Attending college is a huge financial commitment. This is why understanding your financial aid package and familiarizing yourself with the FAFSA definition, FAFSA guidelines, FAFSA requirements, and FAFSA qualifications are crucial steps in the college application process. You will also want to engage in financial planning for college and discuss the financial realities of attending college.

What's FAFSA and why is it important?

Many students know that FAFSA and financial aid are linked somehow but do not know what FAFSA stands for or how it works. 

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid and helps schools determine individual financial aid packages. These financial aid packages will likely include a combination of grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. 

So if you’re wondering: is FAFSA a loan or grant?, the answer is potentially both. It’s important for all students to fill out the FAFSA. Attending college is a huge financial investment and you may receive more aid than you initially suspect.

FAFSA timeline

The FAFSA open date is October 1st and the federal FAFSA application deadline is June 30th. That said, each school, and state, has its own priority FAFSA deadlines and it’s a good idea to file the FAFSA as soon as possible.

Certain state and college grants and scholarships operate on a first-come-first-serve basis, so it’s important to fill out the FAFSA as close to the October 1st open date as possible. Not only will this give you adequate time to make changes and adjustments if necessary, but it will also ensure that you are considered for all possible scholarships, grants, and financial aid opportunities. 

FAFSA deadlines

There are three FAFSA deadlines to consider: each college’s priority deadline, your state’s priority deadline, and the federal due date of June 30th. Typically, colleges’ priority deadlines are the earliest among these three deadlines, so be sure to find out these dates as soon as possible so you can plan accordingly. You will need to fill out the FAFSA each year you are enrolled in college.

What you need to know to get started

The first step to filling out the FAFSA is to create a FAFSA account at fafsa.gov. There is also a paper version of the FAFSA that you can download as a PDF and print; you can also call 1-877-433-7827 to have a hard copy delivered to your home. 

Most people prefer the online FAFSA. This is because it is processed quickly and you have the option to link your application to the IRS to retrieve your relevant tax information. This is known as the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. It is worth noting that the FAFSA asks for your tax information from two years prior. If your financial situation has changed dramatically since then, you will want to reach out to individual schools’ financial aid offices. 

Once you create a FAFSA account, both you and your parents will be asked to create your FSA ID. After you create your FSA ID (Federal Student Aid), the Social Security Administration will take one to three days to verify the information. After your FSA ID is set up and verified, you will receive an email inviting you to begin your application. Your FSA ID will act as your electronic signature. 

It is worth noting that you need a Social Security Number to create an FSA. If your parent does not have an SSN, enter all zeros where it asks for your parent’s SSN. Then select the option to print a signature page at the end of the application. 

What documents you’ll need for FAFSA

The best way to fill out the FAFSA efficiently is to make sure that you gather all of the appropriate documents and information. Below is a FAFSA checklist to help make sure you track down all the necessary information before you begin.

FAFSA checklist

You will also be asked to fill out other demographic information, including how many people are in your household and whether or not you have siblings enrolled in college. Ultimately, these answers, combined with the information outlined in your various financial documents, are how FAFSA is calculated.

Who fills out FAFSA?

Both you and your parents will need to fill out the FAFSA, regardless of whether your parents plan to help fund your education. Completing the FAFSA as thoroughly as possible will likely increase the number of grants, loans, and scholarships available to you.

More generally, everyone applying to college should fill out the FAFSA. Federal financial aid is available to U.S. citizens, nationals, legal permanent residents, and individuals with an Arrival-Departure Record from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 

Who should file as a dependent?

If the following criteria describe you, you will fill out the FAFSA as a “dependent,” regardless of whether your parents plan to financially contribute to your college education.

  • Under 24 years old by December 31 
  • Enrolling in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program
  • Unmarried, with no children or dependents of your own

Who should file as an independent?

If one or more of the following pertains to you, you will fill out the FAFSA as an “independent.”

