Know the Top Ten Secrets From Inside Your College Financial Aid Office

By Teresa Ambord

Walk into a financial aid office at the beginning of a new term, and you'll most likely find some students angry or frustrated. Why? Because somewhere along the financial aid path, they missed a beat.

Financial aid and support counselors at Simpson University in Redding, California shared their inside views of the common pitfalls students face.  If you keep their top 10 secrets in mind, you should be able to start school with minimum hassle and hardly any huffs and puffs.

1. Make certain all forms are filled out accurately and completely. Careful examination of the forms for errors and omissions will avoid major headaches at a time when you'll need to turn your focus toward education.

2. Slow down, write legibly, and use black ink. Some of the forms will need to be faxed, they warn, and non-black ink doesn't always show up well.

3. Apply as early as possible once you've gotten all your personal financial information together. Those students who apply early are more likely to get the aid they need. There's a lot of competition for money and you need to give yourself the best possible chance.

4. After you've applied, keep the school informed of changes to your file, such as GPA, financial status, number of credits, or enrollment status (such as full- to part-time) or if you are granted an outside scholarship.

5. Keep copies of everything you've submitted, along with upcoming due dates. If you know a deadline is approaching, check with your counselor to make sure you are still on track, rather than just assuming all of your bases are covered.

6. Most financial aid has to be reapplied for every year. Financial aid status changes frequently as students often drop out, change schools, or get married. Don't expect your funds to be waiting for you if you don't monitor the process.

7. If you apply for Federal Work Study, you must realize it's not a scholarship, but actually depends upon you getting a job on campus. It can, however, be a great way to contribute financially to your education. And if you're a good employee, it can eventually lead up to good work references later.

8. If a financial aid loan exceeds your need you don't have to accept the entire amount. Anything you take will have to be paid back plus interest, so only accept what you need.

9. Apply for aid, even if you suspect you may not qualify -- you might be surprised at your eligibility. Some federal aid programs, such as Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are available regardless of need. In order to get the most up-to-date scholarship information, stay in touch with your high school counselor, as well as your college counselor.

10. Financial aid counselors are there to help you. Most of them will go as far as they can to make sure you have what you need, but the tension of the situation often causes otherwise polite students to forget themselves. Recognize the hard work your counselor is doing for you and always say please and thank you.

By applying for financial aid, you are laying the groundwork to finance your chosen path in life. So respect the process for the important role it plays in your future. Then hopefully you can avoid the financial headaches and get the most out of college living.