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FAFSA
What is the FAFSA form?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
is the front door to an array of financial aid such as grants, FWS (Federal
Work Study), and student loans. The FAFSA should be submitted as soon after
January 1 of the enrollment year as possible. Financial aid is generally
awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so don't put it off.
How is the information I put in the FAFSA used?
The information entered on the FAFSA
determines a student's financial aid eligibility and the amount the school will
expect a family to pay out-of-pocket for the student's education. It looks at
information such as the size of the family and their income and assets. You
must complete a FAFSA each year that you request financial aid. After you
submit the first one, the subsequent forms are called the "Renewal FAFSA."
Where do I get a FAFSA form?
You can get a FAFSA form at your high school guidance office, college financial
aid office, the public library, and online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov.
What happens after I submit my FAFSA?
Here's what you can expect:
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Receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) - In about four weeks, you'll receive the
FAFSA results in a document called a Student Aid Report (SAR). The colleges you
listed on the FAFSA will receive the same report results.
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Receive Award Letters - The college financial aid offices use the SAR results
to calculate your financial aid award. The results are presented in the form of
Award Letters that summarize your financial aid package after all the paperwork
is complete and you've been accepted for admission.
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Requests for Verification - It's also important to note that many applicants
are selected for "verification," or validation, of the information provided on
the FAFSA. You should immediately respond to all requests to avoid application
delays.
Should I complete and submit another FAFSA if my family situation changes after
I submit the FAFSA?
No. Instead, discuss the details with your college Financial Aid Office after
you receive your Student Aid Report (SAR).
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