The Financial Aid Process

Here's ESF's guide to applying for federal financial aid for higher education needs.

Apply for private scholarships

As early as the junior year, search for scholarships on the Internet. Request information from scholarship programs which interest you, and note application deadlines on a calendar. Check with your high school counselor for information about private scholarships.

Submit applications for private scholarship programs that you discovered in your scholarship search or found out about at your school. Remember, if you need recommendation letters, request these several weeks in advance of the deadline. Don’t miss the deadlines, or you will not be eligible to win.

Complete applications for admission in the fall of your senior year. You must be accepted for admission to receive financial aid.

Request applications for all scholarships and grants (need-based and non-need-based) offered by each college or university. Make sure you meet all deadlines.

Obtain a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for use throughout the federal aid process from the Department of Education’s PIN web site at www.pin.ed.gov.

After January 1 of your senior year, you and your parents need to complete federal tax returns for the previous year as soon as possible. Remember to make copies of your tax returns. These documents will be needed to complete your financial aid applications.

Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The on-line application contains built-in edits to help prevent costly mistakes. You may also file a paper FAFSA obtained from your high school counselor. Make sure you meet the schools’ financial aid priority deadlines. Most families submit the FAFSA in February or March.
Review for accuracy your Student Aid Report (SAR), which is sent to you via email or postal mail after you file the FAFSA. If necessary, make corrections.

Complete applications for state financial aid, such as MTAG, MESG, HELP, or the teacher education scholarships, if you qualify and will be attending college in Mississippi. Applications for HELP and the teacher scholarships are due at the end of March, but MTAG/MESG may be submitted until September 15. Applications are available at www.mississippi.edu.

You will typically receive an award notification letter indicating your financial aid and scholarship amounts in the spring. You may need to accept or reject the award amounts by a deadline, so read carefully. If you receive awards from several colleges, remember to decline those from the schools you will not be attending.

Complete any additional paperwork the school requires. If you are receiving a student loan, you will need to select your lender and complete a promissory note.

Call ESF if you need any help during the financial aid process.

Paying For College