1. FAFSA Fundamentals

2. Paying for College No matter who you are, you CAN go to college
College is an investment in your future
Many forms of financial aid are available to help you pay for your education
It’s important to remember that if you want to go to college there are many options to help you achieve that goal
When I say “college,” I’m referring to any type of education past high school, such as two-year colleges, four-year universities, technology centers or trade schools
Some of the benefits of a college education are higher salaries, better benefits and increased job security
Financial aid is available for everyone; later we’ll discuss the types of aid you may qualify to receive

3. What’s Financial Aid?
Financial aid is money to help you pay educational expenses, such as:
Tuition
Fees
Books
Room and board
Transportation
Personal costs
Financial aid can help with various educational costs such as those listed here
Your aid can also assist with expenses like daycare and purchasing a computer

4. Find the FAFSA Online – Visit FAFSA.gov
Print a copy – Go to FAFSA.gov; click FAFSA Filing Options to print a paper FAFSA
Request a paper copy – Call FED.AID or (TTY) to request copies in English or Spanish
There are two ways to apply:
1. Online at FAFSA.gov
2. Print a paper copy at FAFSA.gov or request a paper application by calling FED.AID
The online application is strongly recommended

5. Free Application for Federal Student Aid
How Do I Apply?
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
The FAFSA is your first step
Use it to apply for most types of federal and state aid
By completing the FAFSA, you’ll be applying for most types of federal and state financial aid

6. FAFSA.gov
Here’s a screen shot of the FAFSA.gov home page where you can start completing the FAFSA application online
Remember to use FAFSA.gov, not FAFSA.com
You should never pay to complete the FAFSA

7. FAFSA.gov
This section of the FAFSA home page offers links to state financial aid deadlines, college codes and the paper FAFSA application
Parents and students can take advantage of the FAFSA4caster to estimate their aid eligibility before hearing from a school

8. Why Online? Faster processing time
Save your application and return to it later
Built-in error catcher means fewer delays
Yearly online renewal
Help and Hints boxes provided with every question
Electronically sign using your Personal Identification Number (PIN)
Automatically transfer your tax information with the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
Online is the easiest and most efficient way to complete the FAFSA
Online processing time is approximately 3-5 days, while a paper application may take much longer
The online process provides Help and Hints boxes on every page to assist you with questions, and includes built-in edits to help prevent errors
If you file online, next year you’ll be able to complete a renewal FAFSA with some answers already pre-populated with your information
The PIN is a 4-digit number assigned to you (and your parent or spouse)
You can also save time by using the IRS Data Retrieval tool online to automatically populate you tax information

9. What’s a PIN?
Request a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from FAFSA.gov
Typically sent via within 24 hours after your request
Student and one parent must each have a PIN
Use the same PIN when you:
Renew your FAFSA the following year
Sign an online loan application
The Personal Identification Number, or PIN, allows you to sign your FAFSA and some student loan applications online
Each student and one parent must have a PIN
The PIN is an ‘individual ID’ so the parent needs only one PIN for multiple children
Applying for a PIN only requires your SSN, name, address and date of birth
Request a PIN at FAFSA.gov

10. Getting a PIN
Click ‘PIN Site’ to request your PIN from the FAFSA.gov home page

11. Requested FAFSA Information
Social Security Numbers
Tax, income and other financial information
Marital status
Citizenship status
Assets
Level of parents’ school completion
Selective Service registration
This information will be necessary for you to complete your FAFSA application
If your current year tax returns haven’t been filed, you may use estimated figures in order to submit your FAFSA
If you estimate your information, the FAFSA Processing Center will remind you to enter your actual tax figures at a later date
Applicants should be aware of marital status, citizenship status and school completion levels of both parents
Parent and/or applicant must know asset information to complete the FAFSA
Male applicants are required to be registered with Selective Service; if student is not registered, he may do so on the FAFSA application

12. Don’t Miss Deadlines
FAFSA – Check with your school’s Financial Aid office for any priority deadlines
State Aid – State deadlines can be found at FAFSA.gov
Oklahoma’s deadline for the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG) is March 1
Deadlines are very important when applying for financial aid
Always apply as soon after January 1st as possible for each year you’re requesting financial aid
Check with your school’s Financial Aid office for their priority deadlines
Check state aid deadlines from the home page of FAFSA.gov
Oklahoma’s deadline for financial aid is March 1st

