Use this month to ready yourself with options to pay for college

Collecting Documentation

Start collecting financial information about you and your parents in order to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA form will be required for all college aid programs. You can submit your FAFSA form anytime after January 1.

Filing the FAFSA form will be required if you intend to receive financial aid assistance from the school.

The FAFSA form is administered by the Federal Government and it will be required for all Federal Student Loans, many scholarships, and other college financial aid packages. It is used by colleges to determine your financial aid eligibility.

 

Preparing for the FAFSA form:

1. Register for a PIN
   so that you can sign your FAFSA form and other loan documents electronically. It will speed up the process:
   www.pin.ed.gov

2. Start gathering the documentation needed to complete the FAFSA form:
   • social security number
   • driver’s license number (if any)
   • W-2 Forms and other records of money
     earned
   • income tax returns
   • parent’s federal income tax returns
     (if you are a dependent student)
   • untaxed income records
   • bank statements
   • business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and other investment records
   • alien registration card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

     link to the FAFSA site to review required documentation

3. Find your school codes:
   you will need this information so that your FAFSA filing can be sent to the schools of your choice. Again, the colleges use this information in designing a financial aid package to help pay the cost of college attendance.
   www.fafsa.ed.gov…/fslookup.htm

4. View interactive worksheets:
   you can use these worksheets to help prepare for the real submission
   www.fafsa.ed.gov/worksheet.htm

5. Register for Selective Service (male students):
   Young men that have reached age 18 must register with Selective Service before submitting the FAFSA form. This is required by law:
   www.sss.gov