What you should know about FAFSA

by Daniel Vladimir Paul
(Ora')

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is filled out by hundreds of thousands of students in America every year. Prospective and current college students fill out the FAFSA to determine their eligibility for student financial aid. January 1st is the first day that students are allowed to fill out the form. When filling out your FAFSA, you want to make sure that you have all the information needed to complete the form. The following is required: your social security number, your income tax information (if applicable), your parents’ social security number, and your parents’ income tax information. It is fine if you do not have all this information by January 1st.

The best thing that college students can do when it comes to filling out the FAFSA is filling it out on January 1st using the financial information you have from last year. This allows your name to be inputted in the system which increases your chances of getting more financial aid compared to a student who waits until his or her parents files taxes in April to fill put their FAFSA. You can always go back and edit your FAFSA once you and/or your parents file their income taxes later than January 1st.

The main point is filling out a FAFSA as soon as possible where you are one of the first students that are matched up with limited financial resources. Also, you will need to create a FAFSA Application PIN Number for yourself and one of your parents to electronically sign your submitted FAFSA. Both PINs have to be 4 digits long. I suggest that you use your birthday for these PINs because it is very hard to remember a PIN that you will only be using once a year. For example, if your birthday was on October 15th, your FAFSA PIN would be 1015. I highly recommend that you make a PIN for one of your parents as well because if you have parents like mine they expect you to fill out their portion of the FAFSA for them. I hope this information helps any current or prospective college student applying for financial aid.

Read more FAFSA Tips from other students and parents who have been through the FAFSA process.

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Comment from your friendly team at College Financial Aid Advice

Thank you Daniel for sharing tips on what you should know about FAFSA. You can also get your FAFSA PIN numbers before January 1 to get a head start. Best of luck to you in college.

FAFSA Easy Scholarships | College Scholarships for Women | Scholarships for Minorities | Scholarships for College Students | Scholarships for High School Seniors | Scholarship Contests

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More FAFSA Tips

FAFSA | FAFSA Hints | Expected Family Contribution | Dependent or Independent Student | Parental Income on FAFSA | FAFSA Official Website | Printable FAFSA Application | FAFSA Application PIN Number | FAFSA Application | FAFSA Deadline | FAFSA Correction | Student Aid Report

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TAKE YOUR TIME

by Zelma Vigil
(Porterville California)

I know that most of you may have heard about Financial Aid that is given out. The FAFSA Application is available online or it can be printed out and mailed in. The application needs to be done in a timely manner or you will miss the FAFSA Deadline and not be eligible for the funds in your state.

The FAFSA application is pretty long but as long as you take your time and read and answer all the questions you should be ok. While filling out the application, if you have any questions, ask your school financial aid office. Don't just answer the questions with what you think you should. This can and will hold up the process. Once you have filled out the application, turn it in.

Filling out your application online is the easiest and fastest way. While filling out your application make sure you have all the right documents and information so that you can finish it all at once. Once you are awarded your money, make sure that you spend it on your school needs. I know of a lot of students who just go and blow their money and don't have any left for books and tuition.

Make sure that you keep your grades at a 2.0 or higher. If you don't the financial aid will put you on probation and then they may suspend your money. If it is suspended, than you have to go through the appeal process and it may or may not get reinstated. The appeal is usually help after the semester starts so it may be hard to find the money for your books and tuition.

All in all, the Pell grant is there to help the low income students attend college. Don't take advantage of it and do what you are asked. The financial aid office at your school is willing to answer any questions that you may have so don't be afraid to ask.

Read more FAFSA Tips from other students and parents who have been through the FAFSA process.

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Comment from your friendly team at College Financial Aid Advice

Thank you Zelma for sharing your advice to take your time when completing the FAFSA application for financial aid for college. Also thanks for reminding students that they must have satisfactory grades or they may lose their financial aid. Best of luck to you.

FAFSA Easy Scholarships | College Scholarships for Women | Scholarships for Minorities | Scholarships for College Students | Scholarships for High School Seniors | Scholarship Contests

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More FAFSA Tips

FAFSA | FAFSA Hints | Expected Family Contribution
| Dependent or Independent Student | Parental Income on FAFSA | FAFSA Official Website | Printable FAFSA Application | FAFSA Application PIN Number | FAFSA Application | FAFSA Deadline | FAFSA Correction | Student Aid Report

Submit your entry in our College Essay Contest:

To share your entry in our scholarship contest, just click here.

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