13. 7 Myths About the FAFSA
I won’t qualify for financial aid because my parents (or I) make too much money.
I don’t have good grades, so I won’t be eligible for financial aid.
I’m too old to qualify for financial aid.
The application is too hard to fill out!
I have to wait until my parents (or I) file my taxes.
I support myself, so I don’t have to include parent information.
I completed the FAFSA my freshman year, so I don’t have to complete it again.
I won’t qualify for financial aid because my parents (or I) make too much money. Actually, there isn’t an income cutoff to qualify for financial aid. Your eligibility for financial aid is based on a number of factors and not just your or your parents’ income. Plus, many states and schools use your FAFSA data to determine your eligibility for their aid. Fill out the application and find out what you can get!
I don’t have good grades, so I won’t be eligible for financial aid. Completing the FAFSA isn’t the same as applying to college. Most federal student aid programs don’t take your grades into consideration when you apply. Just remember, once you’re in college, you do need to maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to continue receiving federal aid.
I’m too old to qualify for financial aid. Federal student aid programs don’t take your age into consideration.
The application is too hard to fill out! Since it’s available online, the FAFSA is easier than ever to complete. The form uses “skip logic,” so you are only asked the questions that are relevant to you. If you’ve filed your taxes, then you can transfer your tax return data into your FAFSA automatically. And as you go through the application, there will be guided assistance in the margins to help you answer each question. Plus, the FAFSA website has a Help page that addresses most frequently asked questions.
  I have to wait until I (my parents) file taxes. Since some colleges have FAFSA deadlines that are before the tax filing deadline, it’s important to complete the FAFSA early. You can use estimates on your FAFSA by basing them off of last year’s taxes. After you file your taxes, you can log back into the FAFSA and input your updated tax information.
I support myself, so I don’t have to include parent info. This is not necessarily true. Even if you support yourself and file taxes on your own, you may still be considered a dependent student for federal student aid purposes. You can determine your dependency status by answering these questions. If you are independent, you don’t need to include your parents’ information on your FAFSA. If you are dependent, you need to provide your parents’ information.
I completed the FAFSA my freshman year, so I don’t have to complete it again. You’ll need to complete the FAFSA each year that you need financial assistance while you attend college or career school.

14. FAFSA Process

15. FAFSA Login
As you begin, you’ll be asked to log in with your name, SSN and date of birth

16. FAFSA
Be sure to choose the ‘ FAFSA’ if you plan to attend school beginning in the fall of 2014
If you will begin school in the summer of 2014, check with the school you plan to attend to get their specific requirements on the FAFSA
If you haven’t requested a PIN, you may apply for one here

17. Set Your Password
A password will be required as part of your log in to the FAFSA
Remember this password; it will be used each time you enter this program

18. Student Demographics
Use your full name as shown on your Social Security card
Be accurate when entering your birthdate
Enter your marital status as of the day you submit your FAFSA
Your name and date of birth must match what’s shown on your Social Security card or your FAFSA will be rejected
The FAFSA Processing Center will conduct a match between your name and date of birth with the Social Security Administration
Even if you plan to be married by the time you start college in the fall, you must enter your marital status as of the day you actually submit your FAFSA
Help and Hints boxes are provided on each screen to offer a detailed explanation of every question
Help and Hints boxes are located on each screen to assist you

19. Selective Service Registration
Eighteen year old males must register with Selective Service in order to receive financial aid
You can elect to register here on your FAFSA
If you’re an 18 year-old male and haven’t signed up for Selective Service, you may do so on your FAFSA application
Males who have not registered will not qualify for financial aid
If you’re only 17 now, go ahead and check ‘Register Me’; your information will be submitted on your 18th birthday

20. High School Name Search for high schools by name, city or state
If you have a high school diploma, you must include
the school from which you
graduated
Students are required to indicate the high school from which they will graduate
If your high school doesn’t appear when you search by school name, you can also search by city or state
If you indicate you have a high school diploma, you will be required to include the school’s name from which you graduated

