Financial Aid Applications

[dragynally]

 Any one else feeling the 'joy' that comes with filling out finaid apps? The FAFSA isn't available til Jan. 1st but the need access is up now. I started my taxes and I have a new found respect for what my mom does every year. Anyway had to rant...Pleae tell me I'm not alone.

Comments

[cardoorgraffiti]

ugh, I can *feel* my brain exploding already...

FAFSA is a waste of my time, but I've got to fill it out to see *if* I can possibly qualify for a grant. Neither I nor anyone in my family can afford to pay anything out of pocket for grad school, but I don't qualify anything because my family situation is outside of their need-based finaid qualifications - and they give us a completely ridiculous EFC [that formula they use is crap!].

[brittdreams]

As a graduate student you ARE considered independent. Assuming you didn't make a lot of money in 08, you should be eligible for subsidized federal loans (Stafford, Perkins, or both).

[cardoorgraffiti]

This is true - if you're already enrolled *as* a graduate student

[notquitezeus]

turbotax is your friend.

[sugarblue_sunny]

Took me 7 minutes to do my taxes last year! I love that thing.

[notquitezeus]

took me longer, but it was a lot less painful than manually going through a 1040 and trying to grok the supposedly plain english instructions. when i buy a house, i intend to have an accountant do my taxes so that i can get a good feel for how to go about itemizing, but until then...

[dragynally]

I know but it's still really time consuming.

[roseofjuly]

I actually somewhat enjoy filing my own taxes and doing my FAFSA. It makes me feel self-sufficient -- I've been doing them all since undergrad.

[dragynally]

I can respect that. It's just hard for me cause I've never had to do it before. So I'm overwhelmed and begging mommy for help.