The four-page application is not as difficult to fill out as you may think. The form asks you to provide some pretty basic income and asset information. You get the information from your federal tax form and your bank account. The form also asks the student to provide personal information and make up to six college choices. New forms are available in December at high schools for this year's high school seniors.
Information is available free at school financial aid nights and college fairs.
Further, practically every college financial aid office has a Web page with information about the process. Most of our Web pages also have links to free scholarship search databases. Next, let's dispel a couple of myths about the financial aid process. The fact is that every student can qualify for a student loan, even if ineligible for a need-based scholarship. Some programs do have limited funding, but Pell Grants, for instance, are available to qualified students, even if you miss a deadline.