The Eyes Of A Spectator

So I got approved finally for financial aid by FAFSA, literally at the last minute. It was such a hassle, I hope noone else has to deal with it, although they do.

This whole setup is horrible, and should seriously be fixed by Financial Aid services, because it's such a cluster and people have to wait hours for anything to get done, if not days. Let me share what it's like for everyone, just so they know what to do.

First off, your going to want to get ever single documentation you can possible. Everything you can think of, because if you forget it, they won't. Here's a list I can get off the top of my head:

1. Taxes/W-2 Files
2. Divorce Papers
3. FAFSA records
4. School Code
5. School ID number/Card
6. Immunization Papers
7. Health Insurance
8. Family Papers [Who pays for what, income and such]
9. Tuition Bill
10. Classes Scheduled
11. Placement Test Results/SAT's/ACT's

They asked for all of these for me, and I did not have them all at one time, so I waited hours, and traveled way too much.

Depending on your college, in this case a community college, they were a little more helpful, because more students have these types of issues with money.

Now, the most important thing you can do, is file your FAFSA as early as possible. Even a week late can be very bad, because it takes a long time to process, because they have to investigate your issue, and your taxes and who brings income into the household your living in, it's a hassle for them, and they make sure it's a hassle for you, if you don't do all of this early enough.

After you file your FAFSA you wait for your PIN, which you will receive via mail, input that and get everything cleared and verify it as soon as possible.

After you get the pin, call up your school, and talk to them about Financial Aid, or loans quickly, because there is a certain amount of money put into the federal bank for people with low income, and you want to be quick to nab it. The faster you apply, the more you will get, and the bigger the chance you will have of getting at all in the first place.

When you call them, you'll either have to do it online, or go in by person. If you can, do it all online, because going in person results to waiting hours and hours.

If you go in, make sure you have everything you can, as I listed earlier, because they will ask for it, and if you don't have it, you'll have to go back home, or wherever, to get what you need, and then come back later, and wait hours yet again.

I hope alot of people read this, because there are alot of issues with these types of things, and if people knew what to do, it would be much easier.

If you don't know what to do, call your college, and talk to a counselor immediately.

This was my experience, and I share it all with you, so you are better prepared.

I got approved for 2500 bucks ;).