14 TIPS FOR COMPLETING THE FAFSA
(FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID)

  1. "Your" means student information, not parent information
     
  2. Question #13 - must be U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen to receive aid
     
  3. Question #30 - enter "0" for new college freshman
     
  4. Question #35 - do not leave blank
     
  5. Income information - provide actual figures if available; otherwise, make estimates and correct later using the Student Aid Report
     
  6. Worksheets A and B is untaxed income
     
  7. Worksheet C is exclusions to income
     
  8. Keep Worksheets A, B, and C as you may have to provide or duplicate them at a later date
     
  9. Assets
    a. Report net worth (current value minus debt)
    b. Do not include primary residence
    c. Do not include pensions, non-education IRA
    d. Education / Roth IRA - report the value, but it may be excluded later ----by submitting exceptional circumstances appeal
     
  10. Parent information is for custodial parent and his or her current spouse
     
  11. Question #64 - number of people in the household
    a. Include student
    b. Include other students who are dependent for financial aid purposes
    c. Include other dependents if parents provide more than 1/2 of their support
     
  12. Question #65 - number in college
    a. Include the student
    b. Do not include parents
     
  13. Step Six - list schools to receive FAFSA
    a. Use school codes available on the FAFSA website (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/fotw0203/fslookup.htm). California students must list a California university in the top three to apply for Cal Grant
     
  14. Signatures - must be signed by student and a parent
    a. E-signatures or paper signatures

EXAMPLE OF A FINANCIAL AID TIMELINE

January 1: Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1 each year
February: Scholarship deadline (check schools for deadlines)

March 2: Priority filing date for FAFSA and deadline to apply for Cal Grant

April: Review SAR for accuracy and make necessary corrections

June: Submit all requested forms to institution of choice (check with schools for deadlines)

June: Return Response to Financial Aid Offer form or acceptance letter. Be sure to attend an orientation session.

August: Fee/Tuition payments due and aid disbursement

Christine Casey, Financial Aid Advisor at California State University at Chico, provided these tips for students, parents and TRIO staff filling out the FAFSA form. She also contributed the article, Upward Bound's Extended Family - Financial Aid, for the January 2002 issue of the EQUALITY newsletter. For more information about EQUALITY and the other publications in our subscription package, contact tpenrod@hqcoe.org.