Getting Organized

Start by collecting all the paperwork you’ll need, which includes tax returns, pay stubs, asset statements, Social Security numbers, divorce papers, etc. For a complete list of the documents you’ll need, visit the FAFSA Web site.

You can send in the FAFSA as early as January 1 every year, but some schools and states have their own deadlines. You’ll have to stay on top of your FAFSA the entire time your student is in college and reapply each year, even if your financial situation hasn’t changed.

"Be sure to contact the financial aid services office when family circumstances change, even if it is mid-semester," Chavez says, because you might be able to get extra aid.

 

The Paperwork

You can get the FAFSA form from your high school, the financial aid office of any college, the FAFSA Web site, or you can call 1-800-4-FED-AID.

There are no magic tricks to get the most aid possible. Much of the financial information for FAFSA is based on income from the previous tax year, rather than assets, so there’s little you can do to increase eligibility, Kennedy says. And don’t fudge the numbers, since all the data reported on your FAFSA will be validated.

Should You Get Professional Help?

You might also be tempted to hire a so-called college aid specialist, who will, for a fee, help you complete the FAFSA. Generally speaking, it’s not worth the money.

"Most financial aid offices will have more experience in assisting with the FAFSA than a college aid specialist," Kennedy says.

So rather than treat financial aid officers as your worst enemy, remember they can offer a lot of help. If you need additional assistance, call the U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-4-FED-AID, for free.

 

 

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