SpaceDreamer

My parents are freaking out because I have not submitted applications yet, they wanted them in by November 1st however I am applying regular decision to everywhere. The earliest applications are dur in January however they seem to think that I will get less financial aid the later I apply. Is this true even though its before the deadline?

They also hired a college guide/specialist etc, and this is what is is telling them even though my guidance counselor says otherwise. Does anyone know about this?

thumper1

There are absolutely some MERIT awards with early deadlines. Some schools have merit awards based on your admissions application but these applications MUST be received by an earlier date than RD. I know that MANY of the most generous merit awards have deadlines of no later than December 1, some may be sooner.

cptofthehouse

It is an advantage to have your application in early. Yes. Many colleges will out and out say this. If you are in the first group of accepted students, as soon as the FAFSA and other financial aid apps are completed, the fin aid office can get to work on your need. The more that they have in their larder, and that is the case early on, the more geneorus people tend to be. When it's the end of the season, and the cupboards are getting bear, the awards tend to be skimpier to spread out what is left for more. Only human nature. Not in every case, but in general, yes. Get it done early.

OHMomof2

When S applied to colleges last year, the deadline for the best merit aid was generally Dec 1, sometimes earlier. You don't say where you're applying but yes often the best deals go to those with apps in early.

As for need-based financial aid, ideally your parents and you file FAFSA in early January with estimated numbers then come back and confirm them with the actual tax filing as soon as possible after that. Every school S applied to made it clear that need-based aid was first-come, first-serve.

So YES in most cases it does matter and you will get less money if you wait until the deadline.

mom2collegekids

Thumper is right. Scholarship deadlines at many schools are very soon....Dec 1st or even in November.

kmcmom13

So Space, I'm thinking if your parents are worried about it and freaking out, and THEY'RE not the ones who benefit from it, WHY AREN'T YOU a little more motivated to get on it?

How be you just get that CSS information assembled NOW for the schools that require it and get it SUBMITTED. Schools that ask for CSS accept last year's taxes...then you do the current year FAFSA in January.

At my son's school, preferred assessment was given to those who had their CSS completed and submitted in October. He received lots of merit...which was a good thing because he might not have gotten to go otherwise

So YES, some places it's true. Sit down this weekend and work your way through your admissions and do the CSS. Don't push back and cause more anxiety in a year already filled with anxiety...you have everything to gain and nothing to lose!

OHMomof2

OP isn't being asked to do FA forms, only apps, according to the first post.

thumper1

We asked our kids to have all of their college applications done by October 15 of their senior year. Both did most of them by that date (including the schools where they eventually both got their degrees). We did not freak out about it, we just felt it would be good to have it all done. BOTH kids did apply later to one school. But they also bot said it was wonderful to be
basically done with their applications do they could actually enjoy their senior year of high school. Our two kids had three acceptances each before Christmas...when some of their friends were still fretting over applications.

To the OP, why can't you just get this done? I'm not sure why this should be
a source of disagreement with your parents. You KNOW you have to get these applications done...just get them DONE.

momofthreeboys

Why not just get them done? S2 saw scholarship apps that were due Dec. 1 at some of the private schools he looked at during his application cycle. Second point is that getting your apps done 'frees' you up from having to deal with them the rest of your senior year. Our guidance office also asks the kids to finish their college apps up before November 1st even for the publics that have rolling and later admissions dates. I'm not sure also I understand why you can't this done.