FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

This form is what determines the amount of financial support you will get AND for federal grants such as the Pell Grant. It is also the only way you should take out college loans!

This form is filled out annually by current and prospective college students to determine the amount of aid you get for tuition. The form collects personal and financial information from students and parents. You will get your financial aid package after being accepted into college.

Only 45% of eligible students fill out this form which means— more money for those who do! Your mission for me this week is to make sure you have all of the information you need to fill it out. Here’s a link to the check list, but I’ll also list it here:

1. Your social security card and state ID/driver’s license

2. Your parent’s federal income tax returns from 2018 or 2019.

3. If you had a job last year, the company probably sent you a tax form called a W2, find it if you can, but it’s not the most important.

4. Records relating to any unusual family financial circumstances- such as marital status, living situation changes, etc.

   Example: high medical expenses, unusually high dependent care costs (e.g. special needs sibling or an elderly parent), death, divorce, salary reductions, and job loss.

5. Title IV Institution Codes for each school you are applying to. You can get this code from the school’s website or you can just use this handy FinAid’s Title IV School Code Database

Here is a link to a full video of a walk through of how to fill out FAFSA forms.