FAFSA

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

The new year is approaching, and for most college students this is a time for parties, vacation, and travel. In the holiday rush, its easy to get caught up in spending money and not necessarily the time of year that one wants to think about paying next year’s tuition bill. But, if you want to secure some federal funds for your degree, now is the time to act.

http://fafsa.ed.gov

This website has all you need to file a FAFSA online. You can apply for a PIN (Identification number), fill out practice reports, and even file your official application. If you have your last paycheck of the year, you can get all your financial data prepared in advance and fly through the process in just an hour or two.

Applications open up on Jan. 1, and many schools operate on a first-come first-served basis. So, the sooner you apply after the 1st, the better your chances of getting financial assistance for school. Even if you don’t think you will qualify for federal aid, its worth filling out the report because other scholarship and grant sources may want to see the data too.

Be careful of websites who offer to file a FAFSA for you, they charge a significant sum and they don’t really provide any service that isn’t already available on the government’s web site for free. The point is, you’re the one who needs money for school, you don’t need to donate to someone else’s business at your own expense. Remember, its the “Free” Application for Federal Student Aid