How do I fill out my FAFSA form?

This blog will tell you how to fill out your FAFSA form to begin the process of getting financial aid for college. FASFA stands for " Free Application for Federal Student Aid". This form determines the amount of money that you will receive in the form of grants, scholarships, work-study and loans. The amounts that you are eligible for are based on your family's ability to pay ( or "Expected Family Contribution"). While you can fill out a paper form of the FAFSA, it is best to fill it out online . Before you can do this, you and one of your parents will have to get a PIN number to electronically sign your online FAFSA form .The PIN number will be emailed to you and you can get one here. You will need your Social Security number and a valid email address to get a PIN number by way of email. if you do not have an email account you can have the PIN number mailed to your home address. Remember, one of your parents or a guardian must also get a PIN number. Once you have your PIN number, you can begin filling out your FAFSA as soon as your parents' have their W-2 tax forms from their employers. These are usually given out early in the the year in January. It is important to submit a FASFA form as early as possible after January 1. Be careful of deadlines- most states require the FAFSA to be submitted by March 1, and some even as early as early or mid-February.To help you fill out your FAFSA it is helpful to fill out a FAFSA on the Web worksheet. This sheet will help you organize all of your important information. Click here to download a work sheet. When you are ready to fill out your FAFSA, go to this site and begin. You can select up to six colleges that you want to receive your FAFSA data. Once your FAFSA is processed, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) with your official Expected Family Contribution ( EFC) figure. The financial aid offices from the colleges that you have selected will use your EFC to determine your financial need. Each college will send you an award letter that tells you the finacial aid they are offering to you. Here is a podcast to listen to about your FAFSA form.