  • 24 years old or older by December 31
  • Enrolling in a master’s or doctorate program
  • Married or separated, but not divorced
  • Financially supporting children or dependents of your own
  • A veteran of the US Armed Forces 
  • An emancipated minor or in a court-ordered legal guardianship
  • An orphan, recipient of foster care, or a ward of the court (for any period after age 13)
  • Homeless or at risk of being homeless
  • Currently serving on active duty

What you need to know about your Student Aid Report (SAR)

After you submit the FAFSA, the Department of Education will send you, as well as the schools you listed on your application, your Student Aid Report (SAR). The Student Aid Report (SAR) is a summary of the FAFSA; it is not a financial aid offer. That means that after you receive your Student Aid Report (SAR), you are still able to file changes to FAFSA after you receive your SAR. This is why it is important to review this document thoroughly and promptly report any mistakes if necessary. 

The SAR includes your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). Despite its name, this number is not necessarily the amount of money you will be expected to pay. Rather, schools use this number to help assemble your financial aid package.  

How do schools determine financial aid

Each school calculates financial aid a little differently, but the basic financial equation is the same: Cost of Attendance (COA) minus Expected Family Contribution (EFC) equals Financial Need. 

Financial Need represents the maximum need-based aid you can receive. Need-based aid refers to Pell Grants, Direct Subsidized Loans, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, and federal work-study. Individual schools will contact you in the Spring with financial aid offers. These offers will likely be a combination of grants, scholarships, and loans. 

If a financial aid offer includes more loans than you feel comfortable taking out, you can contact the financial aid office and decline part of your financial aid package. Just make sure to fill out any necessary paperwork by their financial aid deadline. 

FAFSA help

The FAFSA can be a confusing process and lots of parents and students have questions about how FAFSA works and other logistical factors concerning FAFSA, including FAFSA income limits and FAFSA eligibility. If you need FAFSA application help, reach out to the Federal Student Aid Information Center. 

There are lots of FAFSA tips and tricks to consider, but ultimately, reaching out directly to the Federal Student Aid Information Center will provide you with the most up-to-date FAFSA questions and answers; they will also provide you with information that’s tailored specifically to your needs. Through this site, you will be provided with a phone number and email, as well as an option to live chat.   

Key takeaways and moving forward

Completing the FAFSA is a crucial step in financing your college application. That said, it’s important to research scholarship opportunities as well. After all, attending college is a huge financial investment and you will likely need as much assistance as you can receive. 

If you need assistance with writing an essay for scholarships or any other part of the college application process, reach out to learn more about our college counseling programs. Applying to college and understanding financial aid is a lengthy process that can feel confusing. Here at Prepory, we have the resources to help you succeed. 

Breaking Down the Coalition App

The Coalition App is an online college application platform similar to the Common App. Prospective college students only need to input key information once, streamlining the application process. This article discusses which schools use Coalition App, its deadline, how to format the activities section, and the differences between it and Common App.

2024-09-26T16:40:53-04:00October 7, 2022|College Application Guides|
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The Coalition for Access, Affordability and Success, more commonly referred to as the “Coalition App” was founded in 2016. According to the organization’s website, the Coalition App was created to help create “a future where all students have access to a successful, affordable, and transformative college experience.” 

Similarly to the more recognized Common App, the Coalition App is an online college application platform where prospective college students can better organize and streamline the college application process by only needing to input key information once. While many schools will likely still require supplemental application materials, students will not need to worry about inputting their grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, and personal statement more than once. 

In this article, we will review what schools use Coalition App, the Coalition App deadline, how to format the Coalition Application activities section, the differences between the Coalition App and Common App, and more. So if you’re wondering what college admissions officers look for in an applicant and how to assemble a compelling and competitive college application, read on for more information and further insights. 

What is the coalition app?

At its core, the Coalition App is an online college application platform that streamlines the college application process. What sets the Coalition App apart, however, is its commitment to college affordability and diversity, as reflected in its mission statement:

Coalition App vs. Common App

Chances are you’ve heard of the Common App, but what is Coalition App? The Coalition App shares many similarities. Both online application platforms allow students to save time while filling out their college applications by only requiring that they input key information once. This information includes SAT scores, extracurricular activities, volunteer hours, and more. Most colleges require similar information during the application process. This is why using an online college application platform, such as the Coalition App or the Common App, helps streamline the application process. 

