Financial Aid: When to Apply, How to Apply, FAFSA, Scholarships & More!

The Only College Financial Aid Guide You’ll Ever Need

7 January 2020

goingmerry

Categories: Financial Aid

Figuring out how to pay for college is often the most difficult part of the application process. Just as the need for a college education is rising, the cost of tuition is skyrocketing. Between 2003 and 2013 alone, the cost of tuition rose by 79% above inflation. Since 1982, the cost has increased by a total of 500%. As a result, about 40% of soon-to-be college students end up turning down their first-choice school and going for a cheaper option.

The 7 Trickiest FAFSA Questions & How to Approach Them

30 December 2019

Brittany Mailhot

Categories: Financial Aid

Every year, college students all over the country complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA. The FAFSA determines student eligibility for federal loans, grants, and work-study as well as financial aid at their colleges and universities of choice.

How to apply for FAFSA and Federal Student Aid: Everything You Need to Know

19 December 2019

Kelly Lamano

Categories: Financial Aid

We’re kicking off the school year right by answering your FAFSA questions: how to apply for FAFSA, your FAFSA application, the FAFSA website, and of course the FAFSA deadlines! Grab a slice of pizza and get comfy – we’re diving in!

The CSS Profile vs. the FAFSA & EFC – What’s the difference?

5 November 2019

Kelly Lamano

Categories: Financial Aid

You’re ready to start planning in paying college tuition. But why are there two financial aid forms: the FAFSA and the CSS Profile? How do you prioritize which to fill out? What’s the process? We’re breaking down the differences between the FAFSA and the CSS Profile, from applications to deadlines, and everything in between.

Ways to reduce your college tuition bill, as a high school student

22 October 2019

Kelly Lamano

Categories: Financial Aid

Did you know you can save on your college tuition bill by transferring AP credits, taking the CLEP exam, and even negotiating? Yep, and here we explain how. Read on to learn how you can spend less on your college tuition bill.

What are the keys to financing college tuition? This 2020-2021 Financial Aid Calendar keeps you organized. Watch those FAFSA deadlines!

21 September 2019

Kelly Lamano

Categories: Applying for Scholarships, Financial Aid

This financial aid post was originally published on September 21, 2019 and updated on October 8, 2019.

We know you’ve got questions about the FAFSA. When are the deadlines? How do I submit an application? Where do I even start?? Don’t worry; we’ve got the answers to guide you through your journey in financing college tuition!

Our new “College Financial Aid” section lists universities’ scholarships and grants

13 September 2019

Charlotte Lau

Categories: Applying for Scholarships, Financial Aid, Going Merry Features

Where we came from

For two years, we’ve built a platform to allow students, counselors, and parents an easy way to find scholarships they’re eligible for, filter through the noise, and apply to their favorites—all right from our platform. Now, over 200,000 students across 10,000 high schools use Going Merry.

How to Pay for College

2 April 2019

Shalon B

Categories: Financial Aid, General College

“How to pay for college?” It’s a tough question with many solutions, but no definitive answer. This question continually factors into major educational decisions. Forming a budget for college means considering attending in-state vs. out-of-state, your living situation, and the number of registered credits you will need to graduate. Students and parents can be eager to mold the most realistic, stress-free “Paying for College” plan, but the task can truly take a bit of patience.

EFC for FAFSA: What it is and how to calculate it

31 January 2019

Shalon B

Categories: Financial Aid

Numerous calculations determine the cost of college for a student. Luckily, you don’t need to crunch any numbers, but you should understand where the numbers are coming from.

The Ultimate Guide to Completing the CSS Profile

9 August 2018

Brittany Mailhot

Categories: Financial Aid

When it comes to applying for financial aid, most schools and the federal government use the FAFSA to figure out their award packages. But some schools, around 250 to be more exact, use the CSS Profile, which was created by the College Board and looks at student aid from a different perspective. If you’re applying to one of those schools, you’ll need to know how to approach the questions to get as much financial aid as possible.