<p>i am a rising junior now and thinking about FAFSA for the college. what’s the best time for me to apply it (on internet)? someone told me that it is as early as you can, is it true?
and if i apply it, how can i know the result, such as if i can get the finance aid or not?
thank you!</p>
<p>You can’t complete FAFSA before january 1st of the year you are starting college. So if you are starting college in fall 2012 then january 1st 2012 is the earliest you can complete it.</p>
<p>When you complete FAFSA it sends your data to the schools you list on FAFSA. It is the schools that determine what financial aid you are eligible for. They will sent you an award letter or have it available on their web site, depending on the school. My daughter’s school everything was online, my son’s school they sent a letter. The aid offered will vary from school to school depending on their own policies and whether they offer institutional aid (their own money). The timing of when the aid is offered will depend on the school. My daughter’s school did not make an initial offer until late march</p>
<p>You must be a US citizen or permanent resident to file FAFSA and, as swimcatsmom said, you will file in/after January of your senior year. But you can get an estimated EFC through the fafsa4caster or the EFC calculator on college board’s website. The EFC only determines your eligibility for federal grants/loans. Colleges may grant you other aid based on their policies.</p>
<p>so there’s no way to apply if i only have green card, right?</p>
<p>Are you a permanent resident? Some non-citizens can file…this is the critera:</p>
<p>You are considered a citizen or eligible non-citizen if you fit into one of the following categories:</p>
<p>■You are a U.S. Citizen.
■You are a U.S. National (includes natives of America, Samoa, or Swain’s Island).
■You are a U.S. Permanent resident with an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151,I-551, or I-551C).
■You are not a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, but have an I-94 or I-94A with one of the following designations:
•Refugee
•Asylum Granted
•Indefinite Parole
•Humanitarian Parole
•Cuban-Haitian entrant, status pending</p>
<p>Yes you absolutely can apply if you have a green card. A green card makes you a permanent resident. (I have a green card and was able to file FAFSA and get aid when I went back to school as an old fogey).</p>
<p>Are all green card holders permanent residents? I thought they were, but then was confused by her question!</p>
<p>Yes. Green card holders are permanent residents.</p>