How to Fill Out the FAFSA

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Understanding Financial Aid and College Readiness

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Nicholas Miller, LPC., EdS., NCSC

Why FAFSA Matters

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• FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Opens access to grants, scholarships, work-study, and student loans
• Required by most colleges and universities
• Even if you think you won’t qualify, always complete it!

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• FAFSA
• Need Money for College

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FAFSA Timeline

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• FAFSA opens October 1 each year
• Submit early — some aid is first-come, first-served
• Deadlines vary by state and school
• Reapply every year you attend college

What You Need Before Starting

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• FSA ID for student and parent
• Social Security Number or Alien Registration Number
• 2023 tax returns and W-2s
• Bank statements and investments
• List of schools you’re applying to

Step 1 – Create Your FSA ID

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• Go to studentaid.gov/fsa-id
• Both student and one parent need an FSA ID
• Used to sign FAFSA electronically
• Use a personal (not school) email address

Step 2 – Start Your FAFSA Application

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• Visit FAFSA.gov or Studentaid.gov
• Choose the correct school year
• Create a Save Key to return later
• You can start now and finish later

Step 3 – Student Demographics

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• Enter legal name and contact info
• Report citizenship and marital status
• Include your high school info
• Answer dependency status questions

Step 4 – School Selection

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• List up to 20 schools
• Use each school’s FAFSA code
• Schools use this info for aid offers
• Order doesn’t affect eligibility

Step 5 – Parent/Contributor Information

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• Required for most high school students
• Enter parent names, SSNs, and marital status
• Provide tax info and income data
• Use IRS Direct Data Exchange if available

Step 6 – Financial Information

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• Use tax return data
• Report untaxed income and assets
• Include savings and investments
• Exclude retirement accounts

Step 7 – Review and Submit

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• Double-check all fields for accuracy
• Verify schools listed correctly
• Sign electronically using FSA ID
• You’ll receive confirmation when submitted

After You Submit

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• Receive your Student Aid Report (SAR)
• Review and correct any errors
• Schools receive your FAFSA data
• Watch email for financial aid offers

Common FAFSA Mistakes

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• Mixing up student and parent FSA IDs
• Using the wrong tax year
• Missing signatures
• Submitting late

Recent FAFSA Changes

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• Student Aid Index replaces EFC
• Simplified question structure
• Fewer required income items
• IRS Direct Data Exchange now automatic

Resources and Help

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• Studentaid.gov and FAFSA.gov
• Federal Student Aid Hotline: 1-800-4-FED-AID
• High school counselor or financial aid office
• GAfutures.org for Georgia students

Summary and Next Steps

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• Start early — FAFSA opens October 1
• Gather your materials
• Create your FSA ID today
• Check deadlines for your colleges

Questions?

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• Open discussion and Q&A time