FAFSA Finanical Aid Form Instructions

Last updated: January 5, 2012

 

Hi Seniors,

It is now time to begin your federal financial aid applications. If you know anyone who ever got financial aid (pell grants, great terms on loans, work study...), they got it because they completed the FAFSA financial aid form.

FAFSA, which opened on January 1, stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

DO NOT PAY ANY SERVICE TO DO THE FAFSA FOR YOU. THE FAFSA IS FREE!!!!!!!!!!!! Many of you might be receiving postcards in the mail from companies who want to do your FAFSA for a fee. Do not do it. It is completely unnecessary.

Here is all you have to do:
1) Go to www.fafsa.gov (Do not go to FAFSA.com- this site charges money and is not the government's FAFSA site)
2) Select Start Here
3) Enter student information
4) Choose to start the 2012/2013 FAFSA (blue tab). Every senior planning to go to college next year MUST fill out the 2012/2013 form if you want to apply for financial aid (and if you want to get Bright Futures - this year Bright Futures REQUIRES all students to also complete a FAFSA)
5) For those who are planning to start school this summer, you MUST ALSO choose to start the 2011/2012 FAFSA (white tab). In this case, you will complete both FAFSAs.
6) Both students and parents will complete the FAFSA together. Part of the online application is for students to complete and the other part is for parents to complete.

2012/2013 FAFSA (blue tab)
Use your (if you work) and your parents 2011 tax returns. Your parents will probably not have any of this info available until after January 31st. It is fine to wait until then, but DO NOT LET THIS GO PAST FEBRUARY. FAFSA aid is distributed on a first come first served basis. You will get the most aid available if you apply by February!!! If you will not have your 2011 tax returns complete for awhile, then complete the form using 2010 returns or simply estimate income. You will have to go back in and update once you file 2011 tax returns.

2011/2012 FAFSA (white tab)
Use your (if your worked) or your parents 2010 tax returns.

I am holding a financial aid meeting for seniors and parents January 25th at 7:00 pm. Info will be going out tomorrow regarding this. In addition, Broward College is holding a hands-on FAFSA day at their south campus in Pembroke Pines in late February. I will forward info about this as well.

For now, log onto www.fafsa.gov and start working on your FAFSA. It is the only way to get financial aid from the federal government, and the only way to get Bright Futures