FAFSA 2017
For students planning to attend college in the Fall of 2017 who feel they will qualify for need based financial aid, a FAFSA will need to be submitted. October 1, 2016, is the first day you can file the FAFSA. (www.fafsa.ed.gov).
Since most students fill out the FAFSA online, they will need to create a FSA ID (a username and password) to sign it electronically. And, if a student's parent will be signing the FAFSA electronically, he or she will need to get a FSA ID as well -- one that is different from the student. DO THIS EARLY -- BEFORE OCTOBER 1.
The 1st step in filling out the FAFSA is to enter your FSA ID. Once this is done, you are on your way to completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The IRS DRT option (Data Retrieval Tool) makes it possible for your 2015 tax return numbers to be imported to your FAFSA -- no more guess work.
Only list one college (preferably a state school). This way your colleges do not have your financial information before their admission decision. You can add your other colleges at a later date.
Check out one of our previous blogs for more information:
**9/24/15 "2017 FAFSA Changes"
September 19, 2016
