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Get Started – FAFSA

Below is a condensed list of the MyCollegeCalendar recommended tasks for preparing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  The tasks are listed in chronologic order.

1.  Obtain a FAFSA PIN (Personal Identification Number) for you and one of your parents.  Both you and one of your parents MUST have a PIN to submit your FAFSA online.

2.  Print a 2010-2011 FAFSA Worksheet.

3.  Gather all financial documents needed to complete the paper 2010-2011 FAFSA Worksheet.

4.  Complete the paper 2010-2011 FAFSA Worksheet by hand in December 2009 using ESTIMATES of your family’s 2009 income and financial assets.

5.  Go online, complete and submit the online FAFSA in the first two weeks of January 2010.  Print a paper copy of your summary information and your Student Aid Report (SAR).  File all paper copies in your filing system.

6.  You and your parents are to complete 2009 federal income tax returns in February 2010.

7.  Upon completion of 2009 federal income tax returns, review your Student Aid Report (SAR) and compare the numbers on your SAR to the numbers on your and your parents’ 2009 tax returns.  If the estimates on the FAFSA you submitted in January 2010 are incorrect, make corrections to the FAFSA as necessary.  After making corrections, print copies of your summary information and the new Student Aid Report (SAR).  After printing your new SAR, you are finished with the FAFSA for this year (unless you are selected for verification - see 8. below). 

8.  If your FAFSA is selected for verification, in the weeks that follow you will receive instructions to send additional supporting financial documents (such as 2009 federal tax returns, bank account statements, and other information).  Follow all instructions from your colleges and the U.S. Department of Education.  Once all requested documents have been sent and received, you are finished with the FAFSA for this year.