FAFSA Information

In November:

-Apply for a federal PIN (Personal Identification Number) now by going to www.pin.ed.gov. To apply for most financial aid, you must submit the FAFSA, which is available starting in January. The easiest and fastest way is online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You can use your PIN to e-sign you FAFSA for faster processing. If you're a dependent student (your dependency status is determined through a series of questions on the FAFSA, ask one of your parents to get a PIN to e-sign the FAFSA. You can also print, sign and mail the signature page to the central processor if you're unable to e-sign the FAFSA.

In December:

-Prepare for filing the FAFSA online. At www.fafasa.ed.gov you can obtain a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet. Answer the questions on the worksheet so you'll have all your information ready when the FAFSA is available online starting January 1. If you won't be submitting the FAFSA online, pick up a paper FAFSA from your high school counseling office or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1.800.4-FED-AID to have one mailed to you. If you'll be submitting a paper FAFSA, always get a Certificate of Mailing from the post office as proof you met the deadline.

-Do not wait to submit the FAFSA until after you or your parents have filed your federal tax return. Instead, submit your FAFSA on time using estimated income figures, based on your 2006 W forms and prior year tax return. You can always make changes to your FAFSA after your parents have filed a 2006 Federal income tax return.

-Ask your parents to save their year-end payroll stubs if they show earnings for the year. Your college may ask to see them if your parents don't have a federal tax return or haven't filed one yet to verify your eligibility for financial aid.

-Apply for outside funding or scholarships. Make sure the scholarships are legitimate and are not scams. If in doubt, check with your high school counselor or your nearby financial aid office.

The above information is provided courtesy of EdFund.org.