Every student who wants access to federal funds for college (e.g., grants, work-study, & loans) MUST complete the FAFSA. Even if a student won’t qualify for grants or work-study and does not plan to take out loans, since life can be unpredictable (job loss, death, etc.,), consider filling out just in case.
On Friday, the 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) becomes available. Continue reading to find out why you should apply early, get tips to help navigate the ridiculously complex process, access a list of information you need on hand to complete the application, and helpful links.
3 BENEFITS of APPLYING EARLY
ONE: Funds are finite.
TWO: The ability to check it off the to-do list
THREE: Find out the out-of-pocket cost of college sooner
7 FAFSA TIPS
- Do NOT fill out for someone else or let some else fill out for you
- Each student needs his/her OWN FAFSA ID
- A parent of a dependent student needs his/her OWN FAFSA ID
- Enter you name EXACTLY as it appears on your Social Security card
- Keep a record of user name, password, and ID information
- Read the instructions VERY carefully (correcting errors is a bit of a nightmare)
- Do NOT confuse student and parent data (i.e., financial information)
7 ITEMS STUDENTS and PARENTS NEED to COMPLETE the FAFSA
- Your FSA account (click HERE to get started)
- Your Social Security number
- Your driver’s license
- Access to your tax return
- Records of untaxed income
- Records of your assets (cash, savings, checking accounts, investments, trusts, 529s, etc.,)
- List of schools you are applying to (not necessary initially)
4 HELPFUL LINKS
Intro to FAFSA VIDEO
CSS Profile (required by some schools, consult school to find out)
Updated LIST of schools that require the CSS Profile
For more information on the FAFSA or other questions about financial aid, feel free to reach out at kathy@fineeducationalsolutions.com
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