Paying for College and completing the Free Application for Federal Student aid(FAFSA)

Where to begin?

1. All students are required to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to received federal aid for attending college or a career school.  The easiest and quickest way is to apply online by clicking onto the following link: www.studentaid.gov 

2. Many non-U.S. citizens qualify for federal student aid. Don’t assume you can’t get aid just because you’re not a citizen. ESL Students and Financial Aid for College

3. To increase the expediency of submitting the FAFSA you will need to also go to the following link, Federal Student Aid PIN, so that you can electronically sign your FAFSA application once you have completed it and are ready to submit.  You will use this same PIN every time you submit your FAFSA as you will be required to complete one every school year, which you should do once  you and or your parents complete their tax returns.  Please call the Financial Aid Dept. for the College you are attending or plan to attend for further guidance.

4. Federal Aid will awarded based on financial need and come in the form of with a loan and/or grant.

5. Here is what you will need once you are ready to complete:

• Your Social Security Number and your parent's Social Security Numbers if you are providing parent information.

• Your driver's license number if you have one.

• Federal tax returns for yourself and your parent's returns if you are providing their information

• Records for any untaxed income.

Need additional help?

1. Click onto the "Help" button on every page of the online FAFSA application.  You can also download free publications for additional help and explanations on the FAFSA by clicking onto the following link: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/resources.

2. To get help, toll free, call 1-800-4-FED-AID between the hours of 8 am. and midnight Eastern Standard time.

3. Contact your child's school counselor or a representative of the Financial Aid Department at the college your child will be attending.

What about Scholarships and Grants?

1. Scholarships and Grants are monies that student received whereby he or she would not have to pay back after completing college and earning a degree.  Applying for a scholarship is much like entering a contest in which the student will be asked to complete an application, possibly be required to obtain Letters of Recommendation, write an essay, and submit the application by a certain deadline. The applicants are reviewed by the board offering the scholarship and a winner is selected.

2. Students may use Naviance to locate scholarship opportunities.

3. For students who wish to be considered for an athletic scholarship, you must be registered with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).