Review Financial Aid Process

What is the FAFSA Form

• The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first form you will need to file
  
  to begin the financial need process for most federal student aid programs.
  
  the FAFSA form will be required for all Federal Student Loans and many scholarships. It is used by colleges to determine your financial aid eligibility.
  
  
  
• You must determine your dependent and independent status before completing the FAFSA form:
  
  see dependent vs. independent status: Step 1
  
  parents of dependent students must complete part of the FAFSA form.
  
  
  

• You may submit the FAFSA form anytime after January 1 in the year you intend to begin school;
  
  for example, if you plan to attend school in Fall 2007, you must submit your FAFSA form anytime after January 1, 2007 to about the end of July in order to qualify for financial aid for the academic year coming up.
  
  you should submit your FAFSA form early to meet college financial aid deadlines
  
  
  
• Completing the FAFSA form requires the following records:
  
  
1. tax returns for the fiscal year that just ended
2. W-2 and 1099 forms
3. records of untaxed income, such as Social Security benefits, AFDC or ADC, child support, welfare, pensions, military subsistence allowances, and veterans benefits
4. current bank and mortgage statements
5. medical and dental expenses during the past year that was not covered by medical insurance
6. business and/or farm records
7. current investment records for stock, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, and money market accounts
   
   make sure you keep these records secure in the event that your college is required to request records for verification
   
   
   
• Returning students seeking financial aid must complete a FAFSA form each year they attend school.
  
  returning students will complete the Renewal FAFSA form — the renewal form updates your previous submitted FAFSA form.
  
  click to open FAFSA links and information
  
  
  
• Some colleges may require submission of the FINANCIAL AID PROFILE® form in addition to the FAFSA form:
  
  link to the collegeboard for information
  
  the PROFILE form is a fee-based form used by select schools to administer their own financial programs.
  
  the PROFILE form requires more complete information not generally covered by the FAFSA form — contact your college institution to determine whether they require the PROFILE form and any other Financial Aid Application forms:
  
  college and university home pages:
  http://www.clas.ufl.edu/CLAS/american-universities.html

Steps: Submitting the FAFSA Form

• Step 1: Get Your Personal PIN
  
  the PIN is your personal identification number that lets your apply, sign your online FAFSA, make corrections and perform any other action with the Department of Education
  
  go to www.pin.ed.gov to register for your PIN
  
  
  
• Step 2: Collect the Required Documents
  
  Completing the FAFSA form requires the following records:
  
  
1. tax returns for the fiscal year that just ended
2. W-2 and 1099 forms
3. records of untaxed income, such as Social Security benefits, AFDC or ADC, child support, welfare, pensions, military subsistence allowances, and veterans benefits
4. current bank and mortgage statements
5. medical and dental expenses during the past year that was not covered by medical insurance
6. business and/or farm records
7. current investment records for stock, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, and money market accounts
   
   make sure you keep these records secure in the event that your college is required to request records for verification
   
   for more information about required documents
   
   
   

• Step 3: Get School Codes
  
  the result of your FAFSA application will be sent to the schools of your choice. Schools will use the information in determining eligible financial aid
  
  have your school codes ready when you are ready to complete your FAFSA online: find your school codes
  
  
  
• Step 4: Complete the FAFSA Form Online
  
  You may submit the FAFSA form anytime after January 1 in the year you intend to begin school;
  
  for example, if you plan to attend school in Fall 2007, you must submit your FAFSA form anytime after January 1, 2007 to about the end of July in order to qualify for financial aid for the academic year coming up.
  
  Check your deadlines:
  http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
  
  you should submit your FAFSA form early to meet college financial aid deadlines
  
  complete / submit FAFSA online application:
  http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/complete013.htm
  
  
  
• Step 5: For Making Corrections
  
  to review and make any necessary changes to the FAFSA form:
  FAFSA web site
  
  contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center
  at 1-800-433-3243 if your address has changed.
  
  need to check your SAR status:
  FAFSA web site
  
  add additional schools to your SAR
  request duplicate copies to be sent to you from the FAFSA form web site (under "Request Duplicate Student Aid Report")
  
  add more schools by submitting a correction to your FAFSA information

Other FAFSA Notes

• Returning students seeking financial aid must complete a FAFSA form each year they attend school.
  
  returning students will complete the Renewal FAFSA form — the renewal form updates your previous submitted FAFSA form.
  
  Renewal FAFSA online application:
  http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/complete004.htm
  
  
  
  
• Some colleges may require submission of the FINANCIAL AID PROFILE® form in addition to the FAFSA form:
  
  link to the collegeboard for information
  
  the PROFILE form is a fee-based form used by select schools to administer their own financial programs.
  
  the PROFILE form requires more complete information not generally covered by the FAFSA form — contact your college institution to determine whether they require the PROFILE form and any other Financial Aid Application forms:
  
  college and university home pages:
  http://www.clas.ufl.edu/CLAS/american-universities.html