At this point, you may be wondering: Is Common App or Coalition better? And should I use Coalition or Common App? Like with everything, it depends. Your decision to use the Common App or Coalition App will mostly come down to the colleges you want to apply to. 

While the Common App partners with about 800 colleges and universities, the Coalition App currently only partners with about 150 colleges and universities. Why is this? This is because schools that choose to partner with the Coalition App are making a financial commitment to students. According to the Coalition App’s website, participating schools must:

In other words, schools partnering with the Coalition Application help students from diverse social and economic backgrounds achieve better access to higher education. The Coalition Application also offers a few additional resources, such as “the Locker.” 

The Locker is a digital space where students can upload and store key documents and other media that they are proud of throughout their high school careers. High school students can make a Coalition App login as soon as their freshman year. Through this program, students are encouraged to start thinking about and researching colleges early. Creating a Coalition Application account early in their high school career also allows them to periodically update projects and papers to their Locker. Not only does the Locker feature help students stay organized, but it also enables them to track their progress and build a high school portfolio of their best work. 

Coalition application deadline

Be prepared to apply by November 1st of your senior year of high school. Deadlines for early decision, early action, and priority deadlines are usually on or around November 1st. Regular decision deadlines are usually on or around January 1st. However, the earlier you start your applications, the less stressful the experience will be. 

If you are deciding which of the above options is right for you check out this article about Early Action and Early Decision.

The specific dates when deadlines occur can be found on each school’s website. This is an important step because there is not one Coalition Application deadline, each school has its specific deadlines. The same is true for the Common App, deadlines are individually decided upon by the university. Applications will generally be due at 11:59 PM on the date of the deadline however, it is recommended that you not wait till the last minute as there may be unforeseen issues with submitting like internet connection or realizing you need last-minute edits. 

Schools with rolling admissions review applications in the order in which they are received. It is highly recommended that you submit your application to schools with rolling admissions as soon as it is complete. If that college with rolling admissions has already received many qualified applicants then they will become more selective with applications submitted later.

How to apply to the Coalition App

In this section, we will review each component of the Coalition App and offer a brief explanation of what each component is and why it is important.

Personal information/contact information

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Schools just want to know that they have your most up-to-date contact information so that they can contact you with any questions or concerns during the college application process. Colleges will also need your personal and contact information to let you know their official admissions decision. 

For this section, you will need to know your social security number. If you don’t know what your social security number is at the top of your head, your parents will likely know. It is also worth mentioning that many students make a separate email for their college applications. Use something professional, such as firstname.lastname@gmail.com or firstinitial.lastname@gmail.com. 

Demographic information

In this section, you will be asked to share your ethnic background. It is worth noting that you can select multiple options during this section. You will also be asked which languages you speak and which you speak fluently. Do not exaggerate your proficiency in a language. It’s okay if you are still learning!

Citizenship information

Colleges want to know your citizen status. For example, are you an international applicant or do you hold dual citizenship? You might also be a permanent resident or a visa holder. You will also need your Social Security number for this step.

If you are an undocumented immigrant you can still go to college! While some states do not allow undocumented immigrants to attend public universities, many do and even have generous financial aid packages to help such people attend college. FERPA prohibits colleges from disclosing immigration status without permission and no federal law requires proof of citizenship to go to college. Simply leave the Social Security Number response blank and never lie about your documentation status. Being untruthful in any part of your application can result in schools revoking your admission or even expulsion.  

Family information

Colleges are interested in knowing who you are as a person. A large part of that can relate to your family. For example, are you the first person in your family to attend college? Do you have any siblings? Did they attend college or are they currently enrolled? This information will also be used by the university to assess your need for financial aid. This step is independent of the FAFSA which must be completed as well. 

