{"id":12740,"date":"2018-06-18T09:00:11","date_gmt":"2018-06-18T16:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/?p=12740"},"modified":"2019-03-17T06:15:26","modified_gmt":"2019-03-17T13:15:26","slug":"fafsa-application-ultimate-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/college-admissions\/fafsa-application-ultimate-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to Completing Your FAFSA Application"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re in the process of <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/college-admissions\/building-better-college-application\/\">applying to college<\/a>, you may have heard your guidance counselors, peers, or parents talking about the <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/college-admissions\/should-i-fill-out-fafsa-take-the-quiz\/\">FAFSA application<\/a>. But what is FAFSA?<\/p>\n<p>The very short answer is that FAFSA is the central way that you <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/college-admissions\/family-guide-to-college-admissions-season\/#financialaid\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">acquire financial aid<\/a> to cover the <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/college-admissions\/personal-finance-college-bound-student\/\">cost of college expenses<\/a>. Did you know that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.debt.org\/students\/scholarships-and-grants\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">the Department of Education gives out roughly 46 billion dollars in federal aid each year<\/a>? You want to fill out a FAFSA because that\u2019s how you get in on some of that money!<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;ll tell you about FAFSA deadlines, how to complete a FAFSA application, and everything else you need to know to apply for and receive the financial aid that you\u2019re entitled to!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/files\/2018\/05\/HS_FAFSA.png\" alt=\"Ultimate Guide to FAFSA Application - magoosh\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12745\" srcset=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/files\/2018\/05\/HS_FAFSA.png 600w, https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/files\/2018\/05\/HS_FAFSA-300x100.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"contents\"><\/a><br \/>\n<strong>Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#fafsa\">What is FAFSA?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#deadline\">FAFSA Deadline 2018-2019<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#info\">What Information do I Need to Complete a FAFSA Application?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#after\">What Happens After I File a FAFSA Application?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Other FAFSA FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#conclusion\">Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a name=\"fafsa\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>What is FAFSA?<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/fafsa.ed.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">FAFSA<\/a> stands for \u201cFree Application for Federal Student Aid,\u201d and it is how you can attain financial aid from the United States Government to help cover your college expenses. <\/p>\n<p>Now, while FAFSA is technically an application for federal aid, it is also required for determining your eligibility for aid from the state and from individual colleges in the form of grants, loans, and work-study programs. <\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a quick step-by-step process for how FAFSA works:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You will create a <a href=\"https:\/\/fafsa.ed.gov\/FAFSA\/app\/fafsa?locale=en_US\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">FAFSA on the Web application<\/a>. To re-access your application quickly and efficiently, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/fsaid.ed.gov\/npas\/index.htm\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">create an FSA ID<\/a>. You can also download and use this <a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/h\/apply-for-aid\/fafsa\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">FAFSA form<\/a>.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>The U.S. Department of Education will calculate your EFC, or \u201cexpected family contribution,\u201d to find out how much you and your family can afford to pay for college for the following school year. Your EFC is based on information that you or your parents will be required to provide on the FAFSA application (more on this shortly).<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>The higher your EFC, the less money you\u2019ll be entitled to in the form of federal aid; conversely, the lower your EFC, the more money you\u2019ll qualify for.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Note that you are required to apply for FAFSA every year, for the following academic year, for as many years as you are a student.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/files\/2017\/08\/back-to-top-button-1-e1502493700147.png\" alt=\"Go back to the top of our ultimate guide to the FAFSA application.