Edmit Guide for Senior Year

Step 1

Setting expectations and your college budget

Guide: Which college can I afford?

Determine the amount you should pay for college so you and your student are financially successful after graduation.

Guide: College costs

Many pieces impact the cost of getting a college education. Make sure you're adding them up.

Guide: How much student loan debt is too much?

Decide how much debt you are comfortable taking - as a family.

Who will pay?

How common is it for parents to pay for college, and where else does the money come from? Use national data to help start your discussion.

Step 2

College and financial aid applications

Guide: Financial aid

If you need a refresher, here's our guide to financial aid.

Guide: the FAFSA

Our overview of the FAFSA form.

Guide: CSS Profile

The other important form for financial aid, depending on what colleges you apply to.

Early decision and financial aid

Many families wonder if applying early will impact the cost of college.

Fee waivers in the application process

You might be eligible to save real money on application fees by seeking waivers.

FAFSA and financial aid timelines

In the fall of your senior year, you'll need to keep track of key deadlines in order to get the most financial aid.

Step 3

Receiving (and appealing) your financial aid

Guide: Making sense of your financial aid letter

Our guide to interpreting the numbers and what they mean for you.

Guide: How to appeal a financial aid award

If the numbers aren't adding up for you, asking for more financial aid is often a worthwhile option.

How often are financial aid appeals approved?

It depends on the college. Here's how to estimate your odds of success.

Step 4

Make your decision

Guide: College return-on-investment

Here are the factors in figuring out when a college is worth it - and how much to pay.

Guide: College financial health

Not all colleges are set up to thrive in future years. Before you commit, check for these signs of strength.

Step 5

Plan for how you'll pay

Guide: College budgeting

The cost of attendance estimated by a college is a good starting point -- but you should make your own estimate. Here's how (and a downloadable template).

Guide: Your college financial plan

How and when to use savings, loans, and other funds to pay for college. A guide to making your four-year college financial plan - with a downloadable template.

Step 6

Guides

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Senior Year

Find and choose the college that will set you up for long-term success.

Setting expectations and your college budget

Guide: Which college can I afford?

Guide: College costs

Guide: How much student loan debt is too much?

Who will pay?

College and financial aid applications

Guide: Financial aid

Guide: the FAFSA

Guide: CSS Profile

Early decision and financial aid

Fee waivers in the application process

FAFSA and financial aid timelines

Receiving (and appealing) your financial aid

Guide: Making sense of your financial aid letter

Guide: How to appeal a financial aid award

How often are financial aid appeals approved?

Make your decision

Guide: College return-on-investment

Guide: College financial health

Plan for how you'll pay

Guide: College budgeting

Guide: Your college financial plan

Student loans

What types of student loans are there?

Guide: How much does a student loan really cost?

Guide: Parent Plus loans

Guides for every stage

Before High School

Saving and Planning

Early High School

Preparing for the Process

Junior Year

Research and Investigation

Senior Year

Evaluating and Deciding