Can foreign or international students earn the FSEOG?

The FSEOG is a type of educational funding program provided by the United States government. The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is managed by the United States Department of Education, and is usually awarded to students with exceptional financial need. However, because the program is generally only open to US citizens, most foreign or international students will not qualify for the FSEOG.

How much money for college can I get with the FSEOG?

The FSEOG or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant works in the same way as most other types of government and non-government grants. Students are awarded the FSEOG based upon their financial need- the more money you need for school, then the more likely you will be to qualify for the maximum available under the FSEOG.

What schools offer the FSEOG?

If you’re seeking money for college, the FSEOG can be an extremely valuable tool for many students with financial need. The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant offers a substantial amount of money for school that never has to be paid back. There are certain restrictions to the FSEOG, but all students can find out if they are eligible for this federal source of educational funding simply by filling out a FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Where is the FSEOG and the FAFSA available? At more than 4,000 schools nationwide.

How do I apply for the FSEOG?

The FSEOG, or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, is a free type of funding for college that never needs to be repaid. Unlike private or other forms of public grants, the FSEOG is only available through the federal government. The program is managed by the United States Department of Education and financial aid officials of participating schools. The FSEOG is awarded as a means for students with exceptional financial need to meet their educational funding needs.

The only way to apply for the FSEOG is to fill out a FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA is used by more than 4000 schools nationwide to make determine a student’s eligibility for all types of federal aid. Schools that use the FAFSA include colleges, universities, online schools, technical and vocational centers, nursing and health schools, and even some automotive programs.

When you fill out a FAFSA at one of these schools, you’ll be applying for many types of aid at the same time: grants, scholarships, work study, loans, and the FSEOG. In most cases, students who are awarded the FSEOG will also be awarded the federal Pell grant. Both of these grants can offer up to $4000 for educational expenses each year, though rarely do students receive the maximum of each.

You can apply for the FSEOG via the FAFSA at any local school or university, or you may fill one out online. Because the FSEOG is only awarded to students with financial need, be prepared with your financial documents when you fill out the FAFSA. In many cases, you’ll need to provide verification of the information used to determine your eligibility for the FSEOG.

If I get the FSEOG, what can I use the Money for?

Recipients of the FSEOG will be pleased to learn that they can use their educational award for a number of purposes. In fact, the Federal supplemental educational opportunity grant- though it is a government grant, works in a very similar way to other types of grants. The FSEOG is usually only available to students who demonstrate significant financial need. Financial need is determined by information you enter on the FAFSA, and is the only way to apply for the FSEOG.

Grants are free sources of money for college. Grants never have to be repaid, and in many cases there is a great deal of flexibility in what the money can be used for. However, other grants have very strict requirements, so you should always check before filling out an application for a grant. As far as the FSEOG is concerned, any money that you receive can be used for the following purposes:

Tuition- Even if you attend multiple schools or attend for a semester abroad, grant money from the FSEOG can be used to pay for tuition expenses. In most cases, the United States Department of Education- the government entity that regulates federal educational funding- will pay the school directly as a convenience to you.

Books- You can get your books from anywhere- your school, a different school, a book store, an online retailer, a book-swapping services- it doesn’t matter where you get your books- money from the FSEOG can be used to pay for them.

Lab and Equipment Fees- Regardless of the type of school you attend, FSEOG money can be used to pay your lab and equipment expenses.

Transportation- Getting to and from school can be a huge expense for some students. Grant money from the FSEOG can be used to help offset these costs.

Room & Board- If most other educational expenses have been paid, then money from the FSEOG can be used to offset the costs of room and board.

When it comes to educational –related expenses, the FSEOG can help to reduce the burden caused by the high costs of higher education. To see if you qualify, simply fill out a FAFSA at any one of more than 4000 schools nationwide.

What is the FSEOG?

FSEOG is an acronym for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. This is a type of federal educational funding that is aptly named. Like all grants, the FSEOG consists of money for college that never has to be repaid. As with all types of free educational funding offered by the United States Department of Education, competition for these types of grants is limited by the financial situation of the person apply. In this way, the federal government can ensure that only qualified applicant receive this generous award.