\" width=\"150\" height=\"30\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-11102\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"deadline\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>FAFSA Deadline 2018-2019<\/h2>\n<p>FAFSA officially opened for applications for the 2018-2019 school year in October 2017. <\/p>\n<p>Online applications for Federal aid must be submitted by midnight Central Standard Time on June 30, 2019. Corrections and updates to your application must be submitted by midnight Central Standard Time on September 14, 2019. <\/p>\n<p>Every state has a different deadline for state-based financial aid, and this is a super handy resource detailing all of the <a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/apply-for-aid\/fafsa\/fafsa-deadlines\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">2018-2019 FAFSA deadlines by individual state<\/a>. Or you can use this convenient FAFSA <a href=\"https:\/\/fafsa.ed.gov\/deadlines.htm#\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">deadline calculator<\/a> to determine your deadlines for each academic year in your state of legal residence.  <\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind that every college has its own set of deadlines, so check with every college you are applying to about their FAFSA deadline so you don\u2019t miss the submission window! <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/files\/2017\/08\/back-to-top-button-1-e1502493700147.png\" alt=\"Go back to the top of our ultimate guide to the FAFSA application.\" width=\"150\" height=\"30\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-11102\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"info\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>What Information do I Need to Complete a FAFSA Application?<\/h2>\n<p>Here is a short and sweet list of <a href=\"https:\/\/fafsa.ed.gov\/help\/before003.htm\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">the necessary information for filling out a FAFSA<\/a> if you are filing as an independent. This includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your Social Security Number<\/li>\n<li>Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)<\/li>\n<li>Your federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned (note: tax information for FAFSA is now taken from the year-before-last\u2019s tax return, not last year\u2019s)<\/li>\n<li>Bank statements, investment records, and records of untaxed income (if necessary)<\/li>\n<li>An <a href=\"https:\/\/fsaid.ed.gov\/npas\/index.htm\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">FSA ID<\/a> to sign electronically<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>More than likely, though, especially if you\u2019re still in high school right now, your parents can claim you as an dependent. This means they will have to fill out a FAFSA application for you, providing in-depth information on their financial earnings (in other words, sharing their Social Security Number and the other information listed above). <\/p>\n<h3>Resources for Parents<\/h3>\n<p>Your parents can use the <a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.ed.gov\/sa\/about\/announcements\/irs-drt-unavailable\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">IRS retrieval tool<\/a> to conveniently upload their tax return information into your FAFSA form. Note that this tool was taken down temporarily in March 2017 to prevent fraudulent activity. While it operates a little differently than it did in the past, it\u2019s still a viable tool, and now safer to use than previously! <\/p>\n<p>This is also a great resource on the <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/college-admissions\/fafsa-application-ultimate-guide\/\">updated protocol for submitting tax information to FAFSA<\/a> if you\u2019d like more information on this front. <\/p>\n<p>Here is a list of questions to ask yourself to <a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/apply-for-aid\/fafsa\/filling-out\/dependency\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">determine if you\u2019re a dependent<\/a> and will therefore need your parents&#8217; information to complete the form. <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also important to note that a <strong>parent<\/strong>, in the case of FAFSA, is:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A biological or adoptive parent<\/li>\n<li>A legal guardian that the state has determined to be a parent on your birth certificate<\/li>\n<li>Note that foster parents, legal guardians, grandparents, older siblings, widowed step-parents, or aunts\/uncles are not considered parents for the purpose of FAFSA unless they have legally adopted you. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Now, as we all know, not all families look exactly the same, and parental relationships vary from household to household. <\/p>\n<p>This is a great infographic of <a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.ed.gov\/sa\/sites\/default\/files\/who-is-my-parent.png\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">who should fill out a FAFSA form for you<\/a>, but here\u2019s whose information to provide on a FAFSA, based on marital status:*<\/p>\n<table id=\"tablepress-207\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-207 tablepress-responsive\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n<th class=\"column-1\">Parent\u2019s Marital Status<\/th>\n<th class=\"column-2\">Provide Information For: <\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">Never Married<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">The parent that you lived with most during the last 12 months. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, provide information about the parent who provided more financial support during the last 12 months, or during the most recent year that you actually received support from a parent.