Education Financing Calendar
The student loan process is driven by a number of crucial deadlines throughout the year. We invite you to use this calendar as a reminder for some of the more important milestones you should keep in mind.
Important Dates and Deadlines
January
- File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) ASAP after January 1st if you’re entering school next fall.
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February
- Be sure to complete the FAFSA to secure federal aid.
- To expedite the process, you may want to ask your parents to file their tax return early.
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March
- You should have completed the FAFSA.
- Later this month, look for your financial aid award letter(s) from the schools you applied to.
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April
- Compare your award letters from the schools you applied to.
- Accept the financial aid package the school has offered (instructions are on your award letter).
- After accepting, you may need to complete more forms to secure your Federal Direct Loans.
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May
- Notify your school that you plan to attend (the deadline at many schools is May 1st).
- Make sure to have all grants, scholarships and Federal Direct Loans in place.
- If you still have a financial gap, consider a private student loan like our TruFit Student Loan®.
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June
- Plan to attend freshman orientation with your parents.
- Begin planning for incidental expenses you’ll incur at school.
- If you still have a financial gap, consider a private student loan like our TruFit Student Loan®.
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July
- Make sure your on- or off-campus housing arrangements are set.
- Contact your roommate(s) to coordinate arrangements.
- Begin calculating if you’ll have any gap in your finances.
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August
- Review your final checklist for school.
- Make sure you have everything ready that you’ll be bringing along.
- Take one last look at your anticipated expenses.
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September
- Take advantage of your school’s entrance counseling provided by the financial aid office (the government requires this for all borrowers).
- This provides you with a good overview of your loan obligations.
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October
- Begin thinking about next semester.
- If you need money for upcoming semesters, consider a private student loan like our TruFit Student Loan®.
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November
- When thinking about next semester’s costs, you might want to use our calculator again to check for gaps in your financing.
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December
- Now that you’re near the end of the semester, this is a good time to think about how your finances will cover your remaining semesters.
- Use our calculator to check for gaps in your financing.
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