Free download // 2-page PDF

The College Aid Countdown.

The grade-by-grade checklist — every positioning move from 9th grade to decision day, including the base-year deadline most families discover two years too late.

What's inside
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The base-year clock, made visible.The income year that decides freshman aid starts in January of sophomore year. The checklist puts it on your calendar.
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Grade-by-grade moves, 9th through 12th.What to do each year — income timing, student-asset repositioning, the grandparent 529 rule, account setup, filing.
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The deadlines that actually matter.Priority and CSS Profile dates — not the famous federal deadline that costs families their state grants.
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Current-cycle rules only.Written to the 2027–28 formula — no dead sibling discount, no stale EFC advice.

Built by a CPA with over 25 years of experience translating tax and financial-aid formulas for real families.

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This checklist is for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation. Aid formulas, thresholds, and deadlines change every cycle — confirm current figures at studentaid.gov.