If you're not a homeowner or you have very poor credit, consider debt relief instead of a mortgage.

1) Type of debt:

Credit Card Debt
Student Loan Debt
Tax Debt
Other Debt

2) What State do you live in?

 
Your Profile:     Campus • Graduate/Doctoral Degree • Traditional • Full Time     (change your profile)

Deadlines

Don't be overwhelmed with deadlines as you complete your graduate or doctoral degree. Financial aid deadlines are essential, but the following tips can help you stay on top of deadlines all year.

Get organized now, and you can go the rest of the year without worrying about your financial aid deadlines. 

Supersize Your Calendar
Consolidating your deadline information makes keeping track of it much easier. Simplify your life by keeping a large desktop calendar in a place where you'll see it every day, such as on the kitchen wall or by the front door. Your financial aid deadlines can be the most important and yet the easiest to forget. Keep all deadlines on a calendar and you'll be more likely to stay on top them. 

Although some types of Federal aid have very broad deadlines, you'll need to file the FAFSA by your school's deadlines to be eligible for the maximum amount of aid your school offers. The following are general aid deadlines for the 2007-2008 academic year:

  • FAFSA on the Web - the filing period for this form is mid-November (2006) through the end of June (2008). To be eligible for the maximum aid that your school offers, however, you generally should have filed this form between January and March 2007. Again, contact your school for specific deadlines.
  • FAFSA Corrections - you can file corrections to 2007-2008 FAFSA information up until mid-September of 2008. Contact your financial aid office for specific instructions.
  • Income tax return - file by IRS deadlines in mid-April - you may have to submit a copy to the financial aid office to verify information you submitted on the FAFSA. 
  • State financial aid - varies from state to state, check with your financial aid office.

Do the Research
Sometimes, deadlines for grants, loans, and scholarships sneak up without a reminder email or letter. If you are repaying a loan, failure to send money on time can affect your credit much like a car or home loan does. A lower credit score will make it harder to obtain credit on large purchases in the future so stay in touch with your lender to keep your information current. 

Call for Assistance
Your school's financial aid office employs trained professionals with your financial aid on record, and they are just a phone call or email away. These experts on deadlines and other financial aid information should stay at the top of your contact list.