How do I apply?

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applying is FREE.

But I hate filling out a bunch of paperwork.

All you need for federal student aid is our application, referred to as the FAFSA. You might have to complete an additional application to be considered for school or state aid, but many schools and states use FAFSA information for this purpose.

Could I apply online?

Yes; in fact, it's faster and easier than using a paper FAFSA. You can complete our online application, FAFSA on the Web, from your home computer or from a computer at a central location like your high school, your local public library, or your local educational opportunity center.

Before you apply, you should get a PIN to make the application process go even faster (see below).

What if I decide I want a paper application?

You can get a paper FAFSA—in English or Spanish—from your local library or high school, the college or career school you plan to attend, or our Federal Student Aid Information Center.

Just mail your FAFSA in the pre-addressed envelope that's in your FAFSA packet. Or, before mailing it, you could check to see if your school, or a school that interests you, offers the option of submitting your FAFSA data electronically.

When do I apply?

You can apply beginning Jan. 1 of your senior year in high school. You have until June 30 of the following year to submit your FAFSA. For the 2005-2006 award year, for example, applications must be submitted between Jan. 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006. There are no exceptions to the deadlines.

You must reapply for federal student aid for each year you'll be enrolled in a college or career school. Eligibility is determined for one award year at a time. The results of a 2005-2006 application will be good only for the 2005-2006 award year (July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006) and any summer terms a school considers part of that award year.

When you're a senior, try to apply as soon as possible after Jan. 1. Schools and states often have much earlier deadlines than ours. For example, school or state deadlines for 2005-2006 are often in February or March 2005.

After you've applied for the first time, you might be able to apply more easily and quickly in later award years by completing a Renewal FAFSA. Generally, you fill out just the information that has changed from the previous award year. The Renewal FAFSA is also available online at FAFSA on the Web. You'll receive information about the Renewal FAFSA when it's time for you to use it.

What do I need before I fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?

We use your SSN to verify your information and locate your federal student aid records. If you don't have an SSN yet, you should apply for one at your local Social Security office. You can find out more about applying at www.ssa.gov.

If you use our online FAFSA on the Web to apply for aid, having a PIN (a personal identification number) before you apply lets you "sign" your FAFSA electronically at the time you submit it. That way, the student aid process can be completed quickly and totally online, and you'll get your results faster.

You request a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov. Don't wait until you apply to request a PIN. You can get one anytime. You'll receive your PIN either through regular mail or e-mail, if you provide your e-mail address.

Even if you fill out a paper FAFSA, you should still request a PIN because you can use it to:

• Look up your processed FAFSA data online;
• Make online corrections to your application information;
• Complete your Renewal FAFSA online; and
• Access all your applicant data records online. For example, you can check your student loan history.

Because we award our aid based on financial need, you'll need to report certain financial information on the FAFSA. For example, if you're considered dependent on your parents—see "Dependency Status" below—you'll need your parents' W-2 forms and other records of money earned, as well as their U.S. income tax returns. You'll need your own forms as well. Referring to the tax forms while you complete the FAFSA makes it easier to answer the questions. The FAFSA requires specific information from specific lines on the U.S. income tax forms from the year prior to the award year (2004 tax return information for the 2005-2006 award year, for example).

If tax forms aren't completed by the time you apply, you can complete the FAFSA with estimates of your financial information. Later, you must go back and correct your answers.

Save the documents you use when completing the FAFSA. You might need them later if your school asks you to verify your FAFSA information. If the information is incorrect, you won't get federal student aid until you make corrections. It's a good idea to keep a photocopy of your completed FAFSA or a printout of your application from FAFSA on the Web.

What if I need help filling out my application?

If you apply using our online FAFSA on the Web, help is built into the program while you're completing the form. You can also "chat" live online with someone if you have questions. For additional help, you can go to www.studentaid.ed.gov/completefafsa.

You can also contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center with questions about either the paper or online FAFSA.

You can also talk to the financial aid staff at the school you plan to attend.

You can get the help you need for free from any of these sources; you don't have to pay for assistance.

How can I find out the status of my application after I submit it?

If you applied through FAFSA on the Web, you'll get a confirmation notice after you click on "Submit My FAFSA Now." Your FAFSA will be processed in a few days.

If you file a paper FAFSA, along with it you should mail the postcard that comes with the FAFSA packet. We'll stamp the postcard with the date we received your FAFSA and mail the postcard back to you. You can also check on your application by contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center. We'll process your FAFSA within four weeks of the date you mail it.

How do the schools I'm interested in get my FAFSA information?

You can list up to six schools on your FAFSA. Those schools will receive your FAFSA results electronically. If you later want to make changes to that list, you can do so online using your PIN, or you can contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center.