FAFSA Resources

What is FAFSA?

 

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a federal form that colleges use to determine a student's eligibility for federal aid. (The majority of the $227 billion in financial aid awarded each year is from federal funds.) The form is also used by many state and college financial aid programs. It is developed, distributed and processed by the U.S. Department of Education's office of Federal Student Aid (FSA).You dot NOT have to pay this  money back. 

FAFSA can seem like an intimidating process--- but with right information, it can make colleges a lot more affordable! Our college advisors will provide you on-going resources and support with any of your financial aid questions, and even sit with you while you fill out your FAFSA.

This page has helpful links to get you started as well as videos for our visual learners.The more you know, the easier it is! We recommend reviewing this entire page before beginning the application process.

 

When to File:

 

Students can file the FAFSA beginning Jan. 1.

 

How to Prepare:

 

While you can't file until after January 1st, you should prepare a list of information and documents including:

Documents and information you will need to complete the FAFSA & TAP 

YOU	What You Need	PARENT(S)
X	Birth dates (MM/DD/YYYY)	X
X	Social Security Number	X
X	Alien Registration Number (A#), if you are a permanent resident
X	Email Address
X	2013 & 2014, 1040 Federal Tax Return	X
X	2013 & 2014, IT-201 NY State Tax Return	X
X	W2 Forms (if applicable)
X	List of Colleges Applied to
	MM/YYYY of Marriage/Separation/Divorce/Widowed	X
X	Money in cash, checking, savings, and investments	X
X	Date of Arrival in NY State (MM/YYYY), if you arrived less than five years ago	X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to File:

1.      Go to pin.ed.gov and create a four-digit pin for both YOU and a PARENT in order to electronically sign the FAFSA. Be sure to write these pin numbers down and keep in a safe place; these will be your pin numbers for the next four years.

2.      Go to fafsa.ed.gov and start your financial aid application, but DO NOT submit the application until your college advisor reviews it.

3.      Come to the College Office to have your FAFSA edited and to apply for TAP (New York state aid).

 

Helpful tips and tools to assist you in the process:

Federal Student Aid Website: 

• This easy to navigate and student friendly site includes how to prepare for college, the different types of financial aid, helps you identify if you qualify for financial aid and how to apply for it, and how to manage your loans!
  

FAFSA website (always go to Fafsa.GOV and NOT Fafsa.COM)

Eligibility for Federal Student Aid [Infographic]:
Review this poster for an overview of who is eligible for FAFSA!

Do you need to list your parent's information on your FAFSA? Determine your Dependency status [Infograph]

Types of Federal Student Aid:

Financial aid is money to help pay for college or career school. Aid can come from

• the U.S. federal government,
• the state where you live,
• the college you attend, or
• a nonprofit or private organization.

Besides financial aid, you also should think about what you can do to lower your costs when you go to college. Watch the view below for an overview!



 
Overview of the Financial Aid Process:
Are you ready to attend college or career school, but need financial aid to help fund your education? Check out this video to learn how the office of Federal Student Aid provides more than $150 billion in grants, loans and work-study funds. Visit StudentAid.gov to learn more.


 

FINANCIAL AID WEBSITES & PHONE NUMBERS

Federal Financial Aid

1-800-4-FED-AID (800-433-3243)

•  Call this number for advice on federal financial aid issues and filling out the FAFSA
• Open Monday-Friday 8am-midnight M-F; Saturday 9am-6pm

www.fafsa.ed.gov

• Go to this website to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which must be completed to access financial aid

www.pin.ed.gov

• You must have a PIN or electronic signature for you and a parent to complete the FAFSA. Go to this website to sign up for a FAFSA pin.

New York State Financial Aid

1-888-697-4372

• New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
• Open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

 www.hesc.org

• This website is run by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation and offers one of the most comprehensive collections of information about New York state aid

www.tapweb.org

• Go to this website to complete the application for the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), New York’s grant aid program