The FSEOG is only available to undergraduate students who demonstrate severe financial need. In most cases, these students are those that have little to no income or assets, and whose family is not able to contribute to the student’s educational expenses. In most cases, only students who are eligible for the federal Pell grant will be eligible for the FSEOG.

The amount of the FSEOG award you receive depends upon a number of variables, including how much money the school has been allotted for this program, and how many students are in the program overall. The award amounts are determined by a formula created by congress and managed by the USDE. Information used to make award determinations include credit reports, income and asset information, employment information, and related information concerning the student’s parents or legal guardians.

If you are found eligible for this grant, you can be awarded anywhere from $100 to $4000. Being that most students in the FSEOG program have already been awarded a Pell grant, the FSEOG provides extra security for students that may otherwise be unable to afford their tuition and expenses. The award is either paid directly to the school, or it can be sent to you via a paper check. Money from this award can be used to pay lab fees, for textbooks, research services, living and transportation expenses, and many other educational-related expenses.

In order to see if you qualify for the FSEOG, all you need to do is fill out a FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid at any one of more than 4,000 schools and universities participating in the program.

Tips for Getting the Most Aid Available on the FAFSA

The best tip that any student should follow in order to maximize the amount of aid awarded via the FAFSA is to be honest. Because the FAFSA provides educational funding using federal sources of money, the form is very specific in the information it requests and assesses. Aid determinations are made according to a student’s financial need. Therefore, most of the required information on a FAFSA deals with a student’s income and assets, as well as that of their family. This is called the Expected Family Contribution.

By being honest about your expenses, income, and assets, the United States Department of Education, which oversees programs available via the FAFSA, is able to determine how much monetary assistance a student actually needs. If you have significant savings and assets and make an excellent wage, you’re probably going to receive less aid than a student who comes from a poor family and is too young to have a viable career yet. In either case, officials will verify the financial information you provide, so it’s very important to be honest, or you could disqualify yourself from federal aid altogether.

Another tip is to complete the FAFSA as thoroughly as possible. Fill in every field, or mark N/A when something doesn’t apply to you. If there are questions asked that you don’t know the answers to, you should find out before proceeding. Also, make certain you send all required supporting documentation when you submit a 100% complete FAFSA.

Finally, submit the FAFSA and all other documentation as early as possible. Federal funding is usually only doled out once each year, which could result in you missing funding opportunities for semesters where you don’t get the application in on time. Additionally, it’s very important to submit on time so that classes at your school don’t fill up. Therefore, submitting the FAFSA early is critical. Students should also remember to respond to an official’s request for additional documentation or clarifying questions. If these are ignored or delayed, your FAFSA will not be processed, resulting in a loss of potential funding.

If you need help filling out a FAFSA in order to be as thorough and timely as possible, you should ask financial aid officials at your school for assistance. Often, many schools have free FAFSA courses that you can attend so that you can make sure you get it right the first time.

Can the FAFSA be used to apply for other types of Aid?

By filling out a FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a student is able to determine if they are eligible for certain types of federal educational funding, such as grants, work study programs, loans and scholarships. However, many programs similar to these are available with other groups, organizations, and individual donors. Many students have wondered if the FAFSA can also be used to apply for non-federal programs. As with most complicated government issues, the short answer is yes, but with a very long “no.”

Technically, every time a student fills out a FAFSA, they are applying for programs with an organization that is non-governmental- the schools or universities they are applying to. Because each school usually has internal programs available for students with financial need, such as free grants, scholarships, and work study, information provided on the FAFSA is often used by schools to make determinations and awards for these types of programs.

However, the usefulness of the FAFSA stops there. Many other sources of educational funding are available- including sources of money for college that never has to be repaid like grants. These can be found with private individuals, professional associations, businesses, corporations, foundations, charitable organizations, state and city governments, and religious groups. But because each group has wildly differing requirements and programs, they all use their own forms and application processes.

