| Do you remember working on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with your Admission Possible coach during your senior year of high school? As a college student, you need to resubmit a FAFSA every year after January 1st to receive grants and loans for your next academic year at college.
Don't know where to start? Can't remember what happens after you fill it out? Think of this page as FAFSA/Financial Aid 101! Scroll for FAFSA basics. Or, if you'd like more detail, check out the sections listed to the right--they include a financial aid glossary, yearly timetable, and a complete step-by-step FAFSA guide!
FAFSA Basics
If you file as a dependant student, you need the following for both you and your parent(s). (If you are filing as an independant, you need only your information.):
-
W-2 Forms
-
Federal Income Tax returns (form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ)
-
untaxed income records, including MFIP, Social Security, or TANF
-
most recent bank statements
-
any other investment records
-
your PIN
What to do next:
- once you've gathered what you need, go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
- click on "Fill Out Your FAFSA" and select FAFSA from the drop down menu. Select the upcoming school year (NOT the current one) when you select the year you want to file for.
- enter your name, social security number, birthdate, and create a password.
- answer "yes" to prefill your FAFSA
- enter Your PIN
Your FAFSA info from last year should then appear, and you just need to go through the steps, making changes to reflect any changes in your family's financial status.
Have questions? Want to download complete instructions, including helpful tips and Frequently Asked Questions? Click on the document below.
Click here for a step-by-step guide to the FAFSA
| 