Important Reminder about FASFA Form; March 1 Deadline for Priority Consideration

Figuring out how to pay for a college education is a concern of all students and their families. The first step in examining how much financial aid your student is eligible for is filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online.

The FAFSA is an application that universities use to determine if your student is eligible for federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid, including grants, loans and work-study programs.

However, to have your student considered for federal financial aid the FASFA must be completed on time. FASFA forms become available on January 1st and Mason's deadline to submit the form is March 1st. Federal aid is limited and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so the earlier you and your student file, the better the chances are of accessing the most financial aid possible.

If you or your student has not already filled out the FASFA for 2012, please remember that only applications received by the federal processor before March 1st (Mason's priority filing date) will receive priority consideration for all available funds.

For further information on the FAFSA and its deadlines please visit Mason's Financial Aid Website or FAFSA's official website at www.fafsa.com.

Jennifer Burns
Graduate Assistant
Office of Orientation and Family Programs and Services