F$%# applying for financial aid

[WashMe]

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is it just me or do you have to fill out every f$&*ing form like 5 times? then, you have to mail it in after you already filled out the fafsa. then, needaccess costs 28 bucks but it's bologna b/c I might not even get in next year.

the questions are mostly bogus; I don't know what my budget is for next year, med schools--- you're the ones who know how broke you're going to make me (if I'm lucky...). the whole thing is total BS. I did the FAFSA, that should be enough. why so many d@mn hoops?

ok I'm done ranting.

 

[AdmiralChz]

is it just me or do you have to fill out every f$&*ing form like 5 times? then, you have to mail it in after you already filled out the fafsa. then, needaccess costs 28 bucks but it's bologna b/c I might not even get in next year.

the questions are mostly bogus; I don't know what my budget is for next year, med schools--- you're the ones who know how broke you're going to make me (if I'm lucky...). the whole thing is total BS. I did the FAFSA, that should be enough. why so many d@mn hoops?

ok I'm done ranting.

YES! An opportunity to use

I'm thinking soon.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

haha...love the rant...I feel you, man (or woman). Feels good to vent, huh?

 

[DrYoda]

Fin aid everything is indeed teh suck (unless it's scholarships).

We need a bailout.

 

[scarletgirl777]

is it just me or do you have to fill out every f$&*ing form like 5 times? then, you have to mail it in after you already filled out the fafsa. then, needaccess costs 28 bucks but it's bologna b/c I might not even get in next year.

the questions are mostly bogus; I don't know what my budget is for next year, med schools--- you're the ones who know how broke you're going to make me (if I'm lucky...). the whole thing is total BS. I did the FAFSA, that should be enough. why so many d@mn hoops?

ok I'm done ranting.

I feel like the schools with the most hoops often give the most money 😀 Something to motivate you...Plus we all know you're getting in off the waitlist (maybe multiple) so you'll be really glad you'll be able to figure out how much debt you'll be in before you accept your position.

 

[riceman04]

is it just me or do you have to fill out every f$&*ing form like 5 times? then, you have to mail it in after you already filled out the fafsa. then, needaccess costs 28 bucks but it's bologna b/c I might not even get in next year.

the questions are mostly bogus; I don't know what my budget is for next year, med schools--- you're the ones who know how broke you're going to make me (if I'm lucky...). the whole thing is total BS. I did the FAFSA, that should be enough. why so many d@mn hoops?

ok I'm done ranting.

yeah...I am sure I will be cursing needaccess.org in my sleep tonight (God help my soul) 😡😡😡

THAT WEBSITE IS PISSING ME OFF!!!! I WANT A DISCOUNT!!!

 

[shindotp]

Damn, I hated applying to fin aid for undergrad!!!

 

[tabishis]

Applying for fin. aid is definitely the pain in butt. I filled out pell grant/prior degree form twice along with summer aid request and they asked me to re-submit it saying that they never received it. Eventhough, I submitted it thru school's web site. It's the same information they are requiring that I filled out in actual FAFSA form. Ridiculous. One staff member even said that their Web site didn't even have form so how I was able to fill that out. It was online and I even saved a copy of it after I submitted it but their fin. aid department will not agree. Well! It has been three weeks now. *sigh*

 

[futureboy]

After you finish school, then you'll get to fill out tax forms and deal with the f***ing IRS. They're even worse.

 

[htownpremie]

After you finish school, then you'll get to fill out tax forms and deal with the f***ing IRS. They're even worse.

aren't a lot of us filling out tax forms in order to fill out these other financial aid forms? i know i am. the problem isn't complexity really, it's more redundancy. put this number in this blank, now put it in another blank on another form...now mail me a copy of the tax return from which you got the number to begin with... eesh.

 

[quirks]

Applying for financial aid was a lot more annoying than doing my taxes. Largely due to needing my parents' information.

 

[pianola]

Applying for financial aid was a lot more annoying than doing my taxes. Largely due to needing my parents' information.

Yes. This.

 

[futureboy]

Tax returns done as a student are quite different than taxes you do later with itemized deductions, investments, and if you have a business (if you're a partner in your practice, etc.).

 

[futureboy]

I agree, though, that filling out financial aid forms is a huge PITA.

 

[216397]

Did anyone else's parents wait FOREVER before getting things together? 🙁 I hope I don't end up getting nothing because of that.

