FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Winter break doesn’t mean you can’t be productive.<\/p>\n
Students can take advantage of their time off by getting a jump start on figuring out how to pay for their higher education.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Patel says it’s important to diversify your funding options. There are federal, state and local aid opportunities.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA form, is currently available and features a streamlined application process.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
But there are mistakes to avoid.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Patel suggests setting aside three to four hours during winter break to do the application process as a family.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
The sooner the better.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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