APPLICATION PROCESS

If you did not apply for federal student aid in the 1995-96 school year, you can apply for federal aid for the 1996-97 school year by either completing and mailing the 1996-97 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or by applying electronically (through your school). You can get a FAFSA from your school or from the Federal Student Aid Information Center . Not all schools have electronic application capability; check with the schools that interest you.

If you did apply for federal student aid for the 1995-96 school year, you probably will be able to file a 1996-97 Renewal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (Renewal FAFSA) . You'll either receive it at your home address or from your school. (You may also be able to file a Renewal FAFSA electronically. Check with your school.)

If you qualify to use the Renewal FAFSA, you'll have fewer questions to answer. About 75 percent of the information on the form will be preprinted and will be the same as the information you gave in 1995-96 (plus any of your corrections that were processed by October 31, 1995). You'll only have to write in some new information and information that has changed since 1995-96 (for example, family size). Check with your aid administrator if you have questions about the Renewal FAFSA .

For most of the federal student aid programs, the FAFSA (or Renewal FAFSA) is the only form you need to file. To receive an FFEL Stafford Loan or a Direct PLUS Loan , you may have to complete additional forms.

Remember, applying for federal student aid is FREE .

To be considered for nonfederal aid, such as institutional and/or state aid, you may have to fill out additional forms and pay a processing fee. Check with your school to see which nonfederal application to fill out, if any.

Read the instructions carefully when you apply for financial aid--- whether you're filing the FAFSA or the Renewal FAFSA. Most mistakes are made because students don't follow instructions. Pay special attention to any questions on income, because most errors occur in this area.

NOTE: You'll need a valid Social Security Number when you apply, or your application won't be processed.

Also, in Section H of the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA, carefully list the name(s) of the school(s) you're interested in attending. If any of these schools participate in at least one of the programs mentioned in the Guide, it will have a Title IV Institution Code . You can get a list of Title IV codes from a college's financial aid office, your high school, or your local public library. You should obtain the codes for the schools you're interested in attending and include them in Section H.

Records Needed

When you apply, you should have certain records on hand.

The U.S. income tax return is the most important record, because you must use exact numbers from specific lines on the tax Return to apply. You'll need to refer to---

Your tax return,

Your parents' tax return (if you apply as a dependent student), and

Your spouse's tax return (if you're married and your spouse filed a separate return).

Referring to the tax form will make it easier to answer the questions when you apply. If you won't have your tax form in time to file your application, remember that you can estimate your answers and then correct them later.

Other records, such as W-2 forms , business/farm records, and bank statements, will also be useful.

You should save all records and all other materials used in completing the application because you may need them later to prove that the information you reported is correct. This process is called verification.

If verification is required, and you don't provide it, you won't receive aid from the U.S. Department of Education, and you might not receive aid from other sources. It is very helpful if you make a photocopy of your application before you submit it. This way, you have a copy of the data you submitted for your own records. So be sure you keep all documents, and that the information you report is accurate!

Apply as soon AFTER January 1st as possible. (You can't apply before this date.) It's easier to complete the application when you already have your tax return, so you may want to consider filing your taxes as early as possible, too. Do not sign, date, or mail your application before January 1st. Mail your completed application using the envelope that came with it. It is already addressed, and using it will ensure that your application reaches the correct address.
NOTE: You must reapply for federal aid every year. Also, if you change schools, your aid doesn't necessarily go with you. Check with your new school to find out what steps you must take to continue receiving aid.

If you apply by mail, your application will be processed in approximately four weeks . Then, you'll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail. The SAR will report the information from your application and, if there are no questions or problems with your application, your Expected Family Contribution (the number used in determining your eligibility for federal student aid). Each school you listed on the application will also receive your application information.

If you apply electronically, your application will be processed in about a week. The results will be sent electronically to your school. You'll also receive a SAR in the mail.

When you receive the SAR, or the electronic filing results at your school, you must review it carefully to make sure it's correct. If any changes are necessary, make them on Part 2 of the SAR and return it to the address given at the end of Part 2, or have your school submit the corrections electronically.

If the data is correct and you don't need to make changes, you can receive financial aid on the basis of that information. Make sure you keep a photocopy of your SAR (or get a printout of your electronic processing results from your school). The entire original SAR must be given to your school.

If it's been more than four weeks since you mailed in your application and you haven't heard anything, you can check on your application by calling (Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time).

Or, you can write to:

 
   	Federal Student Aid Information Center  
       	P.O. Box 84
       	Washington, DC 20044 

If you write, make sure you include in your letter your full name, permanent address, Social Security Number, date of birth, and signature.

You can request a duplicate copy of your SAR at any time by calling (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time).

You can also request a copy of your SAR by writing to the address given at the end of Part 2 of the SAR or to the Federal Student Aid Information Center address given above.

When you write, make sure you include in your letter your full name, permanent address, Social Security Number, date of birth, and signature. You'll receive the duplicate SAR in 2-3 weeks.

Remember, your duplicate SAR will be sent to the address you reported on your application. If your address has changed since then, you can correct your address by writing to the FAFSA processor where you sent your application or to the Federal Student Aid Information Center at the address given above. You can't change your address over the phone because your signature is required.

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