In California, most discussion about fina ncial aid centers around the Cal Grant deadline of March 2nd to file your FAFSA forms. UC's and CSU's also align to this deadline.  However, many private schools require filing much earlier and some are blatant about first come, first served for financial aid.

Some early deadline examples (regular decision only, for early action/decision, some deadlines have already passed):

• Pomona College - February 1st  for FAFSA and supplement. March 1st for current year tax returns
• Santa Clara University - February 2nd for both FAFSA and CSS
• University of the Pacific - Priority filing Feb 15 - "Please don't wait until you have been admitted to file your FAFSA!  Pacific awards financial aid to students who apply after February 15, but later awards may be less favorable."
• Stanford University - February 15 for both FAFSA and CSS.  Stanford does give you until Arpil 1 to submit current year tax returns.

Most colleges and universities are very unforgiving of missing deadline dates for financial aid.  Your chances of getting a financial aid package if you file after the deadline are pretty slim as schools attempt to award all monies available to everyone who applies within the posted schedule.

So get going, estimate that income, encourage your parents to file their taxes early this year.  It could be worth more to them than they think.