Financial Aid

Students are often intimidated by the financial aid process. The ability to complete this process online and allow your school to have access to your information within a week has done much to streamline this process.

Having the proper documents is critical. The money columnist for USA TODAY provides a list of documents needed to fill out the FAFSA and reminds us that the FAFSA is required for every aspect of financial aid including scholarships and grants.

The first step is to apply for a PIN. Both parents and students will need a pen to digitally sign the FAFSA. To apply for the PIN you will need an email address.

For June graduates the financial aid process should start in January but the government has designed an early financial aid forecast tool that merits a visit now.

If you have a complicated living situation which will make the process difficult don’t worry. Social workers, guidance counselors and other adults used to working with college bound students can help you. The key is to start early.

Plan, plan and plan some more: What to take to college

The biggest shock for me when sending Diva A to college was the sheer amount of stuff that it took to make her dorm room feel and look like a livable space. It was costly and I will be the first to admit that I was in denial. In August 1988, I decorated my room in the same dorm on the same floor with items I had been collecting for over a year. I knew what was coming. I just dropped the ball. Please learn from my expensive mistake. It has been two months and I am just recovering from the hit my bank account took.

I strongly advise students and their families to print the must have lists, evaluate them from a personal perspective and turn them into gift wish lists. There are several holidays between now and graduation start early. Parents of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors start saving money now. The adjustment to college life is hard enough you don’t want to have to worry about whether you can afford a mini fridge for your daughter or son’s dorm room. It is an amazing feeling prepping a dorm room with your child. Advance planning and saving will make the time sweeter.

Amazon.com has an entire section dedicated to items that college students often purchase and covet. It is fairly exhaustive and by no means populated with must have items. It is a nice place to dream and find things that you can ship to your child’s school. 18 Overlooked things that students should bring to college is a thoughtful and useful list. A few of the items on this lists would have never crossed my mind. Ear plugs are a must. Not only useful if your roommate snores but also if they have to sleep to music and you need quiet to fall asleep. Finally IKEA’s dorm room site is an entry into the mega home store. If nothing else IKEA is a great place for affordable dorm room staples like storage items, lighting, rugs, dishes, and bedding.

If I have to be broke for others to have easier transitions to college then so be it.