5 Tips to Applying for Student Financial Aid

1. Apply early
   
   Financial aid is often awarded based on when you applied, so do not delay in putting in your application. FAFSA forms should be filled out as soon as possible no later than the January 1st starting date. Don't wait until you've filed your income tax forms are filled out to submit you application. Just estimate your income; you can fix errors later. the Your FAFSA must be be in the hands of the federal processor no later than March 1st qualify you for state aid.
2. Read instructions carefully
   
   Read all instructions on any financial aid application you fill out. Many questions are straightforward to understand, like your date of birth and social security number. But other questions demand some thought and a knowledge of the specific meaning as it applies to the application. Terms like "investments", "parent", and "household" have regular meanings, but for the purposes of financial aid they are more specific. These are defined in the FAFSA instructions. Failure to answer question properly will cause delays and could result in you're not being considered for this or that aid program.
3. Do not forget your federal school code
   
   When filling out the FAFSA application remember to write down your prospective school's federal school code. Yes, federal school code. By properly filling in this number, your school's office of financial aid will automatically receive your results.
4. File electronically
   
   Not only does it save paper and postage, it saves time. You may submit your FAFSA application online. This is the fastest way to apply for financial aid because it omits any chance of delay that can occur due to the mail or hand processing. And the online form actually helps prevent errors in filing.
5. Register for the Selective Service
   
   U.S. citizens who are male and male resident aliens aged from 18 to 25 must be registered with the U.S. Selective Service System to qualify for federal financial aid. While some see this as controversial, it has long been upheld as a legal requirement. You can register for the this military service pool of names at any U.S. post office or with a computer at the Selective Service System site.

For questions you may still have, check out the answers we have provided to our frequently asked questions.