FAFSA Verification!

FAFSA Verification! 

How do I know if I've been selected? What does it mean?

 What do I do now?! 

Many of you have submitted your FAFSA applications. Well done! You should have received an email confirming the submission. Then, 3-5 business days later, you should have received another email. This is the BIG ONE! We're looking for the words PROCESSED SUCCESSFULLY.  This means the application had all of the needed info and signature pages have been received by FAFSA (if applicable). 

Follow the steps outlined in the email to view your STUDENT AID REPORT or SAR. This will involved logging in using your FSAID username and password. Then you'll select View or Print your Student Aid Report (SAR) from the “My FAFSA” page.

How do I know if I've been selected?
When reviewing your Student Aid Report (SAR), look for a * next to EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) in the box near the top of the SAR. This star means you've been selected for verification! It does NOT mean you've done anything wrong but it DOES mean we have some extra work to do!  

What does it mean?
For some reason, FAFSA selected you to provide some extra information. Sometimes this is totally random, other times it's because some info on your FAFSA is contradictory and/or values may have been estimated. Whatever the reason, we'll get it take care of ASAP! 

What do I do now?! 
We'll want to order Tax Return Transcripts (and Letters of Non Filing). We'll need your parent(s) and your 2017 Tax Returns again to get this done! You will also want to check your email/portal for every school you've been admitted to thus far. They'll have some requirements in order for your Financial Aid Award Package to be completed. Don't worry- we'll help you through this process! 

If you've been selected for Verification, please let your College Navigator (that's me or Angie!) know immediately so we can complete the necessary steps! 

FAFSA Checklist!

On October 1st, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid opens for completion. Below is a list of the items you need to complete your application for FREE $$$$ for college including most technical schools (Emily Griffith Technical College).

Be sure to get these items together NOW so you are ready!

Here’s what you’ll need:

 Your Social Security card and driver’s license (if you have one).

Your parents income tax returns, W-2 forms and 1040 forms from 2016 if you are a dependent (and you are unless declared otherwise). 

• If you are employed, bring your tax returns, W-2 forms and 1040 forms from 2016! 

 Records and documentation of other nontaxable income received such as welfare benefits, Social Security income, veteran’s benefits, military or clergy allowances (if applicable). 

 Any additional applicable financial information, such as taxable work-study, assistant-ships, fellowships, grants and scholarship aid reported to the IRS, combat pay or special combat pay and cooperative education program earnings. 

 Records of any additional nontaxable income: Examples include: child support received, veterans’ non-education benefits, money received or paid on your behalf, etc. 

 Current bank and brokerage account statements, including records of stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other investments (if applicable). 

 Business or investment farm records (if applicable). 

 Records relating to any unusual family financial circumstances, such as anything that changed from last year or anything that distinguishes the family from the typical family in terms of unusual marital situations, living situations, separations, etc. Examples include: high non-reimbursed medical and/or dental expenses, unusually high dependent care costs (e.g., for a special needs child or an elderly parent), death, divorce, salary reductions, job loss and private K-12 tuition. 

 When filling out and submitting your FAFSA electronically, you’ll need an FSA ID to sign the form. If you don’t have one, you can create a FSA ID online. If you are applying as a dependent- again, you are unless declared otherwise – one parent is required to sign as well. To electronically fill out your FAFSA online, your parent should also apply for a FAFSA ID at the same site. 

 If you are a male, 25 years or younger, you must be registered with Selective Service. 

Check out this worksheet for further information.

(Checklist above pulled from the Fastweb site.) 

FAFSA and your FSAID!

In a few short weeks, you'll be able to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid! You can start to prepare NOW! Check out the resources linked below for more info and instructions on how to create your FSAID. Make sure you save this information in a secure location. A parent or guardian will also need to create an FSAID in order for you to submit your FAFSA!

Here's the link for creating your FSAID. Follow the directions carefully. I'd recommend taking a screenshot of your Security Questions and Answers so that you never get locked out of your account. Remember, do NOT use your school email address! Your parent or guardian will also need to make an FSAID to sign your FAFSA application. Ideally, they need an email address to do this. We can always set one up for them if they don't have one! It is essential that your name, SSN, and date of birth are entered exactly as they appear on your Social Security card otherwise you will get an error. 
Let me know if you need help with either process or have any questions (especially about Social Security cards and numbers)!

Prepare NOW to complete your FAFSA as early as October 1st. Check out this 12th Grade Checklist to guide your preparation and keep you on track. If you are not in 12th grade, this page has links to other great resources for you.

FAFSA Preparation!

Hey Seniors! Your FAFSA Nights are FAST approaching...

Are you ready?! 

Below you'll find some helpful information (click the links!) about how to prepare, what to expect and what happens AFTER you've completed your application. Make sure you've signed up for an appointment in YOUR Future Center! 

Gathering the Documents Needed to Apply
Getting Help
Starting Your FAFSA^® and Providing Your Basic Personal Information
Listing Colleges and/or Career Schools
Determining Your Dependency Status
Reporting Parents’ Information
         Automatically Filling in Your Tax Information Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
         Determining When Tax Information Will Be Available Via the IRS DRT
Providing Financial Information
Signing and Submitting the FAFSA^®
Taking the Next Steps

 FAFSA is a FREE Application 

The FAFSA is FREE, so if a website asks you to pay to fill it out, you’re not dealing with the official FAFSA site. Remember, the FAFSA comes from the government, so it’s on a .gov site: fafsa.gov.

Check out this video: "After the FAFSA, what happens next?"

https://youtu.be/1c1gNefSw78?list=PL23B9A23CD8DD82DD

Here's some great information about accepting aid and what kind to accept first! Be sure to talk with a trusted adult (or two) about your awards. Remember when we talked about LOANS? You'll want to be extra thoughtful when considering these! 

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/next-steps/accept-aid

SEE YOU AT YOUR FAFSA NIGHT! 

The Countdown is ON!

As you may know, there have been some pretty major changes to the FAFSA dates this year. You can submit your FAFSA beginning October 1st, 2016. The closer to this date you submit, the better! Some aid opportunities run out and you don't want to miss your chance! 

(By the way, FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid!)

Below are some links that can help you prepare for the application process.

What to expect and how to complete your FAFSA application:

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out

Information about Eligibility:

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/eligibility

Myths about Financial Aid:

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/default/files/financial-aid-myths.pdf

Information about Deadlines

https://fafsa.gov/deadlines.htm

Check out these videos for all kinds of tips and information! 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL23B9A23CD8DD82DD&feature=plcp