College applications will have you looking everywhere, and one of the most complex parts of it can be the financial aspect of it. Nearly three years ago, during my senior fall, I remembered going through the hoops of deciphering tax returns, emailing schools, and searching the internet for “what if” situations. I was afraid of mistakenly putting down the wrong information, and jeopardizing my financial aid packet. One thing I have to say about this is to take a second and just breathe! The process can feel overwhelming, but trust me, you will find the light at the end of the tunnel.
When it came to filling out the FAFSA form, I was fortunate enough to have access to workshops through my high school explaining what this was for my family and me. I highly encourage you to reach out to different people in your school district, who can point you to resources and answer college finance-related questions. One of the more challenging parts was the CSS profile, something that is required by many private schools. My situation was unique, so I made sure to reach out to the schools I had applied to and explain to them my circumstances, so I could fill out the form accordingly.
I still have to file for financial aid every year, and thankfully it has gotten easier for me to do so. Being first-gen, situations like these can be frustrating when you don’t know exactly where to turn. Yet, we overcome these obstacles through trial and error when pursuing college.