| Students can file their Free Application for Federal | | | | here, fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp |
| Student Aid (FAFSA) before their parents file their | | | | complete013.jsp(Spanish version: fafsa.ed.gov |
| 2006 taxes by estimating the amount they believe | | | | FOTWWebApp/scomplete013.jsp). |
| they’ll be claiming. According to NextStudent, the | | | | |
| Phoenix-based premier education funding company, | | | | 1. Follow-up: Three to five days after you file the |
| many people wait until after tax day to file their | | | | application, you will receive a confirmation receipt. If not, |
| FAFSA because they do not realize they can | | | | check here fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp |
| complete the application earlier by using their estimated | | | | follow003.jsp for confirmation. Within another four |
| income. If you do not file the FAFSA as close as | | | | weeks, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). If |
| possible to Jan. 2, you may limit or risk losing the | | | | you don’t, call: (800) 433-3243. If you find out |
| amount of federal financial aid you can receive | | | | that your income is significantly more or less than the |
| because it is distributed on a first-come, first-served | | | | amount you estimated, correct it by going here, |
| basis. | | | | fafsa.ed.gov/. |
| File Your FAFSA Online | | | | Federal Financial Aid |
| It is very simple to complete the FAFSA online. The | | | | After federal financial aid is awarded, NextStudent |
| whole process can be summarized in three simple | | | | makes it easy to actually obtain that financial aid in the |
| steps: organize, file, follow-up. | | | | form of Stafford student loans and PLUS loans. All |
| | | | NextStudent borrowers are assigned a personal |
| 1. Organize: Begin the process by gathering all of the | | | | Education Finance Advisor to walk them through the |
| relevant paperwork. Other than your estimated tax | | | | student loan process. Remember to file your FAFSA |
| information, you will need your driver’s license | | | | as close to Jan. 2 as possible, even if your |
| number and Social Security number, among other | | | | state’s deadline is in July. Federal financial aid is |
| things. Check out the pre-application work sheet, | | | | awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and if you |
| available at fafsa.ed.gov/fafsaws78bw.pdf (Spanish | | | | file early, you’ll increase your chances of getting |
| version: fafsa.ed.gov/sfafsaws78bw.pdf). After you | | | | an award. |
| get all of the relevant information, you will need to | | | | NextStudent believes that getting an education is the |
| apply for a personalized pin number to access your | | | | best investment you can make, and it is dedicated to |
| application, pin.ed.gov.? | | | | helping you pursue your education dreams by making |
| | | | college funding simple. |
| 1. File: Fill out the FAFSA online and get the application | | | | |