FAQs: Before Beginning a FAFSA
Have more questions? Additional frequently asked questions are available
in the FAFSA FAQs section of FAFSA on the Web.
What is this application for?
Use this application to apply for federal student grants, work-study aid,
and loans. You may also use this application to apply for most state and
some private aid.
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What methods are available for completing
the FAFSA?
Several methods are available for completing your Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). They are:
- Paper FAFSA
- Paper Renewal FAFSA
- FAFSA on the Web
- FAFSA on the Web (Spanish Version)
- Renewal FAFSA on the Web
- School's system if school participates in Electronic Data Exchange
(Contact school for more information)
You may use any one of these methods to apply for federal student aid,
but do not submit more than one application.
Also note the following:
- If you are filing a 2003 income tax return, we recommend that
you fill it out before completing this form. However, you do not need
to send your income tax return to the IRS before you fill out this form.
- Submit or mail no earlier than January 1, 2004 and no later than
June 30, 2005.
- You should receive a SAR within four weeks. If you do not, please
refer to the Customer Service page for
contact and assistance information to check on the status of your
application. For online application status checks, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov
and select Check status of a submitted FAFSA,
under the FAFSA Follow-up section, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- If you or your family have unusual circumstances (such as loss of
employment) that might affect your need for student financial aid, check
with the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend.
- With this form, you may also be able to apply for student aid from
other sources, such as your state or school. The deadlines
for states or schools may be as early as January 2004, and may differ.
You may be required to complete additional forms. Check with your school's
financial aid office for further information on school deadlines.
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What records do I need to complete my FAFSA?
In order to successfully complete a FAFSA application, you may need information
from one or more of the documents found on the Documents
Needed page.
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What
do I need to keep in mind when filling out the FAFSA?
- The words "you" and "your" always mean the student.
The word "school" means a college, university, graduate or
professional school, community college, vocational or technical school,
or any other school beyond high school.
- Round to the nearest dollar and do not use commas or decimal points.
- For dates, type numbers that correspond to the month, day, and year.
For example, for November 7, 1974, enter 11071974.
- Questions about your plans and references to the "school year"
mean the school year from July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005.
- Do not include notes, tax forms, or letters.
- Check with your financial aid administrator if you have unusual circumstances.
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How do
I know if I am eligible to receive student financial aid?
To be eligible for federal student aid, you must meet certain requirements.
You must be:
- A U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
- Registered with Selective Service (if required, see www.sss.gov)
- Attending a participating school
- Working toward a degree or certificate
- Making satisfactory academic progress
Also:
- You must not owe a refund on a federal grant or be in default on a
federal education loan
- You must have financial need (except for unsubsidized Stafford Loans)
- You must not have any drug convictions
Other requirements may apply. Contact your financial aid administrator
for more information.
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What
are the deadlines for federal student aid?
School aid deadlines
Schools may have their own deadlines and applications for
awarding student aid. Check with the school's financial aid office for
information.
Federal student aid deadlines
You should apply as early as possible but not before January
1, 2004. Submitting your form is only the first step in applying for federal
student aid.
We must receive your form no later than June 30, 2005.
State student aid deadlines
State deadlines may be earlier than the federal deadline. Your
state may also require an additional form. Check the requirements and
deadlines.
For more information on these deadlines, see the Deadlines
page by selecting the "Deadlines" option from the left navigation bar.
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What is
the importance of submitting accurate information?
WARNING: You must fill out this
form accurately. The information that you supply can be verified by your
school, your state, or by the U.S. Department of Education.
You may be asked to provide U.S. income tax returns and other information.
If you cannot or do not provide these records to your school, you may
not get federal student aid.
If you get federal student aid based on incorrect information, you will
have to pay it back; you may also have to pay fines and fees. If you purposely
give false or misleading information on your application, you may be fined
$20,000, sent to prison, or both.
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