Figuring out financial aid: Jackie’s journey, part 3

Something new starting with the 2017-2018 school year is that FAFSA is opening on October 1st instead of January 1st! I love to get important things done early so I don’t have to stress about it, so I was really excited to find this out!

I know a lot of people cringe in fear when they hear “FAFSA”, but I’m here to tell you that it’s not as scary as it seems. I was super lucky to have an older sister around to help me navigate it my first time around, but it’s very easy and self-explanatory if you take your time and read each instruction. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is a huge help and saves you from having to navigate the maze that is a tax return, so I’d highly recommend using that if you’re eligible.

I’ve used mine to talk about what I need for my private loans and to help get it processed a little faster. They’re there to answer your questions and assist you with whatever they are able to, so don’t be afraid of them!

Good luck this session, y’all!

XO,
Jacks

To compliment Jackie’s financial aid insight, we caught up with some ASU financial aid advisors for a quick Q&A about making the most of your financial aid.

What’s the most common mistake you see students make?
Not submitting their FAFSA (even if you don’t think you’ll qualify, fill it out!), not actively monitoring their account and not reading emails completely.

What can students do to better understand financial aid?
Pick up the phone and call us! Call anytime during your student lifecycle, we’ll accommodate your schedule and provide as many resources and helpful information as possible.

What are the services offered by financial aid that you find most valuable?
IGrad, MyASU, debt counseling and the tuition estimator.

What are your top tips for students when it comes to financial aid?
Be informed, understand the full process from start to finish, always ask questions, don’t be afraid to call us (we can’t stress that enough).

Have questions? Contact the financial aid team.