3 Financial Aid Mistakes to Avoid Before You File for College Aid
3 financial aid mistakes to avoid before you file for college aid: missed deadlines, the wrong forms, and panicking when a school says your FAFSA is missing. Plus the one move that cost a family their leverage the day their daughter got in.
A student got into her top choice, committed that minute, and withdrew every other application. Then the aid came up short, with nothing left to compare it to. Pearl's rule: wait for every aid offer first.
IN THIS EPISODE
ā¢ Mistake 1: priority aid deadlines are not admissions deadlines. Miss them and you can lose merit aid.
ā¢ Mistake 2: filing the wrong forms. FAFSA, CSS Profile, or both: file what each school asks for.
ā¢ Mistake 3: panicking when a school says your forms are missing, and the time-stamped PDF that settles it.
ā¢ The Sunday 5 PM check-in for parent and student.
ā¢ How to read an award letter.
ā¢ Why you keep every option open until all aid offers are in.
ABOUT LOCKWOOD COLLEGE PREP
Andy Lockwood and Pearl Lockwood run Lockwood College Prep in Glen Head, Long Island, working with families nationwide on college admissions, the college essay, and financial aid. Their P4 system ā Plan, Path, Position, Pay Wholesale ā helps families pick a college that fits and pay far less than sticker price. College Coffee Talk is their weekly show.
Work with Andy and Pearl: https://LockwoodCollegePrep.com
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0:00 ā LCP intro
0:34 ā Welcome to College Coffee Talk
2:47 ā Aid deadlines are not admission deadlines
9:37 ā FAFSA or CSS Profile: file what each school asks for
12:54 ā When a school says your FAFSA is missing
14:54 ā The Sunday 5 PM family check-in
15:44 ā How to read the award letter
18:07 ā The student who withdrew every other application
19:45 ā Keep the lines of communication open
20:52 ā Wrap-up