Student
Financial Aid - The FAFSA Forms
The Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form you need to
complete in
order to be considered for grants or work-study programs. Also,
you must file the FAFSA prior to applying for any other federal
student financial
assistance (SFA) programs. Some states and
schools also require the FAFSA
before you can apply for any
grants or loan programs they may offer.
The FAFSA asks a number of
questions designed to calculate your expected
family contribution
(EFC). The EFC is the number used in determining your
eligibility
for federal student aid. The information you provide on the FAFSA and
your EFC are presented in a Student Aid Report (SAR).
The U.S.
Department of Education sends copies of your SAR to you and to
each school to which you apply - you can designate up to six with
your original
FAFSA application. Look for your SAR approximately
four weeks after you
submit your application.
It is
extremely important to submit your FAFSA application on time so you can
meet school and state priority filing deadlines. Applying early
is highly
recommended as most schools award their limited funds
on a first-come,
first-served basis.