So while it might seem like a pain that these types of programs can’t be integrated onto one form such as the FAFSA, it’s hardly worth complaining about. Many of the groups listed above offer total award amounts that far exceed what the federal government has to offer. So if it takes a little effort to find other sources outside of the USDE, it’s probably well worth it.

Smart students will simply copy the information from their completed FAFSA, import it to an Excel spreadsheet, and use that same information to easily cut and paste into applications for other sources. It’s a small price to pay for free money for school.

Can Personal Information I put on the FAFSA be sold to Third Parties?

If you fill out a FAFSA in order to see if you’re qualified for federal educational funding programs, you might be surprised at the amount of sensitive and personal information you are requested to provide. In fact, for students under the age of 24, this sensitive information will include details about parents or guardians- especially their financial information. In today’s computerized age of fast transactions, compromised data and identity theft, providing this kind of information can be unnerving- especially for students who are applying to multiple schools. Therefore, some students might question whether this information can fall into the wrong hands- namely that of annoying telemarketers and potentially dangerous scam artists or thieves. Overall, this fear is unwarranted, as the federal government protects FAFSA information. However, there are a few things you should know.

While the federal government and the United States Department of Education will keep the information you provide on the FAFSA private, they may share it with other parties in order to service the educational funding programs you are awarded. These third parties are usually required to keep your information private as well. However, if you fall behind on your student loans, your information could be given to very unfriendly collection agencies. The further behind you fall, the greater the chances are that the debt will eventually be sold. If this happens, the information from your FAFSA about you and your parents could be compromised. The best solution to prevent this is to stay up to date on all payments, or make arrangements with financial aid officials when you cannot.

One source of potential problems could be from the schools you are applying for. Most schools use a FAFSA to make determinations for internally-awarded programs such as grants and scholarships. While information security is always a concern for most schools and universities, it’s a wise idea to review the school’s privacy policies. Some schools may make your data available to third parties that might be loosely affiliated with the school, and it’s difficult to say how that entity will protect- or not protect- your information.

When you are considering filling out and submitting a FAFSA, it’s probably best to ask about privacy policies, and to gain an understanding of how your information will be used. Most schools have publicly posted privacy policies, making this task relatively easy. Just remember that the FAFSA does ask for some fairly sensitive information, so even if you don’t care how that information is used, your parents might. Food for thought.

Do I absolutely have to fill out a FAFSA?

No, it’s not essential to fill out a FAFSA. If you want to pay for all of your educational expenses out of your own pocket, that’s absolutely fine with nearly all of the 4,000+ schools that accept the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form. However, very few students or their parents have the kind of money that is needed to fund tuition expenses out-of-pocket. For this reason and others, it just makes sense to fill out the FAFSA even if you intend to pay cash for college.

The FAFSA seeks to determine a student’s eligibility for certain types of federal student aid. This can include subsidized or unsubsidized loans, work study programs, scholarships, grants, and more. However, some schools also have internal aid programs unrelated to those offered by the USDE. In most cases, the school will still require you to fill out the FAFSA, as the school will use the same information to make determinations and awards for internally administered programs.

Regardless of whether the educational funding program is managed by the federal government or the school itself, students who will be paying cash should probably still fill out the FAFSA anyway. It allows schools and universities to compile accurate and relevant records on you, which helps to keep student databases, college services, and aid offerings in line with your particular needs. Additionally, the FAFSA may indicate that, despite your assets, you might still qualify for aid.

So the real question should be this: why wouldn’t you want to fill out a FAFSA just to find out? Even if you have cash or assets, would you really turn down a grant or scholarship- free forms of money for college? I didn’t think so. Besides, the FAFSA is quick and easy to fill out, and the same form can be sent to schools all over the country. And being that most schools will ask you to fill one out for record keeping purposes, you might as well just get a FAFSA and get it done. You never know, you might be pleasantly surprised by what is offered on the FAFSA!

FAFSA Explanation of Terms

Like any type of educational aid programs, the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid uses a lot of terms and industry jargon that most students will not be familiar with. This is unfortunate, as misunderstandings of terms can result in delays processing the FAFSA, or mistakes that create inaccurate award determinations. In order to get all of the aid you qualify for and to get it in a timely fashion, it’s important to understand the most common terms encountered on the FAFSA.

