With more families facing financial challenges in the current economic climate, it has become increasingly important to leverage financial assistance available to help cover the cost of a college education. With the start of a new year, it is the perfect time to start the application process for the upcoming 2009-2010 academic year.

For freshmen entering Georgia Tech Fall 2009, the application deadline is March 1, 2009. The deadline for returning students, transfer students, and new graduate students is May 1, 2009. Two forms are required. First, the Georgia Tech Application for Scholarships and Financial Aid (GT APP) is available online at www.finaid.gatech.edu and can be completed in a matter of minutes. The second form is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and can be downloaded at www.fafsa.ed.gov. To ensure that the FAFSA is processed and received by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid by the March 1, 2009, deadline, we recommend completing the online FAFSA 2-3 weeks before the deadline.

The FAFSA should be filled out using information from a completed 2008 federal tax return. However, if timing does not permit using a completed 2008 federal tax return, we urge you to use estimates rather than to miss the deadline. Completing the FAFSA and the GT APP on time ensures that your student will be considered for all available aid administered by our office. For students who only apply for the HOPE scholarship each year, just the GT APP is required.

Now is also a good time to search for independent scholarships. Current and prospective Georgia Tech students are often excellent candidates for private scholarships. Click here to access scholarships posted by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. In addition, helpful advice on planning a scholarship search can be found on the CollegeBoard Web site. It's well worth an investment of a few hours to research the options.

For any questions about the financial aid application process, please contact your financial aid advisor, listed at www.finaid.gatech.edu/contacts.