The FAFSA

compmom
Mon, 27 Dec 2010 10:24:35 +0000

Go to the FAFSA site and apply for PIN’s for yourself and a parent. First thing to do. It can take a little while to get one.

As others said, the FAFSA for 2011-12 is not available until January 1.

The FAFSA really depends on information in your tax return and your parents’ tax return(s). The taxes do not yet have to be actually completed or filed, but the more info you have from the tax returns you and your folks plan to file, the better.

Then, once you file the tax returns, you go back to the FAFSA and do a correction if any of the numbers change once you actually complete your tax forms.

You will need things like bank balances and interest amounts to do the FAFSA. The forms 1099 with interest arrive toward the end of January, but banks will give you any information you need if you meet with them and bring id’s.

The FAFSA is not as difficult or thorough as the CSS Profile, which you may also have to do. Save everything from your work on the FAFSA in case you need it for the Profile, for a college’s own application, or for “verification,” which is sometimes requested later in the process.