Apply for financial aid as soon as possible if you are a high school senior. Submit your college applications by the college’s priority scholarship deadline (often the same as the Early Action deadline). Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after it opens for all students on December 1, 2024. Complete the CSS Profile (if required) as soon as possible after it opens on October 1, 2024. Contact your school counselor or college and career coordinator for assistance submitting your FAFSA and/or other financial aid application materials.