(MONEY Magazine) – College-bound high school seniors and their parents may have months to file financial-aid forms, but you can boost your chances of getting the aid you want if you submit forms, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), now. Many colleges begin divvying up grants and work/study jobs as early as February. Wait and you may get stuck with only loans. One way to save time: File your federal aid form online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Also, college grads looking to consolidate their federal student loans have until Jan. 31 to apply for the bargain 7.46% consolidation rate from the Department of Education (800-557-7392).

--KELLY SMITH