How to Apply for Financial Aid for College

Don't know how to apply for financial aid for college? well, here is an easy step by step guide on how to do it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• computer/internet
• your's and your parent's current income tax returns

1. Go to the free application for federal student aid website: www.fafsa.ed.gov
2. Once you are there the first thing to do is go to where it says: "before beginning a FAFSA" that's step #1 out of 3. by doing that you will be able to check your eligibility for aid, apply for a pin, and read the instructions, etc.
3. Then go to step #2 where it says "filling out a FAFSA" and to the first link where it says "fill out your FAFSA". Then choose the year for which you are applying for aid. Fill out all the information in there and hit next.
4. Then you will be asked to provide your name, address, social security number, citizenship status, e-mail, phone number, etc.
   * for males, you will be asked if you want to be registered for selective service
5. Then you will fill out your tax return information, income and assets, and after that the one for your parents.
   *you will be asked to provide the date your parents were married.
6. then you will fill out your school information, the colleges that you applied for and that you will be attending.
7. After all that you will be asked to sign the application with your pin and also one of your parents has to sign it to, you can choose to apply for a pin for your parent or print out a signature page and send it to the FAFSA.
   make sure to print out your confirmation page and a copy of your application for your records.
   you are all set! good luck!

Tips & Warnings

• if you don't know your SS# have it on hand, because you will be needing it and also your parent's.
• the password that they ask you to create in the beginning is just for yourself to be able to go back and make corrections later and to check the status of your application once submitted. you will need to create a "pin" to sign your FAFSA electronically and another pin for your parents too. or you can also print out a signature page and send it to them.
• remember that you can go back to make corrections anytime to your FAFSA.
• also remember your pin or password so you can check the status of your submitted FAFSA.
• be aware of your state's deadline to submit your FAFSA, the earlier you apply the more help you can get.
• you should never put false or erroneous information on your FAFSA!