1.) Senior year, create an FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID)

An FSA ID will serve as your signature. Because of this, each person creating an FSA ID needs to use their own email and phone number.

• • • • Student creates an FSA ID. We recommend you do not use your school email because you will want to have access to your email long after you graduate high school.

AND

• • • • Biological/adoptive parent (if applicable) creates an FSA ID. If you have a guardian, please talk to your advisor about how to complete the FAFSA. (Which parent needs an FSA ID to complete the FAFSA? Scroll down to learn more.)

2.) File the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

• • • • You will use your FSA ID to complete the FAFSA.

      • Be sure to use the application for the year that you will be in college. For students graduating in 2020, that would be the 2020-2021 school year. (You will need to file the FAFSA for every year you will be in college.)

3.) Review your SAR and EFC

• • • • SAR (Student Aid Report): The report that shows how you answered on the FAFSA. It will include your EFC.

      • EFC (Expected Family Contribution): The amount of money your family is expected to be able to afford according the the federal government. It is not necessarily the amount you will pay for college. Your college will use your EFC to determine your financial aid.

This number will be on your SAR. It is a dollar amount, but it will be printed in a different format. For example, your EFC may be: 000000 (which means $0); or 000543 (which means $543); or 047853 (which means $47,853).

• • • • If there is an asterisk (*) next to your EFC, it means you have been selected for verification. This doesn't mean that you have anything wrong. Let your advisor know and they will help you understand the next steps.

4.) What's next?

• • • • Your information will be sent to the colleges you marked on your FAFSA.

      • If you are selected for verification, schools will let you know what paperwork you need to complete to verify your FAFSA. Check your college portals for this information.

      • The schools you are admitted to will send you financial aid awards. They may not be sent out until the end of March.

      • When you receive a financial aid award, please share it with your advisor so they can help you understand it.

      • If you want to know what your financial aid might look like from a particular college, go to that college's website and search for their "Net Price Calculator." It will provide an estimate of what to expect.

5.) Questions?

• • • • Review the resources below. The page of terms may be helpful as well.

      • If you still have questions, contact your advisor. We're here to help!

• FAME's list of what you'll need

• FAME explains what to do/expect after filing