College Advising Financial Aid Checklist

Financial aid-specific overview of the 12th grade year

August	As you finalize your college list, research their financial aid pages for deadlines and required documents. Ultimately each family is responsible for meeting deadlines, for ensuring all financial aid materials are submitted, and for responding to requests for more information. With your family, complete Net Price Calculators (NPCs) on each college page to determine if any of your colleges seem unaffordable. Scholarship applications usually aren’t due until later in the year. In the meantime, read this overview of the scholarship process.
September	Review your college list with your college advisor through the lens of college affordability. Are there enough colleges on your list that are financially “safe”? That offer merit scholarships? A thoughtfully constructed list can be key to affordability.
October	Attend our financial aid overview session in October (see calendar). See which of your colleges require the CSS Profile, especially important this year for early applications since the FAFSA is not available until later in the year. Use this document to prepare to complete the CSS Profile.
November	Check your portals for any colleges to which you already applied to see if anything is missing, especially for financial aid.
December	Use this document to prepare to complete the FAFSA. If affordability is a concern, ED students should show us their financial aid packages, ideally before sending a commitment to the college.
January	FAFSA becomes available. Fill it out soon. If the FAFSA asks you to list your colleges, list them alphabetically. Check your portals for any colleges to which you already applied to see if anything is missing, especially for financial aid.
Winter and spring	For non-Early Decision applications, compare the financial aid offers you receive. Only at a favorite college, phone the financial aid office if the financial aid package will not work.
May	By May 1st, send your final college commitment (if not Early Decision).
June	If you intend to apply for more scholarships over the summer after high school, email your College Advisor the deadlines and instructions with plenty of notice. For unsubsidized and subsidized Stafford loans, students often complete online loan counseling (~25 mins) and complete the promissory note.