Time Schedule
The FAFSA should be sent by Monday, January 3 or within that week. Some of your research readings will say four weeks prior to a particular school’s date. That could be too late. The FAFSA qualifies you for federal money. This gets competitive and the money is distributed quickly.

The first response you will receive about your FAFSA will be a form called the STUDENT AID REPORT or SAR. This usually arrives two to three weeks after the federal agency receives your FAFSA.

After receiving your SAR, you will be working directly with the financial aid office at each campus. They will review your information. If eligible, in about four to eight weeks, the campus will offer you an aid package. CPR will review that process when we get closer to that time.

Accuracy
The FAFSA is similar to filing your 1040 form each year. It is a federal form qualifying you for federal money.

Read and follow the instructions explicitly, especially noting questions that don’t apply to you. Remember that accuracy the first time will save time and money later.

Organization is a key. Keep records from applying for admissions and financial aid. Make a copy of everything you mail out and keep a file of the activities that result.

You will receive a great deal of correspondence from each campus office. Some might request additional information. Others might just be informing you of your status. Keep it all in order received for the first full year of college. You will want an extra set of copies to take to campus with you. You won’t believe how much confusion, long distance calling and faxes this will eliminate.

Preparation
The tax information asked for on the FAFSA can be the previous year’s tax report. I usually advise getting your records together and make a guestimate of this year compared to last year.

The only time you will be required to provide a current tax report is if you are one of the 30 percent that the federal Agency asks for verification. This is strictly done on a random basis. Some private schools may ask for a current tax report when considering private aid.

As a student, be sure you have a social security number to complete the FAFSA and 99 percent of all forms you will complete for college. You will be asked to provide your social security number many times while on campus as well. It’s a crucial thing to memorize. Male Students—Most will be required to register for the Selective Service. Questions 28 and 29 address this subject.

Application Process — FAFSA
The format of the form is not as forbearing as it looks. You will complete pages 3,4,5 and 6. The rest are instructions and information. The form is color coded, Yellow is for student information, pages 3,4,and 6. Purple is for parents, page 5. Parents also need to sign with student on page 6.

Caution: don’t start filling in the blanks until you have read the page beginning with the first printed word. Important instructions are placed throughout each page!

The federal school code can be found by calling the campus financial aid office, public library, high school counselor office, and on the internet. Click on the icon, Information for Students. The first section is “The Student Financial Assistance Program. Click on Federal School Code Search Page. Read and succeed.