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+
+# missing FAFSA and financial aid deadlines
+
+*(common gotcha)*
+
+## what happened
+
+students focus entirely on admission deadlines and forget that financial aid has its own separate deadlines — often earlier. by the time they realize, the money is gone.
+
+## why it's a gotcha
+
+you can get accepted and still not be able to afford it. financial aid is first-come-first-served at many schools. missing the FAFSA deadline by even a week can cost thousands.
+
+## the fix
+
+treat the FAFSA deadline as your real first deadline. submit it as early as it opens (October 1st). don't wait for your parents to "get around to it."
+
+## see also
+
+- [[starting-applications-too-late]] — same pattern of procrastination
+- [[not-reading-submission-requirements]] — missing requirements you didn't know about
+- [[college-board-student-search]] — more college admin traps
+- [[submitting-right-at-the-deadline]] — deadline brinkmanship
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