This Web site explains how to complete the 2004-05 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It explains the purpose of the FAFSA questions. This site also contains a section that provides answers to several frequently asked questions (FAQs). If you have additional questions about federal student aid or how to complete an electronic or paper application after you review this site, you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or contact your financial aid administrator (FAA). You can also go to our Student Aid on the Web site at www.studentaid.ed.gov.

You can complete a FAFSA in the following ways:

• Online (FAFSA on the Web) at www.fafsa.ed.gov
• On paper

Applying online is generally faster and easier for two reasons:

• FAFSA on the Web has built-in help to guide you through the application process.
• The schools you list on your application will receive your processed information faster.

If you do not have a computer with Internet access at home, you can usually find online availability at your local library, high school, or a financial aid office at a nearby campus.

Using a PIN to Apply and to Sign Your Application

You (and your parent, if applicable) can obtain a PIN. The PIN is an electronic access code number that serves as an identifier. It works much like the personal identification number you get from your bank.

You can use the PIN in a number of ways: to apply on either an original or a Renewal FAFSA on the Web application, or to sign your FAFSA on the Web application. If you are a dependent student (your dependency status is determined through a series of questions: 48-54), one of your parents also can use a PIN to sign the application. You don't need a PIN to complete an original application, but you will need one for a Renewal application and to sign either an original or Renewal FAFSA. See the section If You Applied Previously below for further information on the Renewal FAFSA.

You (or your parent, if applicable) can obtain a PIN before you begin the application process by applying at our secure Web site at www.pin.ed.gov. If you give us your e-mail address, when you apply for a PIN we will e-mail you with a link to a web page where you can electronically obtain your PIN. Paper FAFSA filers may provide their e-mail addresses in 2004-05 by completing Question 13.

As previously stated, FAFSA on the Web applicants don't need to have a PIN to apply. Without a PIN, they can print out a signature page. However, we strongly suggest using a PIN, as it will result in a faster processing turnaround. If you apply without a PIN, but provide your e-mail address on your FAFSA on the Web application, you will receive an e-mail with a link to a web page where you can obtain your PIN. If you do not provide your e-mail address, you will receive a PIN mailer, which is a paper document mailed to the student's permanent mailing address. This document will contain your PIN.

Note that if you apply for a PIN ahead of time, you will avoid any delay between the time you complete your application and receive your e-mail PIN link or PIN mailer. If you have any questions about the PIN process, you should either visit the PIN web site at www.pin.ed.gov or call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).

If you Applied Previously

If you applied for aid in 2003-04, you might not have to complete an entire FAFSA for 2004-05. Instead, you might be able to use a Renewal FAFSA, which is available both on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov and on paper. The Renewal FAFSA is pre-filled with data that hasn't changed from the previous year (such as the demographic information). Financial information that changes from year to year (AGI, taxes paid, asset information, etc.) will need to be added. Certain renewal applicants will automatically receive PINs:

• Graduate students and fifth-year undergraduates
• Students who filed using FAFSA on the Web or Corrections on the Web in 2003-2004
• Students whose schools request that PINs be sent instead of paper Renewal FAFSAs.

Students who meet the above three requirements and who provide a valid e-mail address will receive an e-mail that will provide a link to their PIN. If they did not provide an e-mail address or the address they provided was invalid, they will receive a PIN mailer.

You also can obtain more detailed information on how to use the PIN from www.pin.ed.gov.