FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The federal government uses this form to determine your eligibility for financial aid, including: grants, work-study, scholarships and loans.
Use a sample FAFSA worksheet: Click “Before Beginning a FAFSA,” then “Print a Pre-Application Worksheet.” Use the printout as a guide before committing answers online. Do not enter online answers directly from the paper FAFSA. Web vs. paper FAFSA questions are in a different order.
Save your FAFSA online if you can’t finish it in one session: Click the “Save” button at the bottom of each step to save info for 45 days. Use a password (which you select at the start of the process) to retrieve your information later.
Fill out a FAFSA even if you don’t think you will qualify for aid: You may qualify even if you don’t think you do, and if your circumstances change during the year, you may have the ability to get aid later. Also, many private scholarships require the FAFSA.
Follow the instructions: Take your time and get help if you need it. Your counselors are a great resource for this!
Accurately list your information: Do not enter false information as a way to qualify for more aid. Doing so is a federal crime.
Print out a copy: Keep a completed copy for your records.