21. School Selection You can send your FAFSA to 10 different colleges
You can search
colleges by name, city or state
A search was done here on Rose State College
The School Selection area allows you to send your FAFSA results to 10 different schools
Each school has a 6-digit code number; if you don’t know the school’s number, you may do a search here by name, city or state
We searched on Rose State College; click on the box next to the school name and have your FAFSA results sent there

22. School Selection
A search done on colleges in Stillwater found 3 schools
Two were added and they will receive your FAFSA results
Click View Selected School Information to get a comparison of your choices
On this screen we searched on Stillwater, Oklahoma, and found 3 schools located there
Two of those schools were chosen and they were added to our list to all receive the FAFSA results
Click ‘View Selected School Information’ to find various data on the schools you’ve selected

23. School Comparison
After selecting a few schools you’ll be able to compare cost for tuition and fees, the graduation rate, retention rate and much more
You will also be able to link directly to the school’s website from here

24. Housing Plans Provide Housing Plans for each school you’ve
chosen to receive your FAFSA results
Your options:
On campus
Off campus
With parents
You must provide your housing plans for each school receiving your FAFSA results
The Financial Aid office at the school(s) will use your housing plans to help determine the amount of financial aid you may be awarded

25. Dependent or Independent?
Your answers to these questions will determine your dependency status
If you’re unable to answer YES to one of these questions, you’ll be considered a Dependent Student
Your answers to these questions will determine your dependency status on the FAFSA
If you can answer YES to one question, you’ll be considered an independent student
If not, you’re considered a dependent student and must provide parental information on your FAFSA

26. Dependency Questionnaire
This questionnaire can be found under the Resources tab at StartWithFAFSA.org
It lists all of the current questions that determine your dependency status on the FAFSA

27. Dependency Status
Dependent students must provide parental information on the FAFSA
Independent students aren’t required to show parental information unless requested by their school
These guidelines indicate if parental information must be shown on the FAFSA based on your dependency status
Independent students who are married must also show spousal information

28. Special Circumstances
If there’s a special circumstance prohibiting you from providing parental information, it’s highly recommended you speak to the Financial Aid office at the school you’ll attend
Many schools have specific procedures they follow to handle this question
Dependent students who can’t provide parental information can state that here. Ask someone in your Financial Aid office what to do next.

29. Special Circumstances
Exceptions to the rule for parental information are shown here
Contact your Financial Aid office for more details
If you state you’re unable to provide parental information, read this page carefully to make sure you’re eligible to qualify
The school you plan to attend will require documentation to back up your statements

30. Special Circumstances
Change in employment status
Unusual medical expenses not covered by insurance
Change in parent marital status
Unusual dependent care expenses
This is a list of additional special circumstances that you or your parent may be facing
Speak with your financial aid officer if you have any specific questions

31. Parent Information
If your LEGAL parents (biological and/or adoptive) are separated or divorced – Use information about the parent you lived with most during the last 12 months
If you lived with both parents equally – Use information for the parent who provided you the most support in the last 12 months
If your divorced parent is remarried – Use information for your parent and step-parent
As you indicate your parent’s marital status, review these tips regarding whose financial information to include on the FAFSA
New for : If both legal parents live together, but aren’t married, they must still report BOTH incomes on the FAFSA

32. Parent Information
This chart provides the new regulations for determining how to show parental information on the FAFSA

33. Parent Demographics
Parent will enter first initial and last name as shown on their Social Security card. Name and date of birth will be verified with the Social Security Administration.
Parent(s) must provide the first initial of their full first name and date of birth as shown on their Social Security card
If parent(s) is undocumented or not a U.S. citizen, they may enter zeros for the Social Security number
On this slide we’re featuring legal parents who are Married
The applicant will provide information about the Father/Stepfather and Mother/Stepmother

34. Parent Demographics
Household size will include those living with your parent(s) who receive more than half of their support from them and will continue to receive this support through June 30, 2015
This slide features legal parents who are Unmarried and Living Together
In this situation the parents are shown as Parent 1 and Parent 2
If you’re unsure who should be counted in your household size, a complete definition is shown when you click on the Household Size button

