FAFSA Tutorial
If you prefer a more colorful tutorial visit the "The Five Minute FAFSA"
Filling out the FAFSA can be scary, even if you have done it before, but it doesn't have to be.
Remember two things:
1. Be timely. The sooner you submit your application the more aid you are likely to get even if you don't think you will qualify for aid. The Applications are available for the following Fall term on January 1st. Make it a New Year's Day tradition to fill out your FAFSA!
2. Stay organized. Keep a folder with just FAFSA materials and keep it in a place you can find it from year to year. The folder should contain:
• Your Pin and your parents Pin (get a pin at www.pin.ed.gov) • The School codes you are listing (find them at www.FAFSA.ed.gov or call the financial aid office) • Current tax returns and W2s for both you and your parents • Records of untaxed income (like the welfare, social security, disability, and veterans benefits) • Current asset information (such as bank, brokerage statements and mortgage information) • A hard copy of each FAFSA you fill out as you can use it as a reference guide because some things will be the same from year to year.
When you sit down to do the FAFSA you will need all of those things as well as your driver's license and social security card.
Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov. Make sure you have that address in your navigation bar. If you do a google search for the application be care that you are going to the Federal FAFSA site and not a FAFSA help site that charges a fee to complete the application.
The first section is about you, the student. The first few questions are personal information. Make sure you fill out your name exactly how it appears on your social security card. You will also be asked to list an email address. Providing an email address is strongly recommended. I promise there is no spam if you provide one. It should be an address you can check regularly because this will be the main way FAFSA will contact you.
The next few will ask what kind of aid you're applying for. If you're not sure put "3" in the box and you will be considered for all available aid. You can always turn down particular types of aid later. Saying you are not interested in loans will not increase the amount of grants you get.
Next comes the student finances section. Filling out a worksheet ahead of time might help you with this:
Make sure to answer all questions even if they don't apply to you. If they don't, answer with a 0.
The middle section asks about your dependency status. This is DIFFERENT from your dependency status on a tax return. If you're not sure what your status is, answer as many of the questions as you can and if you are NOT a dependent the FAFSA questions will automatically tell you to skip the questions you don't need to answer.
Before you begin you should find out what qualifies a parent to be listed on the FAFSA. If your parents are divorced list the parent you have lived with the most in the past year, and if it's about equal provide the information from the parent who lends the most financial support, including a stepparent if there is one.
If you are adopted list your adoptive parents just as though they were biological parents. If you are a ward of the court you are an independent and you can skip the parental section. If you have other circumstances and are still not sure what to put, contact us at financiaAid@nescom.edu, and we will help you.
The end of the FAFSA asks about benefits received like the reduced lunch program. Students that are currently eligible for such programs may also be eligible for increased aid. If you're not sure, ask your parents or guardian.
The last section is school code information. If you are a first time student looking at several institutions make sure to put all of the school codes down for all of the institutions you are looking to attend. FAFSA will share your information with all of them. If you have a top choice put that one first. If you are a returning student put the school you are currently attending in the first slot, even if you are considering transferring.
Now use your pin to sign your FAFSA and make sure all the information is correct and submit it.
Once your application has been processed the government will send you and the schools you listed your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) in your Student Aid Report (SAR). If you complete the FAFSA online (recommended) you will receive your SAR within 2 to 3 weeks by email. It will be sent to the email address you listed on the form. If you fill out a hard copy you will receive it within 4 to 6 weeks in the mail.
Once the school's you listed on your FAFSA receive your information, each will send you an "Award Package." The award package will indicate which programs, grants, and loans you qualify for. Each package may be different depending on the resources of each institution and the kind of aid they award. Receiving an award package does NOT mean that you are accepted into the institution, it just means that if you are accepted that is what aid you would receive.
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