This article is from last year, but the steps for appealing financial aid are the same.  Since many families may have experienced a reduction in income during the pandemic 2020, compared to 2019 which is being used for financial aid awards this year, I expect more colleges to receive a significant number of appeal letters. Please get yours in early!
​How To Appeal a Financial Aid Award

We often hear a lot about student debt for a college education, but not much about parents who take out large loans to help pay for college.
From the New York Times, A Parent Trap

From one of my colleagues, Jeff Levy, and Grown & Flown, some important advice about financial aid.  
Fifteen Biggest Financial Aid and FASFA Mistakes

It's October 1 and that means students and parents can begin to complete financial aid applications for the 2021-22 school year.  Applications include the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for all colleges and the CSS Profile for most private colleges and universities.  Here is an article that provides guidelines and details for completing these applications and paying for college. 

Complete Guide to Financial Aid and the FAFSA - Savingforcollege.com

High school seniors will be applying for college financial aid this fall.  From one of my colleagues, Jeff Levy, here is an important article about the 15 biggest, and most significant, mistakes that families make when completing FAFSA and the CSS Profile.
Fifteen Biggest Financial Aid and FAFSA Mistakes

Financial aid letters and packages can vary greatly between schools.  Even the language that's used is quite different.  Here are some helpful tips from the New York Times. 
​www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/your-money/college-financial-aid-scholarship-grant.html?fbclid=IwAR2a3aQ0KEnvc766ZQHB4m82VLHYVrEUpJT86IoL7fVpPGXSWMWFrqYt8zk

Here is some excellent information about financial aid from the UC Berkeley office of aid and scholarships.  Financial aid applications for the 2019-20 school year are due on March 2!
​medium.com/@CalAdmissions/7-things-i-wish-applicants-knew-about-funding-their-education-1b9c443ca227?fbclid=IwAR0wYRIAxfqT9bU4pmw2wk37o2idpeMJ8Sd4NzzkFrndkqHa3I2EhwKGgic

Some financial aid letters can be difficult to understand.  Here are some helpful tips to compare your financial aid among the colleges to which you have been admitted.
​www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/2017-04-12/5-numbers-to-check-to-compare-financial-aid-awards

Some additional information on financial aid and paying for college, directly from the University of California newsroom.
​www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/5-essentials-paying-college?utm_source=fiat-lux&utm_medium=internal-email&utm_campaign=article-general&utm_content=text 

Applicants to the University of California who many not be eligible for the Blue and Gold Opportunity Program should check out the Middle Class Scholarship Program.  This program provides some need-based financial aid to families whose income is less than $165,000 a year.
​admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/paying-for-uc/glossary/middle-class-scholarship/index.html 

It is time to begin filling out financial aid forms.  All colleges will require FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.  fafsa.ed.gov.  

In addition, many private colleges and some non-California public schools will also require the CSS Profile that is run through the College Board website.  cssprofile.collegeboard.org

Here is a link to a great article on the common myths about financial aid.
​blog.ed.gov/2017/10/12-myths-fafsa-form-applying-financial-aid/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

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