There's a limited pot of money, and applying late puts you at risk of missing out on financial aid you might be eligible for.

The bottom line is that there's money that's out there for the taking, and it's a shame not to apply.

Every high school graduate with a Social Security Number is entitled to free or cheap money to pay for college. Completing the FAFSA is the first step in the process. More than 13 million students apply each year. Make sure you are one of them so you don't miss out on money for college.

Every high school graduate with a Social Security Number is entitled to free or cheap money to pay for college. Applying in advance of state and school deadlines gives you the best shot of getting all of the money you are entitled to receive to pay for college.

The first thing you want to do is sit down and breathe deeply.

It's the moment of truth. You made it through the admissions process, and your child was accepted. Now you and your child are going to have to figure out how to pay for it.