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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Tell your students: FAFSA "Do"s


The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, and the resulting Student Aid Report (SAR) help college financial aid officers determine your eligibility for federal financial aid programs such as Pell Grants, Stafford Loans and federal work-study. It’s also the basis for determining eligibility for other state and college-based scholarships and aid programs.

Here are a few “dos” to keep in mind as you complete the FAFSA:

FAFSA Dos: Prepare your federal income taxes early. Be sure to have your parents prepare their taxes early, too. Much of the financial information required on the FAFSA comes from your federal tax form.

FAFSA Dos: Get a PIN now. To apply for federal financial aid electronically, you and your parents must get a Federal Student Aid Personal Identification Number (PIN) at
www.pin.ed.gov. The U.S. Department of Education will e-mail the PIN to you if you provide an e-mail address, otherwise you will receive it by mail in about a week. You will use the PIN to "sign" your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) electronically. Keep your PIN and passwords in a safe place. Your PIN is as important as your bank PIN. Don’t share it with anyone.

FAFSA Dos: File a FAFSA, even if you filed one last year. You are required to complete a FAFSA every academic year you attend college if you want aid. The online FAFSA will remember you from previous applications, so you will need only to provide updated information.

FAFSA Dos: Remember, when the FAFSA refers to “you,” or “your,” it means, you, the student, NOT your parents or family.

FAFSA Dos: Make sure to use your legal name, as shown on your Social Security card. Enter your Social Security number (SSN) carefully. An incorrect SSN may delay your application – and you may miss important deadlines for financial aid. To correct an error, you may have to submit copies of your birth certificate and Social Security card before your FAFSA can be processed.

FAFSA Dos: Read every question carefully and complete every field according to the instructions on the FAFSA. The computer often reads a blank as an error. The online form uses “skip logic” to help you avoid answering unnecessary questions.

FAFSA Dos: Count yourself, the student, as one of the people in your family who will be college students during the award year.

FAFSA Dos: Save your online work frequently in case you need to leave your computer for any reason. You can resume the online session later.

FAFSA Dos: Look for the New York link on the confirmation page. You may be eligible for additional state student aid such as the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) or other assistance. New York residents will automatically be brought to the application by selecting the link from the FAFSA confirmation page.

Ramon L. Rodriguez
Financial Aid
01/31/2014