FAFSA Application Instructions

FAFSA is the application process for Pell Grants, a major federal aid program.

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the online application process that is required for Pell Grants, a major financial aid program from the federal government that provides a maximum of $5,550 per grant as of 2010 (depending on financial eligibility), as well as other scholarships. The process is relatively straightforward and does not require an extensive amount of time online, but it is important that you gather all the information necessary in advance to ensure a smooth completion of the application.

Things You'll Need

• Social Security Number
• Driver's license (if any)
• W-2 forms and other records of income
• Tax returns (may require parents' tax returns)
• Current bank statements
• Alien registration or permanent resident card (for non-U.S. citizens)

Instructions

1. Fill out the Dependency Status Worksheet (see Resources). You will need to provide information on your personal status (birth date and whether you are married). Record the results for when you fill out the application.

2. Print out the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet (see Resources) and fill in all the required blanks. This three-page form will prompt you to get all the necessary personal and financial documentation, including information from your parents if your dependency status requires this.

3. Locate the school code of the schools you are applying to. This may be obtained from the school application form, or you can search for it on the FAFSA Federal School Code Search page (see Resources).

4. Complete the application for a Federal Student Aid PIN (Personal Identification Number), which will allow you to file electronically.

5. Visit the FAFSA website and enter the formal application process, using the information you collected on the worksheet.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not fill out the application with a browser that FAFSA does not support (you will receive a prompt from the website if it detects an unsupported browser).

References

• Federal Student Aid: FAFSA
• U.S. Department of Education: Federal Pell Grant Program

Resources

• Federal Student Aid: Documents Needed
• FAFSA on the Web Worksheet
• Federal School Code Search
• Federal Student Aid: Federal Student Aid PIN