High school information

Not all high schools have access to the same resources or hold their students to the same standards. Colleges want to know where you attended high school so they can assess your application as fairly as possible. They will also need to know how to contact your high school if necessary. 

9th-11th grade coursework

One of the best ways to determine whether or not a student is ready for college classes is to look at their transcripts. College admissions officers want to see how willing you are as a student to challenge yourself. For instance, did you enroll in any Honors or AP classes if they were available to you? College Admissions Officers are also interested in learning more about your overall strengths and interests. For example, if you’re interested in writing and you worked for your school’s newspaper, did you challenge yourself by taking Honors or AP English? Similarly, if you are interested in science, did you take the most challenging science courses available to you?

12th grade coursework

While you might not have your final grades when you apply to colleges, colleges want to ensure that you are maintaining your academic trajectory. If for some reason your grades suffer during your senior year, colleges may need to reevaluate their admissions decision. This is why it is important to continue to do well your senior year and not succumb to “senioritis.”

College coursework

This section does not refer to AP, IB, and AICE classes. Rather, this section is meant to document any classes you took directly through a college, either during the summer or during the school year.  

SAT/ACT

Despite the increasing test-optional admissions trend, providing your SAT and/or ACT scores can help you distinguish yourself from your peers, especially if you test well. Plan by familiarizing yourself with this year’s SAT and ACT test dates. Achieving your target SAT/ACT score takes dedication and preparation. Consider different SAT study plans and schedules to help you meet your goals.  

English proficiency tests

If English is your second language, or if you are an international student, you may be required to take an English proficiency test. These are easy tests, usually, either TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System), which are meant to ensure that if you are accepted to your English speaking program you will be able to keep up with coursework. Even though all the tests judge your ability to read, write, listen, and speak, colleges will usually require a specific test to be taken for your application to their program. 

Fee waiver

One of the major advantages of the Coalition Application is its easy-to-use fee waivers. Their mission is to make college possible for every student. One of the main ways in which they do this is the Coalition App fee waiver. If you are in the armed forces, qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program, or already received an SAT, ACT, or College Board fee waiver you will qualify for the Coalition App fee waiver. Simply check off your eligibility criteria from a list on Scoir and you may have your fee waived. 

Honors and distinctions

This is a short section where you can list any honors, distinctions, or awards you received in high school. 

Activities/experience

The importance of volunteer hours and extracurricular activities can not be overstated. Colleges will weigh the Coalition App activities section nearly as much as grades and test scores. Start early and narrow in on the activities that fulfill you. Dedication, drive, and commitment are featured in this section so highlight them. If you are part of a club at school ask to be included in the leadership team. Being treasurer or secretary might not sound like fun roles but they are essential and are more noteworthy than members. 

Coalition essay

You will be given five Coalition App essay prompts. Of these Coalition App prompts, you are only required to choose one. So if you’re wondering how many essays for Coalition App? the answer is only one. Many schools, however, will require you to submit supplemental essays or essay questions. This is why it is important to make sure you stay organized and know exactly what is expected of you from each college. 

The Coalition Essay is a key aspect of your college application. College personal statements help personalize the college application process. In other words, this is your opportunity to show that you are more than just your grades and test scores. While drafting your college essay you will want to familiarize yourself with the components of a strong personal statement. You will also want to avoid writing about overused college essay topics. Use your personal statement to convey who you are and what motivates or inspires you. Colleges want to admit vibrant, diverse student bodies, and one of the best ways that they can gauge this is through applicants’ personal statements. 

List of Coalition App schools

You may be asking yourself, what schools use Coalition Application? Well, there are more than 150 colleges currently using the Coalition App across 36 states and the District of Columbia. The list of Coalition App schools includes top public universities, niche liberal-arts programs, and 5 out of 8 Ivy League schools (Columbia University, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Yale University). 

However, this only represents a small fraction of the more than 5,000 universities and colleges in the United States. This is because each of the Coalition App colleges have pledged to increase accessibility and affordability at their institutions. 

