The key to applying for financial aid is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is used to determine your eligibility for all federal student financial aid programs, and is a powerful tool for anyone who wants to find money for college.
Information from the FAFSA is also used to determine eligibility for many need-based scholarship programs and for some state grant programs. When you ask a representative of your college’s financial aid office how to apply for financial aid, he or she will tell you that you must complete the FAFSA.
Until you submit a FAFSA, there is no way for you to get an accurate estimate of the types of federal financial aid that you might be able to receive. FAFSA data are used to determine eligibility for Federal Pell Grants, various Federal student loan programs, and college work-study positions. If you are planning to enter college in the fall following graduation from high school, you need to submit your FAFSA as early as possible in your graduation year.
As soon as you have W-2s and/or tax forms for you and your parents for the previous year, you need to fill out the FAFSA financial aid forms. The financial aid office at the school you plan to attend may be able to answer questions you have about how to apply for financial aid with the FAFSA. The Federal Student Aid Information Center can also assist you if you have any questions about how to fill out your financial aid forms.
You may reach a representative by calling 800-4-FED-AID. The sooner you take care of this important aspect of applying for financial aid, the earlier you will understand your financial aid options. Once you submit your FAFSA, it will be processed and you will find out what types of Federal Financial Aid you can receive.
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