Subsidized- Subsidies are amounts paid toward your educational expenses by the government. In the case of the FAFSA, subsidized refers to a type of loan where the federal government pays all interest while the student is still enrolled in classes.

Unsubsidized- the opposite of subsidized, these types of loans feature interest where the government does not contribute to the cost of interest, and therefore the interest is accumulated in the loan from the moment of its dispersal.

EFC- A prominent question on the FAFSA, EFC stands for Expected Family Contribution. This is the amount that the government uses to calculate what aid will be awarded, and is based upon a family’s income and assets. Essentially, the EFC is a general measure of how much a family is expected to contribute to their child’s own education expenses.

Work Study- Federal programs that allow students to work up to a certain award amount in a field similar to their degree path, or one that serves the public interest.

USDE- Acronym for United States Department of Education- the federal agency that oversees all federal educational aid programs.

Financial Need- A term used to describe how much “need” a student has for aid programs. In general, the less money and assets you have, the higher your “need” will be, resulting in more aid being offered.

Grants- Forms of educational funding available via the FAFSA and other sources that do not require repayment of funds awarded.

Scholarships- Academic awards usually reserved for incoming or undergraduate students. Aid is free and does not need to be repaid.

Student Status: This term refers to whether a student is independent, dependent, or independent with dependents. This status will determine what types of aid you may be eligible for.

By having an understanding of what is on the FAFSA before you fill it out, you can save yourself a lot of time and frustration, and ensure that your completed FAFSA is received in time to qualify for as much aid as possible.

Understanding the FAFSA: Are Scholarships or Grants better?

When it comes to funding your education, there are few better resources available to students than those offered on the FAFSA. However, students are often unsure what options are better than others. There is no clearly defined answer to this, as each student’s situation will be different. Additionally, as all federally awarded programs are offered on a financial need basis, some students may not qualify for all types of aid. But for those who do, the following question often arises: are Scholarships better than grants, or vice versa?

The best way to answer this question is to provide an understanding of the differences between grants and scholarships and how they relate to one another on the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. While both are forms of educational funding that never has to be repaid, each may have different requirements.

Scholarships: Scholarships are usually awarded in conjunction with some kind of academic achievement. Scholarships are usually awarded to incoming freshmen students, but are also often granted to other undergraduates. Additionally, some groups and organizations offer scholarships under other conditions. Generally, a student must meet certain criteria throughout the scholarship process: during the application, while the award is being distributed, and even after the award has been disbursed.

Grants, on the other hand, usually do not have so many requirements. Grants are usually awarded when a person belongs to particular group or profession, or when their studies fit certain profiles. Grants may be harder to get, but once they are awarded there are rarely any further requirements, other than that the grant be used for its intended purposes only.

So in essence, a grant is not better than a scholarship. In fact, students who are applying for federal aid via the FAFSA would do well to apply for both, and accept as many awards as they can get. After all, free money for college is free no matter the source!

Can the FAFSA process be automated?

Many students apply to dozens of colleges and universities each year, taking advantage of the federal programs offered by filling out a FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. By using this form, students are able to determine their eligibility for educational funding offered through the United States Department of Education. These programs provide invaluable services such as work study programs, subsidized and unsubsidized loans, grants and scholarships. But for some students, the FAFSA is a long and tedious process. In this case, many have asked if there is an automated process for filling out the FAFSA. The short answer is “no,” though the long answer includes a “but.”

Because the FAFSA is used by schools to determine internally administered programs such as school-sponsored grants, scholarships, and work study, a FAFSA must be filled out on a school-to-school basis. However, the FAFSA form is identical regardless of what school you’re applying to. This means that with a little resourcefulness, you can automate the process yourself…sort of.

