Gone are the days when your parents told you when it was time to wake up, do your homework, clean your room, or do your laundry. College is the time when you are transitioning from being a teenager to a real adult (liberating and scary, I know)!

In order to be successful, self discipline is essential. When you don't have anyone telling you what to do, it can be very difficult to turn down a sporting event or party so you can write a paper or study. But without self-discipline, you could find yourself falling behind on your school work which can be difficult to recover from.

Understanding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) may seem like a challenge at first. Once you add the complexity of a special circumstance or  divorce, completing the FAFSA may feel like a down right headache.

Although your situation may seem like receiving financial aid is impossible, don't let it stop you from putting your best foot forward. You are not the only person experiencing this state of affairs and most likely you won't be the last. Here are a  few examples of special circumstances and how to handle them when completing the FAFSA.