 

[drmonti]

can someone plz explain the needaccess thing to me? I don't understand what loan it is? I feel like there are SO MANY different things and I am just so confused. Is needaccess necessary? or can I get by with gradplus and stafford?

 

[WashMe]

can someone plz explain the needaccess thing to me? I don't understand what loan it is? I feel like there are SO MANY different things and I am just so confused. Is needaccess necessary? or can I get by with gradplus and stafford?

I think you have to fill out NeedAccess (go to needaccess.org) for certain schools. I had to do it for Pitt/Cincy. It costs $28. The website will tell you which schools want you to do it, actually.

 

[ButImLETired]

can someone plz explain the needaccess thing to me? I don't understand what loan it is? I feel like there are SO MANY different things and I am just so confused. Is needaccess necessary? or can I get by with gradplus and stafford?

Needaccess isn't a loan, it's an application.

Basically, it's an obnoxiously detailed version of Fafsa. Meaning, it'll ask you the same stuff as Fafsa and more (stuff like how much your parents' house is worth, how much they pay for each of their cars, just about everything you can think of as far as "assets" are concerned). The schools that ask for it don't require it (please someone correct me if I'm wrong) if you're not applying for NEED-BASED AID. Meaning, if your parents make plenty of money and don't have too many expenses, you'll get loans anyway, so when you get your financial aid package, you'll just get a bunch of loans (Staffords, GradPlus, whatever).

If, however, you think you might want to apply for need-based money (if your parents are middle-class and have a bunch of expenses, some schools will be more generous than others), meaning free money given to you by the school, you'll likely have to fill out needaccess, and/or some school-based application. That's cause the schools will want to look IN DETAIL at how much money you and your parents have so they can determine to whom to give their limited need-based funds. It's a huge pain to fill out, and you'll need very helpful parents, so if you don't think it's worth it to fill it out cause you/your parents have enough money that you'll only get loans anyway, then don't. If you have doubts though, you might as well fill it out and pray for the school(s) to be generous.

 

[riceman04]

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I HATE NEEDACCESS.ORG!!!!

 

[TMP-SMX]

None of you have to apply for need-based aid and probably won't get any regardless. Just file your FAFSA, MPN, and Entrance loan counseling and get your staffords/grad plus like everyone else. If your parents make over 90k, you have significant savings, or your parents have significant savings don't bother applying for need-based aid. The only excuse would be if you are trying for merit-based aid. However, most of that aid has already been given out at most schools.

 

[qmcat]

I agree that needaccess.org is a pain! Do any of you know if it's worth it to fill it out now versus later, since I'm still on the waitlist for a school that requires needaccess. I'd rather not pay the $28 fee if I'm not going to get off the waitlist.

 

[efitzpat]

I'm equally frustrated! I'm thrilled that I was recently accepted to the school of my dreams, but I cringe when I withdraw from other places that I spent hours doing fin aid apps for! I filled out needaccess for NOTHING!!!! ARG!!!!!

 

[AdmiralChz]

@ this thread

 

[quirks]

Tax returns done as a student are quite different than taxes you do later with itemized deductions, investments, and if you have a business (if you're a partner in your practice, etc.).

I'm not a student.

But I do agree that my taxes in the future will probably be incredibly more annoying than any of this.

Did anyone else's parents wait FOREVER before getting things together? 🙁 I hope I don't end up getting nothing because of that.

Yeah. I never make financial aid deadlines because of them.

None of you have to apply for need-based aid and probably won't get any regardless. Just file your FAFSA, MPN, and Entrance loan counseling and get your staffords/grad plus like everyone else. If your parents make over 90k, you have significant savings, or your parents have significant savings don't bother applying for need-based aid. The only excuse would be if you are trying for merit-based aid. However, most of that aid has already been given out at most schools.

Well that was a waste of my time then. But it's done so ah well.

 

[pianola]

I'm in ONOY's shoes in the following sense: needaccess is a PITA if you're only "waitlisted" at schools that use it.

Thank you for making me spend an extra $28 and more of my time just so that I can eventually get rejected. Yippee.

*groan*

 

[somemom]

Is there a list somewhere regarding which schools give need based GRANT aid (vs loans) and is Needaccess like the CSS Profile was in undergrad?

Are there some schools that go only on FAFSA or do they all require every detail of life?

 

[TMP-SMX]

Most schools require their own documents for verification, W2s, and 1040s.

As for what kind of aid they give out you have to check the FA websites.