to download the PDF. - Winchester Thurston School

The Internet is a very useful means of looking for scholarships and getting moreinformation on financial aid generally. Some good sites arewww.finaid.orgwww.fastweb.comwww.zirch.comwww.freschinfo.comwww.collegeboard.comFAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form is processed by the federalgovernment, which verifies the information you have provided and assesses your eligibilityfor federal student aid. Paper FAFSA worksheets will be available in my office sometime inearly December but you must file online as soon after January 1 as possible atwww.fafsa.ed.gov.CSS Financial Aid PROFILE: CSS (College Scholarship Service) serves as a clearinghousefor colleges and universities, applying its formula to the information you provide, andpassing on the results to the schools you designate. Application forms for the PROFILEare available in my office. You may obtain and fill out the PROFILE as early as November,but the deadline is the same as the college’s application deadline. Their toll-free assistancenumber is (800) 778-6888.The basic formula used to determine eligibility for financial aid isFinancial Aid CalendarCost of Attendance- EFC (Estimated Family Contribution)Financial Need (potential aid eligibility)November/December• Get a FAFSA and an application for CSS’ PROFILE from me.January• Do your taxes early, saving signed copies of your returns.• Complete and file your FAFSA and PROFILE online as soon as you can.February• Keep a file with all papers pertaining to financial aid.March• Accept all offers of assistance as you receive them. When you decide which college toattend, notify the others so that they can offer assistance to students who plan to attendtheir institutions.April• PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency) mails pre-approved loanapplications.May• PHEAA’s Grant Division mails Award Notifications.19