One way to do this is to create an Excel spreadsheet. First, you’ll need to fill out one copy of a FAFSA completely. Then, you can highlight and copy each segment of your answers on the form. Then, by using the ALT-TAB function on your pc, you can flip back and forth between the two: copy answer fields from the FAFSA you’ve filled out and saved and then paste it into your Excel document. You can then navigate to each school's website and reverse the process- dumping information from the Excel sheet into the new FAFSA and submit to the respective school.

But even this process is a little tedious. A faster solution would be to fill out one FAFSA in entirety, then make a bunch of photocopies of it and send it to the schools of your choice the old-fashioned way: snail mail. Some of you might be too young to understand what snail mail is ( ;-P ) - it’s the process of sending paper or other materials through a postal service to reach its destination in a matter of days . . . or weeks if you’re unlucky. However, this is also a tedious process, and can prove quite costly depending on how many schools you are applying to.

The best solution for submitting multiple FAFSA’s? Fill out one copy completely and accurately. Store it in electronic format. Bring up the FAFSA submission form of 6-7 schools at a time using multiple browser windows. Attach, copy, paste, or otherwise include your electronic version of the FAFSA and submit to each school, using the ALT-TAB function to easily flip between screens. Then, rinse and repeat.

What kind of schools Accept the FAFSA?

The FAFSA is used by more than 4,000 schools, universities and colleges across the United States. In fact, because many international schools require American students to fill out a FAFSA in order to enroll, it could be argued that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is utilized by substantially more schools than just 4,000. However, many students have the misconception that a FAFSA can only be used at traditional schools- that is, those schools that are state-run colleges or universities. Increasingly, more students are becoming aware that the FAFSA is also used by community colleges. Nevertheless, the fact remains that nearly any type of school in the US and even overseas may make use of the FAFSA. These include:

Online Schools/Universities

Just because you attend classes online doesn’t mean that your school’s curricula is any less substantive than a brick and mortar school. As long as the school is an accredited college, chances are great that you will fill out a FAFSA in order to be considered for federal educational aid.

Trade Schools

These schools teach valuable skills such as welding, manufacturing processes, mechanical and engineering skills, and more. Being that this country could not operate without skilled workers in these industries, it makes sense that you can use a FAFSA to apply.

Nursing Schools

Specialized nursing schools are not exempt from federal funding. In fact, most nursing schools are afforded a large amount of federally-available grants and scholarships because of the high value and need for qualified professional nurses. For this reason, most nursing schools actually require that you fill out a FAFSA.

Technical Schools

Technical schools teach skills that are highly specialized in the computer sciences and technologies industries. This can also include electrical engineering and new technologies that aren’t even known to the general public yet. The government encourages these schools to participate in the USDE’s educational funding programs, which mean that attending students will likely fill out a FAFSA.

There are other school types that also use the FAFSA. The best way to find out is to simply call the school and ask. Chances are that you’ll be able to use the FAFSA and get all of the federal loans, work study, grants and scholarships that you need.

Going Back to College as an Adult? What you should know about the FAFSA

Adults over the age of 40 who are going back to school or attending college for the first time should complete a FAFSA in order to determine what types of federal aid are available. There are a number of programs offered by the US Department of Education such as grants, scholarships, loans and work study. Even adults who are returning to school to finish professional degrees and may think they are able to afford to pay for college out of their pockets should reconsider and fill out a FAFSA. This is because it is very expensive to attend college, and there are fees and expenses involved beyond just the standard tuition costs. Books, supplies, equipment, laboratory fees, various membership fees and dues, required software programs, required health insurance, and many other expenses mean that it’s a wise idea to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Filling out a FAFSA will determine eligibility for a number of different programs. The most beneficial- grants, consist of monetary awards that never have to be repaid. There are usually a number of requirements in order to get the grants, and they may be available at many other places besides the school and the federal government: businesses, corporations, foundations, civic groups, charitable organizations, private individuals, and state and local government agencies also offer grants in some cases.

The same groups listed above may also provide scholarships. However, most scholarships available through schools or by filling out a FAFSA are generally for students who are under age 24. As a result, adult students should seek outside sources of scholarships for returning or mature students.

