the deadline for fafsa is the preferred date to get your application in. this is to be sure you get the most money in grants you can. they do save some of the federal grant money for students who begin classes in the spring, but the pot is a lot more empty than full. you should apply for fafsa and may very well get a grant to assist with your schooling if you qualify. you need to apply also if you were interested in taking out loans to help pay for school. by completing the fafsa application you will then be eligible for federal stafford loans. these are the best loans you can get to pay for school as they usually have the lowest interest rate and if you were to get unsubsidized stafford the government pays the interest while youre in school, saving you some money. go to http://fafsa.ed.gov/ to complete your application for federal aid.

as for other steps to complete, if you havent already apply to your school now, within the next week. that way you have enough time to get everything ready to attend in the spring. then talk with the school you are going to attend to see what else they need you to do. you will likely have to complete some additional paperwork at your college to finish the financial aid process.

This Spring? What Spring? Spring 2008? No, it shouldn’t be too late.