Respecting deadlines is a must.
Applying for financial aid is relatively easy if you know the steps and start the process early in the year. According to the Careers and Colleges website, more than eight million students qualify for need- or merit-based assistance. You may apply using as many school codes you wish, and you may apply for aid whether you are attending a community college or university. Applying for financial aid is free.
Instructions
1. Pick up or download a copy of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Do this after New Year's Day of the year you plan to attend college.
2. Gather all copies of your income information from the previous year. Make copies of all W2s or 1099s your employer or independent contracting agency sends you by the end of January. This is the financial information you will need to fill out your FAFSA.
3. Fill out the FAFSA completely, answering all questions accurately. If you are 24 or will be 24 in the year you are applying for assistance, skip all questions about your parents' income. Otherwise, ask your parents for their income statements before proceeding any further with this process.
4. Review your answers carefully. Look for any omissions or incorrect figures, such as $400 instead of $4,000. Errors can make a large difference in the amount of money you receive.
5. Specify the schools you wish to attend. Search the table of contents in your FAFSA packet for a list of school codes. Find the schools to which you are interested in applying, and enter the code numbers in the box that FAFSA has designated for school codes.
6. Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) carefully once you receive the link to your processed report. If errors exist, correct them immediately and send your SAR back to the processors.
7. Reply to the offers the schools in which you are interested send you. Document that you accept the financial aid that the college or university has offered you.
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