35. Parent Income Parent can choose a tax filing status:
-Already completed
-Will file
-Not going to file
If parent ‘will file’, they’re given the option to use an Income Estimator or their prior year’s tax figures
They will be instructed to
enter final tax data when available and
use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
You may enter the 2013 tax information from your return or estimate your taxes if you haven’t filed yet
If you estimate your information, the FAFSA Processing Center will remind you to enter your actual tax figures at a later date
As soon as you file your taxes, be sure to update your FAFSA with the correct information so you don’t miss important deadlines
For additional information about each question, check the Help and Hints box on the right side of the screen; it will provide detailed information about every question in this section

36. IRS Data Retrieval IRS can send tax data online directly to your FAFSA
Available in early February for the FAFSA processing cycle
Participation is voluntary
Reduces documents requested by financial aid office
The IRS Data Retrieval process allows you to transfer your tax data directly from the IRS website to your FAFSA application
The tool will become available in early February for the FAFSA

37. IRS Data Retrieval
Electronically filed tax information will be available 2-3 weeks after the return has been accepted by the IRS
Data from paper tax returns will be available on the IRS website in approximately 8-11 weeks after the IRS receives the return
Filing taxes online will save valuable time for the student applicant

38. This screen requires you to verify that you’re the student or parent trying to access IRS tax information
You must provide general demographic data as well as your filing status on the return

39. After you’ve been allowed into the IRS website, you’ll see your tax information to be transferred to the FAFSA
You just click at the bottom of the page to ‘Transfer My Tax Information into the FAFSA’

40. Parent Income
If the IRS Data Retrieval tool is not used, parent will enter income figures directly from the current year’s tax return
When your parent enters the type of tax return they filed, the questions will provide the line number on the return from which to get the answer

41. Parent Income Parents will enter additional financial information here
This section requires information on any untaxed income or parental assets
If you’re unsure, click on each source of income for a brief description

42. Student Income
Students can indicate if they’ve filed their taxes, if they will file, or if they won’t file at all
The Help and Hints box on the right side will provide the corresponding line numbers on the return for each question
Students are also asked to provide the type of tax return they filed as well as their income earned and taxes paid.

43. Student Income Student will enter their income here
If the student chooses not to use the IRS Data Retrieval tool they will enter income figures directly from their current year’s tax return

44. Sign and Submit Click here to review all your data before you submit
You can still request a PIN here if necessary
Click ‘View or Print Your FAFSA Information’ to review all of your answers for accuracy before the FAFSA is submitted
You and your parent can electronically sign by entering your PIN
If you don’t have a PIN, you can request one from this page or print a signature page to sign and mail to the FAFSA Processing Center

45. Sign and Submit
Hit Submit My FAFSA Now to send your results to the school(s) you’ve chosen
This screen shot shows the lower portion of the Sign and Submit page
In this section the parent will enter their PIN or request one if they haven’t done so at this point
Don’t forget to hit ‘Submit My FAFSA Now’

46. Confirmation Page
A Confirmation Page is shown after your FAFSA has been submitted
It includes an estimate of your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and estimated eligibility for the Pell Grant and Federal student loans
After your submit your FAFSA you will receive a Confirmation Page
It will provide you with an estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) figure
You will also be shown your estimated eligibility for the Pell Grant and/or Federal Direct student loans

47. Things to Remember
Complete the FAFSA every year you need financial aid for college
Complete the FAFSA as soon after January 1st as possible to meet deadlines
Fill out the form online, if possible
Sign electronically with a Personal Identification Number (PIN)
Never pay to complete this form; it’s a FREE application
Complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1st each year you’ll need financial aid
Try to apply before March 1st each year to possibly qualify for the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant
Apply online at FAFSA.gov

48. FAFSA.com At FAFSA.com, a new client is required to pay $79.99.
Never pay to complete the FAFSA! Always use FAFSA.gov.
Never pay to complete the FAFSA
Always apply online, if possible, at FAFSA.gov
Beware of FAFSA.com; it will allow you to file the FAFSA, but will require you to pay up to $79.99 as a new customer

50. Scholarships
Click on Find Scholarships on the UCanGo2.org home page to locate a number of programs to help you pay for college