In order to decide whether it’s worth using Coalition App, you can make a list of schools you would like to apply to and cross off the ones that are on the list below. Then you can weigh the importance of affordability against the schools that remain. You may realize that your top choices may not be worth the price point if it means taking out more loans.

Alabama Massachusetts Ohio
Birmingham-Southern College Amherst College Case Western Reserve University
Birmingham, AL Amherst, MA Cleveland, OH
Arizona Babson College The College of Wooster
Arizona State University Wellesley, MA Wooster, OH
Tempe, AZ Boston University Denison University
University of Arizona Boston, MA Granville, OH
Tucson, AZ Clark University Kenyon College
California Worcester, MA Gambier, OH
Caltech College of the Holy Cross Miami University – Ohio
Pasadena, CA Worcester, MA Oxford, OH
Claremont McKenna College Harvard University Oberlin College
Claremont, CA Cambridge, MA Oberlin, OH
Harvey Mudd College Mount Holyoke College Ohio Wesleyan University
Claremont, CA South Hadley, MA Delaware, OH
Loyola Marymount University New England Conservatory of Music University of Dayton
Los Angeles, CA Boston, MA Dayton, OH
Occidental College Northeastern University Oklahoma
Los Angeles, CA Boston, MA University of Oklahoma
Pomona College Olin College of Engineering Norman, OK
Claremont, CA Needham, MA Oregon
Saint Mary’s College of California Smith College Portland State University
Moraga, CA Northampton, MA Portland, OR
Stanford University Tufts University Reed College
Stanford, CA Medford, MA Portland, OR
University of La Verne University of Massachusetts – Lowell University of Oregon
La Verne, CA Lowell, MA Eugene, OR
Colorado Wellesley College Pennsylvania
Colorado College Wellesley, MA Allegheny College
Colorado Springs, CO Wheaton College Meadville, PA
Connecticut Norton, MA Arcadia University
Eastern Connecticut State University Williams College Glenside, PA
Willimantic, CT Williamstown, MA Bryn Mawr College
University of Connecticut Michigan Bryn Mawr, PA
Storrs, CT Hope College Bucknell University
Wesleyan University Holland, MI Lewisburg, PA
Middletown, CT Michigan State University Chatham University
Yale University East Lansing, MI Pittsburgh, PA
New Haven, CT University of Michigan Drexel University
Delaware Ann Arbor, MI Philadelphia, PA
University of Delaware Minnesota Duquesne University
Newark, DE Carleton College Pittsburgh, PA
District of Columbia Northfield, MN Franklin & Marshall College
American University St. Olaf College Lancaster, PA
Washington, D.C. Northfield, MN Haverford College
Florida Missouri Haverford, PA
Florida Southern College Maryville University La Salle University
Lakeland, FL Saint Louis, MO Philadelphia, PA
Palm Beach Atlantic University Washington University in St. Louis Lehigh University
West Palm Beach, FL St. Louis, MO Bethlehem, PA
Rollins College Webster University Lycoming College
Winter Park, FL St. Louis, MO Williamsport, PA
University of Florida Nebraska Marywood University
Gainesville, FL University of Nebraska – Lincoln Scranton, PA
The University of Tampa Lincoln, NE Mercyhurst University
Tampa, FL New Jersey Erie, PA
Georgia The College of New Jersey Penn State
Emory University Ewing, NJ University Park, PA
Atlanta, GA Drew University Robert Morris University
Oglethorpe University Madison, NJ Pittsburgh, PA
Atlanta, GA Princeton University Swarthmore College
University of Georgia Princeton, NJ Swarthmore, PA
Athens, GA Ramapo College of New Jersey University of Pennsylvania
Hawaii Mahwah, NJ Philadelphia, PA
Chaminade University of Honolulu Rutgers University – Camden University of Pittsburgh
Honolulu, HI Camden, NJ Pittsburgh, PA
University of Hawai’i at Mānoa Rutgers University – New Brunswick Washington and Jefferson College
Honolulu, HI New Brunswick, NJ Washington, PA
Illinois Rutgers University – Newark Westminster College
Illinois College Newark, NJ New Wilmington, PA
Jacksonville, IL New Mexico Wilkes University
Illinois State University St. John’s College Wilkes Barre, PA