Even adults can qualify via the FAFSA for work study programs. This enables a student to work in a field relative to their degree path while being able to earn money to pay for educational costs. This is especially useful for adults that are returning to school with the intention of being retrained in a new field.

Finally, nearly everyone regardless of age can qualify via the FAFSA for federal loans to cover college expenses. Terms and interest rates are very favorable and allow even the busiest mature student the ability to fund their education and improve the lives of their families and communities.

FAFSA Worst Case Scenario- Unsubsidized Loans

If you’re in the process of filling out a FAFSA, you’re likely wondering what the possible results could be, and what the worst case scenario is. You should know right away that not everyone qualifies for all types of aid that are available by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The federal forms of educational funding provided by the US Department of Education are offered on a need-basis. This means that the more financial need you have, the more likely you will be to qualify for all types of aid.

The FAFSA seeks to determine eligibility for the following programs: federal work study, federal grants, scholarships, subsidized loans, and unsubsidized loans. Obviously, the most desirable of these forms of aid are grants, as this is money for college that never has to be repaid. Following closely behind grants is scholarships, which also provides money for school that never has to be paid back, but comes with some restrictions and obligations.

Work study programs are often preferred over federal loans. Work study awards are provided once per year. A student is able to “work off” up to the full amount of the award by performing services in a field similar to the student’s field of study, or in a job that serves the public good if no degree-specific jobs are available. However, making the commitment to work is difficult for many students. Nevertheless, students that do take advantage of this program are able to get money for school and valuable training at the same time.

Subsidized loans are available to students with financial need. Interest on these loans is not accrued while the student is still enrolled in school or is in a grace or forbearance period. Once the student graduates or stops attending, loan payments will be due and interest will begin to accrue after a 6 month grace period. However, interest rates are very low on this type of federal loan.

The worst case scenario is that you’ll only qualify for unsubsidized loans. These loans also do not become payable until graduation or when the student stops attending, although interest does begin to accrue at the time the loan is first disbursed. Unsubsidized loans are still a valuable way to obtain money for college. These loans can help prevent a student from having to participate in work study or work a full time job while attending school. And being that the interest rate is extremely low, the cost of the money borrowed is very reasonable. So essentially, the worst case scenario when you fill out a FAFSA is that you will be provided with an excellent, low-cost loan that’s completely managed for you. It’s still a pretty good deal. Unless you’d like to pay for college out of your own pocket, that is.

Understanding the FAFSA: I don’t want to give or can’t get my parent’s information!

When filling out the FAFSA, many students are surprised to find that they must enter information regarding their parent’s financial status. This includes income, capital gains, assets, and tax information. In fact, the FAFSA often requires that supporting documentation to validate parental income be submitted with the application. But not all students or parents are comfortable providing this information, and some of the reason for this may be because they misunderstand or simply don’t know how the information is used or why it is needed.

The FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid seeks to make determinations for all types of federal educational funding. Information requested on the form is used as part of a formula developed by congress to find out how much aid a student can receive. However, in the eyes of the federal government, parents should be involved in providing funding for their children. This is not to say that if the parents can afford it that the government won’t help. Rather, it’s merely supporting the federal plan that a person’s education costs be shared by the government, and the family.

For this reason, information regarding your parent’s income is used to determine how much your Expected Family Contribution should be. Because federal programs such as loans, grants, work study and scholarships are awarded based upon financial need, students from low income families will receive greater aid than those from more fortunate families.

But sometimes, students have been on their own for years already, or they are estranged from their parents and cannot get the information. Additionally, some parents may simply refuse to provide such details. In these cases, students are strongly encouraged to contact financial aid officials at their school, as there are exceptions that can be made, including allowing a dependent student to be listed as independent in the event that they cannot obtain their parent’s information, or if the student is genuinely under an independent status even though they are under the age of 24.

Can I get Help Filling out a FAFSA?

The FAFSA is a comprehensive form used to determine student’s eligibility for certain types of federal aid. For freshman students especially, some of the information on the application may be completely foreign. For this reason, some students may not be able to simply fill out the FAFSA online, and instead may need assistance in order to complete the form accurately.

