Tips On Applying For Financial Aid Application: Part 2
The college costs are usually beyond the reach of many students and most need to
turn to some form of financial aid so as to be able to afford a college. This article is part 2 of the series that provides tips on the process of applying for financial aid that would help you win a good financial aid package.
Have you filled your FAFSA form?
The Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) is the application form that one needs to fill when requesting for financial aid in the United States. Filling out the FAFSA is a lengthy and complex process. However, plenty of free resources are available both on the internet and otherwise to ease this process.
For a paper copy, you can call (800) 4-FED-AID. For an electronic or soft copy, check the FAFSA web site at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. The electronic version obviously is easier to fill and track. Mistakes can be easily rectified in an electronic version as compared to paper version.
A lot of information in your FAFSA form is similar to your income tax return forms. Hence, it is recommended that you fill out your income tax returns first so that you have all information ready.
FAFSA also requires a signature page. You could either print out and mail the signature page or you could obtain a PIN. The PIN can be obtained by filling an application at http://www.pin.ed.gov/www.pin.ed.gov. It takes anywhere between 7 and 10 days for the the PIN to reach you by mail.
Remember that FAFSA is not a one-time affair. If you want financial aid all through your college years, you will need to keep reapplying. Fortunately, the FAFSA renewal form is not as lengthy and complex as the first form.