2024. Then, you'll list UNT in the school section. The school code for UNT is 003594.

3. Review and Accept Aid: Once you've submitted your FAFSA and it's been processed, you'll receive what's called a Student Aid Report (SAR). Review this report carefully and correct any errors online. UNT will then send you a financial aid offer. You'll need to accept or decline this offer online.

Now, it's important to remember that you're operating on deadlines. The federal deadline to submit the FAFSA is by 11:59 p.m. Central time (CT) on June 30 of the academic year you're applying for, but earlier submission is encouraged to increase the chances of receiving maximum aid. The state of Texas recommends submitting the FAFSA by January 15, 2025, to be considered for the Texas Grant. Additionally, UNT has its own priority deadline and recommends submitting your FAFSA by January 15, 2025, to get the best possible aid package.

Also, keep in mind that you're not done after your first FAFSA submission: you'll need to resubmit the FAFSA every year you're in school to continue receiving aid. Starting from October 1 of each year, you can submit your renewal FAFSA.

Remember to regularly check on your EagleConnect account at UNT, as that's how they'll communicate with you about your financial aid status. This is a new process for a lot of people and it's okay to be overwhelmed. Don't hesitate to reach out to the UNT's Student Financial Aid and Scholarships department if you need additional help!