Can Parents fill out a FAFSA for Direct Plus Loans?

A FAFSA is not required for parents who wish to make use of federal funding to pay for their child’s education. Instead, a parent will need to contact school financial aid officials that participate in the Federal Direct Student Loan Program. Under this program, parents can be offered low interest rate loans to fund their child’s tuition, books, and other educational expenses at more than 4000 colleges and universities nationwide. Applications should be made directly with the school.

In order for a parent to qualify for a Direct Plus loan, the must meet certain eligibility criteria. First, the child whose education they wish to fund must be a full biological or legally adopted dependent. The student must attend classes at least half-time. In most cases, a student must be under the age of 24, have no dependents of their own, and not be married.

Parents must be able to demonstrate creditworthiness in order to apply for a Direct Plus Loan. Because of this, parents are strongly encouraged to review their credit reports prior to applying for a loan. Individuals who do not have sufficient credit may still be able to get a Direct Plus loan if they can provide suitable cosigner or guarantor. In cases where a cosigner or guarantor is not possible, a parent may still be able to get a Direct Plus loan if they can prove that their adverse credit rating was as a result of unusual circumstances that have since been resolved.

While parents do not need to fill out a FAFSA in order to apply, they should understand that loan amounts cannot exceed the total educational expenses as would normally be determined by a FAFSA form. Loan amounts are also reduced by the amount of other aid a student receives, such as grants and scholarships.

The FAFSA: What Happens if I don’t pay a Loan Back?

When you fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, you’re required to submit an MPN every time you borrow new funds or change schools. While few students consider what an MPN consists of, it’s vital to understand exactly what it is that you’re signing when you fill out this document.

An MPN is a Master Promissory Note. To summarize very briefly, the MPN is a legally binding document where your signature guarantees, or promises, to repay finds lent to you under the FAFSA or the Federal Direct Student Loan Program. In the event that a student defaults or refuses to pay back student loans when they are due, the MPN will be used against the student in a court of law.

When you fail to make timely payments on your student loans, your account will begin to show on credit bureaus as past due. Each stage of delinquency hurts your credit more. By the time your bill is 90, 120, or 150 days past due, chances are high that your account will be sold to outside collection agencies.

Collection agencies are not held to the strict collections practices standards set forth by the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. They have much more leeway when collecting, and can call you repeatedly every day for years. They may aggressively attempt to collect the debt by contacting you via email, letters, and phone calls, and they may contact your employer, your neighbors, and other people that you associate with. This can become extremely embarrassing, especially considering that information you provided on your FAFSA may be used to make these contacts.

Unlike most other types of debt, student loans cannot usually be included in a bankruptcy. This means that regardless of your financial situation, you’re going to be forced to pay these loans back eventually. Letting them go delinquent will only result in severe damage to your credit standing and the accumulations of fees and interest. It’s much cheaper to pay student loans when they are due- not when they are past due.

Additionally, if you have student loans that are past due, you will not be able to use the FAFSA at any other school in the country to obtain student aid until you have made suitable arrangements to pay your debts back. This can prevent you from finishing your education, and can have serious long term credit ramifications; including the inability to purchase a vehicle or a home.

Nearly all student loans are offered at very low rates of interest, and with low payment amounts. If you find yourself struggling, contact your school’s financial aid office and advise them that you need help. Forbearances or reprieves in payment may be available until you are able to get back on track.

How Much Money for College can the FAFSA Provide?

If you qualify for all forms of federal aid available on the FAFSA, chances are that you can receive a lot of money for college. While some of this will likely come in the form of low interest loans, a great deal of it can also come from grants and scholarships, which never have to be repaid. Additionally, work study awards can be earned in addition to other forms of aid, thereby increasing the overall amount of money you can receive by filling out a FAFSA.

Each part of the FAFSA makes different determinations concerning what type of aid you can receive. For undergrad students, most funds will come in the form of unsubsidized and subsidized loans. For each academic year, total loan amounts will depend on student status: dependent students can get up to $3500 in subsidized loans and $2000 in unsubsidized loans. Independent students can be loaned up to $3500 in subsidized loans and $6000 in unsubsidized loans.

