Why fill out financial aid application?

The financial aid application that you will most likely be filling out when going to college is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. With just this one application you will be able to apply for all types of federal and state grants, work-study programs and loans. There are many free resources that can help you to navigate the financial aid application process since the FAFSA can often seem lengthy and complicated to the first time student.

Types of financial aid applications.

There are two versions of the FAFSA that you can fill out, either the electronic way or the paper way. Check your guidance office in high school first since this is typically where you will find the paper version of the FAFSA. Other locations that will have the application are public libraries and the financial aid office at a college. However, the easier way is to submit your FAFSA on the internet. By doing it this way you will be able to reduce the amount of time to get results by one to two weeks.

Before filling out financial aid application

Before filling out a FAFSA you should make sure you have completed your income tax returns. The information your tax returns is often the same information you will place on your FAFSA. However, you can fill out your FAFSA before filing your income tax return. You should also get a PIN number before submitting your FAFSA. The U.S. Department of Education allows you to get a PIN number on their website and they will email you one in seven to ten days. Without a PIN you will be required to print and mail your FAFSA rather than submitting it electronically.

Important note for financial aid application

January 1st is the earliest that you can file a FAFSA. Since some schools may have deadlines that are earlier than federal deadlines you should submit your FAFSA as close to this date as possible. If you are in doubt it is always a good idea to check with your colleges' specific financial aid deadlines so you don't miss out on important financial aid.