FINANCIAL AID FIRST THINGS FIRST - FILL OUT THE FAFSA (after January 1st of your Senior Year) The free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) is the most logical first step in locating money for college. Fill one out, even if you don't think you qualify for financial aid. The Federal Government uses the FAFSA to determine your EFC, or Estimated Family Contribution. That's the amount you'll be expected to pay out-of-pocket toward college costs. Your college/university then works to supplement that amount with a mixture of funds from federal, state, school, and private sources. Here are some things to keep in mind: 1. Fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1, but before your school's priority filing deadline. Failure to do so could cause ineligibility for certain forms of aid. 2. Contact your college's/university's financial aid office to see if any additional forms are required. To complete the FAFSA, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov (this website is FREE and will take you through the process step-by-step), get a paper application from your high school guidance counselor or college financial aid office, or call 1-800-4-FED-AID www.finaid.org - Aid estimator and scholarship search

Home Page   ALERT: FAFSA is FREE! Some websites charge a fee for the same information provided FREE by the Federal Website. Be sure to use www.fafsa.ed.gov