\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">Both legal parents unmarried but currently living together<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Both of your legal parents\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">Married<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Both of your parents<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">Remarried (after being widowed or divorced)\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Parent and Stepparent\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">Divorced or Separated\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">The parent that you lived with most during the last 12 months. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, provide information about the parent who provided more financial support during the last 12 months, or during the most recent year that you actually received support from a parent.\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7 odd\">\n<td class=\"column-1\">Widowed<\/td>\n<td class=\"column-2\">Your parent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><!-- #tablepress-207 from cache --><\/p>\n<p>(*The following information is reproduced from FAFSA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/fafsa.ed.gov\/help\/ffdef07.htm\">Who\u2019s Considered A Parent?<\/a> Page and can be found there as well.)<\/p>\n<p>One last noteworthy point is that <em>even if you are a dependent<\/em>, you must claim any financial gains you incurred the previous year, such as gifts, contest money, etc. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/files\/2017\/08\/back-to-top-button-1-e1502493700147.png\" alt=\"Go back to the top of our ultimate guide to the FAFSA application.\" width=\"150\" height=\"30\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-11102\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"after\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>What Happens After I File a FAFSA Application?<\/h2>\n<p>Two major things happen after you file a FAFSA:<\/p>\n<p><strong>#1 You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve provided an email address, you will receive your SAR within 3-5 days. Otherwise, you will receive it in the mail within 7-10 days. Your SAR will include all of the information that you or a parent has entered as well as your EFC (\u201cexpected family contribution\u201d if you recall from above). If any information is missing, your EFC will not be calculated and you will be able to add or change information as necessary. <\/p>\n<p><strong>#2 You will receive financial aid award letters<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As you begin receiving acceptance letters from colleges you\u2019ve applied to (woo hoo!), you will also begin receiving financial aid award letters; in fact, sometimes they even come with your acceptance letters. <\/p>\n<p>Your financial aid award letters will use the information from your FAFSA application to come up with an amount of money that they are willing and able to provide you. Each school will have its own unique \u201cfinancial aid package\u201d that breaks down the aid you receive. Aid may come in several forms including but not limited to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Grants<\/em> &#8211; Sums of money that are typically strictly need-based, and do not have to be repaid.<\/li>\n<li><em>Scholarships<\/em> &#8211; Also sums of money that do not need to be repaid, but are often merit-based or both need and merit based.<\/li>\n<li><em>Government loans<\/em> &#8211; Low interest loans with various payment plan options.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This is a great overview of <a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/understand-aid\/types\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">every type of financial aid offered through FAFSA<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>One thing to keep in mind, however, is that if you apply to a college early-action or early decision, your financial package may not arrive until all students have applied by the regular deadline. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/files\/2017\/08\/back-to-top-button-1-e1502493700147.png\" alt=\"Go back to the top of our ultimate guide to the FAFSA application.\" width=\"150\" height=\"30\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-11102\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"faq\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Other FAFSA FAQs<\/h2>\n<h3>Who Can Apply for FAFSA?<\/h3>\n<p>Here is a quick fact sheet on <a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/understand-aid\/eligibility\/requirements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">eligibility for receiving financial aid via FAFSA<\/a>, but please note that you must be a United States citizen with a valid Social Security Number, or be an eligible non-citizen of the United States. Typically, the following individuals are considered eligible non-citizens: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>US permanent residents (holding a Permanent Resident Card, formally referred to as a \u201cGreen Card\u201d)<\/li>\n<li>Conditional permanent residents (I-551C)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you are currently an undocumented immigrant, there are still many types of financial aid you can apply for, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/secure-media.collegeboard.org\/digitalServices\/pdf\/professionals\/repository-of-resources-for-undocumented-students.