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Step 1
Contact the Financial Aid Office of each college you are interested in attending. Each college can provide you with their requirements and/or additional information that may be needed when applying for financial aid.
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Step 2
It’s always a good idea to apply for financial aid as soon as you can after January 1st. Most college financial aid offices work on a first-come, first-serve basis, so the sooner the better! To be on the safe side, ask the college if they have any deadlines in place in regard to semesters. Your chosen colleges may only accept applications through a set date for a particular term.
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Step 3
Also, when you call, be sure to obtain that college’s FAFSA School Code and any other relevant information (such as address/phone number) as you will need it when you apply.
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Step 4
Gather any necessary information you may need when applying for financial aid. This will include things such as your Social Security Number, Driver’s License number, income statements, tax return, or your parent’s income information (if you are a dependent).
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Step 5
Access the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by going to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov (see Resources Section below for a direct link). The main page will display three steps for you to go through in order to fill out and submit your application. Go through each of these steps and follow the instructions carefully.
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Step 6
Once you have submitted your application, it will be processed and a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR) will be sent to you and to each of the colleges you listed on your application. The FAFSA site also provides you with a site for follow up so that you can check on the status of your application, make any corrections, or access your SAR. So, check this site regularly for information.
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Step 7
While your application is being processed and you are awaiting your Student Aid Report (SAR), check with the college(s) you are interested in so that you can obtain as much information regarding their financial aid guidelines. A number of colleges have certain requirements/restrictions in place that determine whether or not you are qualified for aid; such as maintaining a certain GPA. It’s good to know this information so that you can ensure you remain in good standing and stay qualified.
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Step 8
When you have received your SAR, contact the Financial Aid Office of the college(s) you will be attending to verify that they have received a copy of your SAR for processing. If they haven’t, check back every once in a while to find out if they have received it. You may also want to request additional information on what the next steps will be.
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Step 9
Once your college has received your SAR, determined eligibility, and processed an award letter for you, you will need to visit the college’s Financial Aid office in order to review your award letter and accept/reject and grants or loans that are offered to you. This process varies for each college, however, so make sure you contact the college’s Financial Aid office for specific instructions.
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Step 10
Now that you have accepted/rejected any financial aid offers, you are good to go! The college should automatically disperse your awards for each semester during the remainder of that college year. However, definitely check with the college to make sure that you know and understand their procedures for financial aid disbursements.
