| High school students heading for college will want | | | | online at fafsa.ed.gov, a site also known as FAFSA |
| to complete their Free Application for Federal | | | | on the Web. The government has designed this |
| Student Aid as early as possible in their senior | | | | site to offer step-by-step instructions as you |
| year of high school. The Federal government is | | | | answer each question in the FAFSA application. |
| still the nation's most important source of college | | | | The online process also catches any potential |
| funding, disbursing 80 billion dollars of student aid | | | | mistakes you make and prompts you to correct |
| per annum as grants, work-study wage or loans. | | | | them. Finally, filing your FAFSA application online is |
| If you want to get your share of the Federal | | | | fast. You'll receive confirmation of the receipt of |
| education pie, you'll want to file your FAFSA | | | | your application immediately and the typical |
| application promptly. | | | | FAFSA application is usually processed in just a |
| The FAFSA application process has an | | | | few days. |
| undeserved reputation as a being difficult to | | | | In Step Three of the application process, you'll |
| understand and hard to complete. This impression | | | | receive your SAR, or Student Aid Report, |
| may have been fostered in part by third-party | | | | approximately three to five days after filing your |
| fee-for-service providers that have made a | | | | FAFSA application online, or in seven to ten days |
| business of helping applicants complete the | | | | if you filed by mail. The SAR contains your |
| necessary forms. However, the application | | | | Expected Family Contribution, or EFC, which is the |
| process is much easier than its reputation and the | | | | amount your family is estimated to be able to |
| Federal government has extensive online help to | | | | contribute to your college education. Your financial |
| guide you through the three-step process. Also, | | | | need is determined by subtracting the EFC from |
| the government charges no fees of any kind. The | | | | the cost of attendance at a particular college or |
| FAFSA application is free to all. | | | | university. Once you receive your SAR, review it |
| You'll want to kick off Step One of the FAFSA | | | | for any errors and once it's complete, contact the |
| application process by applying for and receiving | | | | financial aid office at the college or colleges you're |
| your own personal identification number, or PIN. | | | | considering. The financial aid office will let you |
| Your PIN makes it possible to apply for student | | | | know the type and amount of financial aid a |
| aid online, a process the government has | | | | particular college is willing to offer. |
| streamlined and made as easy as possible. Your | | | | While not difficult to understand or complete, this |
| PIN also makes it possible to sign your FAFSA | | | | three-step application process has more details |
| application online and access and correct your | | | | than can be covered in a short article such as this. |
| Student Aid Report. The SAR is the report you'll | | | | But the information provided here should pave the |
| receive once the government has processed your | | | | way for reviewing an easy-to-read, |
| completed FAFSA application. It tells you the level | | | | comprehensive government document that will |
| of Federal student aid to which you may be | | | | shepherd you through the application process. |
| entitled based on your financial need. | | | | Download the 60-page PDF document, entitled |
| Get your PIN at pin.ed.gov before you move on | | | | "Funding Education Beyond High School", from |
| to Step Two of the application process. In this | | | | studentaid.ed.gov. |
| step, you should complete your FAFSA application | | | | |