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">College Board\u2019s Repository of Resources for Undocumented Students<\/a> is a great starting point.  <\/p>\n<h3>Why Do So Many Students Miss Out on FAFSA?<\/h3>\n<p>The truth is that many students don\u2019t immediately believe that they will qualify for financial aid, but nearly all students do, in varying quantities. <\/p>\n<p>Some students are also simply not made aware of the FAFSA application and then miss the deadline to apply for aid. <\/p>\n<p>Sometimes students who are English Language Learners (ELL) or whose parents are ELL have a hard time understanding all of the information being asked on the FAFSA form. If this is the case, talk to your high school guidance counselor as soon as possible to discuss translation options and assistance. <\/p>\n<p>According to several recent studies, students leave literal billions of dollars on the table by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2017\/09\/28\/why-every-student-should-fill-out-the-fafsa.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">not applying for FAFSA<\/a>, which is incredibly unfortunate! <\/p>\n<p>The moral is, everyone should submit a FAFSA application, bottom line. You may be entitled to significantly more money than you assume, and no matter what, every bit helps! <\/p>\n<h3>Is FAFSA Mandatory?<\/h3>\n<p>Nope, FAFSA is not mandatory, but it\u2019s the gatekeeper for all types of financial aid, so if you\u2019re looking for financial assistance of any variety, you\u2019ll need to fill one out! <\/p>\n<h3>Is FAFSA Free?<\/h3>\n<p>Indeed it is! Hence the name, \u201cFree Application for Federal Student Aid.\u201d That said, you will no doubt have other application fees as you apply to college, so be mindful of these as they come up.  <\/p>\n<h3>Does FAFSA Help You Get Free Money or a Loan? <\/h3>\n<p>One of the main goals of FAFSA is to get you money that you do not need to pay back\u2014in other words, grants and loans. <\/p>\n<p>However, each one of the colleges you apply to will assemble their own financial aid package, some of which will include loans, which must be repaid per the specific terms of each individual type of loan.<\/p>\n<h3>Is FAFSA The Only Way to Receive Financial Aid?<\/h3>\n<p>FAFSA is the quickest way to access most types of financial aid out there, but it isn\u2019t the only way or <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/college-admissions\/ways-to-make-college-financially-feasible\/\">resource<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>At the bottom of the <a href=\"https:\/\/fafsa.ed.gov\/fotw1718\/help\/typesofAid.htm\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">types of financial aid page<\/a>, FAFSA lists some of the other ways students can get <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/college-admissions\/5-easy-ways-for-undergrads-to-reduce-the-need-for-student-loans\/\">financial assistance<\/a>, including tax credits, military aid, <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/college-admissions\/3-best-places-to-look-for-college-scholarships\/\">state and local scholarships<\/a>, etc. <\/p>\n<p>Remember that there are many options out there for paying for college, and you can use the <a href=\"https:\/\/cssprofile.collegeboard.org\/?navId=cssprofile-lu\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">College Scholarship Service (CSS)<\/a> to help you apply for all kinds of scholarships from over 400 participating colleges. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#contents\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/hs\/files\/2017\/08\/back-to-top-button-1-e1502493700147.png\" alt=\"Go back to the top of our ultimate guide to the FAFSA application.\" width=\"150\" height=\"30\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-11102\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"conclusion\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Good Luck and Happy Applying! <\/h2>\n<p>We know that applying to colleges is stressful in its own right, and the FAFSA application can seem really intimidating. <\/p>\n<p>But if you have all the information (starting with the answer to, &#8220;What is FAFSA?&#8221;) and start the process early, you\u2019ll be set! And again, you may be surprised how helpful doing so is to you in the applying to and selecting a college! <\/p>\n<p>Remember that if you need help or more information, see your high school guidance counselor at your earliest convenience. You can also utilize the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Coalition for College Access<\/a> and its range of free tools and resources for college planning if you feel you need more assistance. <\/p>\n<p>Are there any other questions or concerns you have about FAFSA? If so, comment below and let us know! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is FAFSA? Learn all about the FAFSA deadline, how to complete a FAFSA application, and answers to help you earn the financial aid you need.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":267,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[30,95],"ppma_author":[24877],"class_list":["post-12740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-college-admissions","tag-college-preparation","tag-fin-aid"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.7 (Yoast SEO v21.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Ultimate Guide to Completing Your FAFSA Application - Magoosh Blog | High School<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What is FAFSA? 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