Discover the Unheard of Secrets on How To Correctly Fill Out The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and Avoid Errors and Inaccuracies”
The most important form that you can fill out each year in regards to your college funding is the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This single document holds the key to your financial aid that you will be awarded from the government. It does expire each and every year, even if all your financial information has remained the same. The proper completion of the form is crucial and should be completed and submitted around January 2nd of each year. You may be one of the lucky few who have financial aid advisors or counselors on campus to help you out, but if you have to wing it on your own, here are a few tips to help you out.
In your preparation of filling out the FAFSA, you probably have noticed that there are many companies that will try and charge you for the form itself. Don?t pay attention to these sites as you can quickly and easily access the PDF version on the government website 100% free. The form comes in both English and Spanish and can be completed right there, or downloaded for future use. Remember that you must fill it out completely and accurately. Read the directions carefully and cross out the questions that do not pertain so the processors will clearly know your response to each individual question.
If you have the opportunity to visit with a financial aid counselor, this may be in your best interest. They will have in depth knowledge of the form and will be able to give you the necessary information, or at least point you in the right direction to getting it completed. Pay close attention to the first two sections. They are extremely important. Whether you are a legally emancipated minor, a legal alien, a U.S. citizen, or an adult who didn?t finish high school, the information that you enter here must be accurate and provable.
As you may have suspected, there are some very basic pieces of information that will be required of you including your full name, maiden and aliases, and your social security number or proof of your legal alien status. If you are a dependent, you will need the same information for your guardian. If your parents have divorced, then you must provide the information of the parent with whom you spent the majority of the past 12 months. Your permanent address is defined as the address where you reside when you complete the application (not your future college address).
If you feel that you have extenuating circumstances, you can always speak with a financial aid specialist. On the bottom of the form there is a phone number you can call. The number is also provided on the website. If it is simply questions about what documentation that you need to gather to properly fill out the form, there are checklists that are available for you to download to help prepare you for the application. You can get a PDF of the application and instructions on the government website as well as at your local high school, college or library.