Mason Family
  • NSFP
  • Orientation
  • Quill Camp
  • Welcome2Mason
Navigation
  • Home
  • Events
    • Family Orientation
    • Summer Send-Offs
    • Family Farewell
    • Family Support Series
    • Family Weekend
    • Spring Family Fling
  • Resources
    • Mason Family Connection
    • Family Calendar
    • New Student Resources
    • Safety
    • Where To Stay
  • Involvement
    • Parent and Family Council
      • Council Membership
    • Parent and Family Fund
    • Family of the Year
  • My Family
    • First-Generation Families
    • Parenting and Expecting Students
      • Campus Resources
      • Community Resources
      • Financial Assistance
      • Parenting Resources
      • Laws, Policies, & Rights
      • Faculty & Staff Resources
      • Frequently Asked Questions
  • New Student and Family Programs
    • Professional Staff

Financial Aid: Priority Filing Questions Answered

December 13, 2016 | Filed under: Uncategorized

Fenwick Library

On October 1, 2016 the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2017-2018 academic year became available to complete online at www.FAFSA.gov.

Students, both returning and prospective, who wish to apply for financial aid will want to submit the FAFSA by George Mason University’s priority filing date of March 1.  It is never too early to start this process by having conversations with your student over winter break.  It is important for students and families to ensure they are completing the FAFSA accurately and on time.  See below for more information on the priority filing deadline and resources designed to guide students and families through the filing process.

What is a priority filing date?
Due to the increasing number of financial aid applicants at George Mason University, combined with a limited amount of state and institutional aid available, the priority filing date is used to determine who will be considered eligible to receive such awards.  To ensure that your student is considered for these types of aid, please encourage your student to submit their FAFSA prior to the March 1 deadline. 

The FAFSA requests completed tax information.  What if my student has not yet not yet filed his or her taxes?
The FAFSA will require information from your 2015 tax year. The IRS Data Retrieval process will import tax information directly into the FAFSA in order to ensure an accurate financial aid package based on actual income and data.

What if my student needs help completing the FAFSA?
There are many tools available to assist both students and families with completing the FAFSA. For example, on Mason’s Office of Student Financial Aid website there are videos with step-by-step instructions to assist with the process.  Also, you can visit the Federal Student Aid website for more helpful information to assist your student when completing the FAFSA. 

Dan Frank
Financial Aid Counselor
Student Financial Aid

Did you like this article? Share it with your friends!

Tweet
← On and Off Campus Housing: December Events
Congratulations Class of 2016! →
  • Financial Aid
  • Career Services
  • Student Accounts
Mason M

  • Visitors & Maps
  • Mason A-Z
  • Accessibility
Live Chat


Live Chat

© 2022 Mason Family | The HUB Suite 2500 | 703.993.2475 | families@gmu.edu