STEP 2: Filing a FAFSA Form With the Federal Government

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is used to apply for federal aid. There are many ways to file this form:

• You can obtain a copy of the FAFSA from any high school, college, or the Financial Aid Office of the nearest CSU campus and fill it out and mail it in.
• You can also go directly to the U.S. Dept. of Education's online FAFSA on the WEB.
• You can use CSUMentor's FAFSA transfer module which will autopopulate much of the FAFSA on the Web application for you.

What Kind of Aid Are You Applying for with this Application?

The application you are about to complete will determine your eligibility for the following Federal Student Financial Aid Programs:

• Federal Pell Grants
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
• Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant
• Federal SMART Grant
• Federal Teach Grant
• Federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
• Federal Perkins Loans
• Federal Work-Study (FWS)
• Title VII and Public Health Act Programs

For further information: See The Guide to Federal Student Aid, a comprehensive reference to all of the Federal Student Financial Aid programs. The Guide is available online at http://studentaid.ed.gov, in college financial aid offices, or upon request from The Department of Education at orders@fsapubs.org or 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327).

The FAFSA is also used to determine your eligibility for other financial aid programs available at CSU campuses.

When Do You Apply?

To be considered for all financial aid, it is important to file your FAFSA by the annual priority filing date, which varies from one institution to the other. Mail your FAFSA between January 1 and March 2. Don't wait to find out if you have been admitted!

Get a Certificate of Mailing from the post office as proof you mailed your application on time. Use the postcard enclosed in the FAFSA for notification that your FAFSA was received by the processor.

When filing your FAFSA, avoid financial aid funding delays by:

• Filing on time
• Using accurate information
• Following FAFSA instructions carefully
• Keeping the Financial Aid Office(s) informed of your current address

File the FAFSA every year you want to be considered for Financial Aid!

What Information Will You Need to Correctly Fill Out the FAFSA?

You'll need accurate records for your income (and your family's income) earned in the year prior to when you will start school. Therefore, for the 2010-2011 school year, you will need 2009 tax/income or financial information.

You will need to refer to:

• Your Social Security card and driver's license
• W-2 Forms or other records of income earned
• Your (and your spouse's, if you're married) Federal Income Tax Return**
• Your parents' Federal Income Tax Return**, if you are a dependent student
• Records of other untaxed income received such as welfare benefits, Social Security benefits, TANF or ADC, or military or clergy allowances
• Current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds, and other investments
• Your alien registration number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

**You do NOT have to wait until you or your parents file your tax return to file a FAFSA. If necessary, you can always correct your FAFSA information after the fax return is filed.

Transfer your data from CSUMentor directly to the online FAFSA on the WEB financial aid application!

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