The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an application for federal financial aid while attending a higher education institution. The form is long and frustrating if there is little preparation before to complete the required information. A college financial aid office can help fill out the form, but with some prior knowledge, the form can be completed independently.
Instructions
1. Fill out the FAFSA paperwork manually or on the government website. This step requires your Social Security number, your W-2s, your federal tax return from the past year and/or your parents' federal tax return. If you do not have a federal tax return or if you are not financially independent, you will need to use your parent's income for the FAFSA. The financial information will be used to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is the amount of money the federal government expects the family to contribute to higher education. FAFSA instructions are written line by line to guide students through the process.
2. Create a PIN number, if you applied online. This is optional, but it is a smart option. Tracking the results of your FAFSA, and the Student Aid Report (SAR), is easier if you have an online PIN number. If you are applying manually, retain the contact information for the FAFSA office. The SAR is the report generated based on the information given on the FAFSA. This report indicates the amount of federal aid allotted to the student.
3. Check for reception of your paperwork. FAFSA forms have deadlines; make sure yours is received in a timely manner. The online PIN or contact information is useful for this step of the process.
Tags: federal return, contact information, higher education