Unless you are one of the very few who can pay your own way, when you apply for college you will also be applying for financial aid. A key part of the process is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application, which most students fill out online.

You can find the FAFSA application and directions on the FAFSA website. It may look complicated, but don’t worry – if you follow the directions you should have no problem. Here’s what to expect.

Deadlines

The deadlines for your state or schools may be different from the federal deadlines and you may be required to complete additional forms.

FAFSA on the Web applications are accepted from January 1^st through midnight Central Daylight time, June 30, of the summer preceeding the school year. Corrections on the Web forms must be submitted by midnight Central Daylight time, September 15.

Apply Online or by Mail?

Moat students complete the FAFSA online by using FAFSA on the Web. Or, you can fill out and mail a paper FAFSA. Each method is available in both an English and a Spanish version.

Documents You Need

To simplify the application process, gather required documents and other information ahead of time.

• Your Social Security number. Be sure it is correct!

• Your driver's license (if you have one).

• Your W-2 forms and other records of money earned during the previous year.

• Your tax return for the previous year. For example, when you apply for the 2010-2011 school year, you will need your completed 2009 federal return. This could be any one of these: IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040 EZ Foreign Tax Return, or tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federal States of Micronesia, or Palau.

• If you are a dependent student, your parents´ federal income tax return for the same year as yours.

• If you are married and have filed separately, your spouse’s federal income tax return for the previous year.

• Your untaxed income records for the previous year.

• Veterans benefits records.

• Child support received.

• Worker's compensation.

• Your current bank statements.

• Your current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond, and other investment records.

• If you are not a U.S. citizen, your alien registration or permanent resident card.

Before filling out the FAFSA, you should complete your federal tax return. It will make the process much easier.

Filling Out Your FAFSA

The FAFSA contains questions that ask about you, your financial information, your school plans, and more. Here are the eight steps to completing your FAFSA:

1.  Assemble the materials described above.

2.  Determine your dependency status.

3.  Go to the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet.

4.  Search for school codes. These are the numerical identifiers of the school(s) to which you want to apply. For example, the code for Kaplan College in Sacramento, California is 016720. You can choose as many schools as you want.

5.  Apply for your PIN. The Federal Student Aid PIN is a secret 4-digit numeric code or 6-digit alphabetic code that is uniquely assigned to an individual to provide access to Federal Student Aid web sites.

6.  Check application deadline dates.

7.  Fill out your FAFSA. With your PIN, you can save it and come back to it anytime. You do not have to fill it out all at once!

8.  When you are done, sign electronically with your PIN. Submit the application.

Your Student Aid Report

Within three weeks of submitting your FAFSA, you should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). Carefully review all of the information on the SAR to make sure it is correct. Follow directions for making and submitting corrections promptly. If you do not receive a SAR within three weeks, or if you have questions about your SAR, refer to the Customer Service page on the FAFSA website.

You can check the status of your application by selecting “Check Status of a Submitted FAFSA or Print Signature Page” under the FAFSA Follow-Up section of the home page.

Signatures Required

There are three ways to sign your FAFSA application:

1. Electronically with a PIN

2. By printing, signing, and mailing a signature page after you submit a FAFSA

3. By signing your Student Aid Report (SAR) and returning it in the mail.

Remember, the application is FREE and you can submit your FAFSA to as many schools as you want. So, browse through Education-For-Careers.com, compare schools, apply to your top four or five, and then complete your FAFSA. It’s easy and may result in good news!