FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Winter break doesn’t mean you can’t be productive.
Students can take advantage of their time off by getting a jump start on figuring out how to pay for their higher education.
“College is becoming extremely expensive for families as tuition continues to skyrocket,” says Dr. Shaan Patel, Founder and CEO of Prerp Expert. “Student debt is near $2 trillion.”
Patel says it’s important to diversify your funding options. There are federal, state and local aid opportunities.
“I really encourage all families, no matter how much you make, to fill out the FAFSA application,” Patel said. “There are even some merit-based scholarships that consider the FAFSA in order to give out awards.”
The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA form, is currently available and features a streamlined application process.
“It’s a lot quicker to fill out, and a lot of the tax information can be integrated with the IRS website now,” Dr. Patel said.
But there are mistakes to avoid.
“The biggest mistake I see parents, students and families make is trying to have the student try to fill out the FAFSA alone,” Dr. Patel said. “It’s just not possible.”
Patel suggests setting aside three to four hours during winter break to do the application process as a family.
“Get together all the documents you need: social security numbers, tax documents, bank account statements, brokerage statements,” he said. “All of that will be needed to input into the FAFSA application.”
The sooner the better.
“The earlier you get it in, the earlier you’ll be considered for financial aid rewards at many colleges and institutions,” Dr. Patel said. “Some institutions give out financial aid on a rolling basis.”
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