Students using the FAFSA can also get Perkins loans up to $5500 per year. The Perkins loans features a low 5% rate of interest and is managed by the school- not the US Department of Education.

There are several grants available to students by filling out a FAFSA:

Pell Grant: Can be awarded up to $5550. In some cases, students can be awarded this twice per year.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant: Usually awarded in conjunction with the Pell Grant, the FSEOG maximum award is $4000.

Academic Competitiveness Grants: Usually awarded through the school, officials will use information on your FAFSA to make ACG award determinations, up to $1300.

The Teacher Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant, awarded up to $4000, is for students that make a commitment to teach for 4-5 years in an elementary or secondary school that services children from low income families.

Scholarships available by filling out a FAFSA vary wildly in type and amount, but in general range from $500 to $3500 and more.

As you can see, it’s easy to get all the money you need- and then some- simply by filling out a FAFSA.

Understanding the FAFSA: Can it be used to get funds to attend international schools?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA is used frequently by American students wishing to study abroad. While there may be many students and taxpayers alike that decry this federal policy, it makes perfect sense in the eyes of the US Department of Education, who is the managing authority when it comes to the FAFSA. The USDE provides funds for students with financial need to use for educational purposes. The goal is to create an American public that is highly educated, so in that sense the USDE isn’t concerned about where that education is obtained. The general idea is that most US students who study abroad are not likely to move there permanently, and therefore will eventually bring their higher level of education back to the United States.

Those that oppose students using the FAFSA to receive federal aid state that the money provided by the federal government should only be given to American schools, thereby boosting the economy and reserving federal funds for domestic uses only. However, this logic is flawed when the high number of international students studying in this country is considered. To clarify, if we should not use federal funds to allow US students to attend foreign schools, what if every foreign country adopted this same policy? The answer is that the US would have thousands less students every year, as international students make up a significant percentage of US college populations.

If you wish to study abroad, you will be required by most schools to fill out a FAFSA if you are American. The best practice is to fill out the FAFSA online, then wait 48 hours for the SAR or Student Aid Report. When you receive this report, you should contact FAFSA administration officials and ask for the full report- not just the summary. The full report and all FAFSA information should then be mailed to the international schools you wish to attend. From there, school officials will instruct you as to their individual policies.

Don’t forget- international schools accept thousands of American students each year, so most will be very familiar with the FAFSA and the process to apply for federal student aid.

Filling out the FAFSA: How Long does it Really Take?

Depending on which student you asked, you’d probably get wildly differing answers when it comes to how long it takes to fill out a FAFSA. Some students are able to complete a FAFSA in 15 to 20 minutes, while others require several hours. The reason for these startling time differences is because the FAFSA is different for everyone. The form is the same from school to school and even from year to year, but not every question applies to every student, and not all students are seeking the same level of aid.

If you are pressed for time, there are a number of things you can do to speed up the FAFSA process. First, you should read the entire application from front to back, taking notes of information and documents that you will need to submit the FASA correctly. Only after you have gathered all of this information should you begin to actually fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is because mistakes or omissions on a FAFSA can be costly, resulting in a rejection of aid or a delay in processing. Essentially, delays in processing means more time spent dealing with the FAFSA.

In general, students who fill out the FAFSA online are able to complete the process much more quickly than students who do not. Completing the FAFSA with all necessary documents and information at hand can often mean only spending 20 minutes or so on the form. Students who have never filled out a FAFSA and are totally unprepared can expect to spend an hour or two to accurately complete the form. In fact, when time spent gathering information and documents is added together, the FAFSA may take some students days or even weeks.

The reality of the situation is that filling out a FAFSA takes as long as you make it. If you’re not too busy and don’t have much else going on, then you can relax and get around to the FAFSA process whenever you feel like it. But if you’re like most students working against FSEOG deadlines and the many pressures of a full school load, you’ll want to be as efficient as possible and approach the FAFSA from a prepared and diligent angle.