Normal, IL Annapolis, MD & Santa Fe, NM York College of Pennsylvania
Knox College New York York, PA
Galesburg, IL Bard College South Carolina
Lewis University Annandale-on-Hudson, NY Clemson University
Romeoville, IL Barnard College Clemson, SC
Loyola University Chicago New York City, NY Furman University
Chicago, IL Binghamton University Greenville, SC
Northwestern University Binghamton, NY University of South Carolina
Evanston, IL Colgate University Columbia, SC
University of Chicago Hamilton, NY Tennessee
Chicago, IL Columbia University Vanderbilt University
University of Illinois Springfield New York City, NY Nashville, TN
Springfield, IL Hamilton College Texas
Indiana Clinton, NY Austin College
DePauw University Hobart and William Smith Colleges Sherman, TX
Greencastle, IN Geneva, NY Rice University
Indiana University Bloomington Le Moyne College Houston, TX
Bloomington, IN Syracuse, NY Southern Methodist University
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Manhattan College Dallas, TX
Terre Haute, IN Riverdale, NY Southwestern University
University of Notre Dame Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Georgetown, TX
Notre Dame, IN Troy, NY St. Edward’s University
Iowa Skidmore College Austin, TX
University of Iowa Saratoga Springs, NY St. Mary’s University
Iowa City, IA Stony Brook University San Antonio, TX
Kentucky Stony Brook, NY Texas A&M University
Berea College Syracuse University College Station, TX
Berea, KY Syracuse, NY Texas Christian University
University of Kentucky Union College Fort Worth, TX
Lexington, KY Schenectady, NY Trinity University
Louisiana University at Buffalo San Antonio, TX
Centenary College of Louisiana Buffalo, NY University of the Incarnate Word
Shreveport, LA University of Rochester San Antonio, TX
Maine Rochester, NY University of Texas at Austin
Bates College Vassar College Austin, TX
Lewiston, ME Poughkeepsie, NY Vermont
Bowdoin College North Carolina Middlebury College
Brunswick, ME Davidson College Middlebury, VT
Colby College Davidson, NC University of Vermont
Waterville, ME Duke University Burlington, VT
Maine Maritime Academy Durham, NC Virginia
Castine, ME High Point University University of Richmond
University of New England High Point, NC Richmond, VA
Biddeford, ME NC State University Virginia Tech
Maryland Raleigh, NC Blacksburg, VA
Johns Hopkins University UNC Charlotte Washington
Baltimore, MD Charlotte, NC University of Washington
Maryland Institute College of Art University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Seattle, WA
Baltimore, MD Chapel Hill, NC University of Washington Bothell
St. John’s College Wake Forest University Bothell, WA
Annapolis, MD & Santa Fe, NM Winston-Salem, NC Whitman College
St. Mary’s College of Maryland Western Carolina University Walla Walla, WA
St. Mary’s City, MD Cullowhee, NC Wisconsin
University of Maryland Beloit College
College Park, MD Beloit, WI
    Lawrence University
Appleton, WI
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI
St. Norbert College
De Pere, WI

Key takeaways and moving forward

Similarly to the Common App, the Coalition App offers students an organized, streamlined college application process, while encouraging holistic college admissions standards. Although each platform has its own unique features, they offer a similar service. Therefore, the largest deciding factor of whether you should apply to colleges through the Coalition or Common App should be the individual schools on your college list and which application (or applications) they partner with. If most or all of your schools use the Coalition App, use the Coalition App. Likewise, if most or all of your schools use the Common App, use the Common App. It’s important to note that students do not receive any extra benefits or perks from colleges depending on which platform they used to apply. If you feel like you could benefit from professional assistance during college application season, reach out to learn more about our services.