Safeguard all necessary documents needed to fill out the FAFSA application. When it is time to apply for federal aid, all necessary documents should be in easy reach. Keeping all documents in a safe or special drawer will streamline the whole application process. The necessary documents needed to fill out the FAFSA include identification documents for the respective student and their parents, income tax returns, W-2 forms, records of undocumented income and mortgage documents.
The standard time to apply for the FAFSA is June 30 before the academic year. You must complete any corrections by mid-September. However, it is always best to apply as soon as possible to increase your chances of earning scholarships and grants. Many institutions will ask you to submit your application before the June 30 deadline. Contact the school's financial aid department or guidance counselor, and inquire about any financial aid deadlines.
Apply for FAFSA using its online application. Applying online cuts down in processing time and lowers the possibility of administrators losing your paper application. Visit the FAFSA online website to file for FAFSA. Check the Resource section for a link to their official website.
Practice filling out the FAFSA by completing a free worksheet. The U.S government provides prospective applicants with a FAFSA worksheet where students, guidance counselors and parents can review practice questions and inquiries that an actual FAFSA application may ask. This lets you make mistakes without repercussions. After working on the worksheet and filling it with the proper correct information, you can plug those numbers into the actual FAFSA application.
Review your Student Aid Report. The SAR will be an overview of your FAFSA application. Review the information on the report. Report any mistakes, inconsistencies or missing information. Make corrections on the FAFSA website.
Avoid errors. Errors on your FAFSA application will add to the processing time, and you may lose your chance at gaining scholarships and grants. The government will not process FAFSA applications with errors. Do not leave anything blank. Ask your school's guidance counselor for help.