The official government website provides a
simplified way to apply for financial aid.
Go to: www.fafsa.ed.gov and follow the three easy
steps.

Additional Tips For You:

If you are a senior in high school as of January 1,
2011, you will fill out the 2011-2012 FAFSA.


If you will be a high school senior on January 1,
2012, you will fill out the 2012-
2013 FAFSA.

Additional financial aid is also available from each state.
You must begin with the Federal FAFSA form. Your high
school will have information on your state grant programs.
See below for individual state websites.

You can locate your state deadline from the FAFSA
website. It's located at the bottom of the home page.

The deadlines are different for the federal and state
forms. Also, pay attention to the correspondence you
receive from your colleges. Some colleges want you to
complete the FAFSA by February 1.

Note: The fafsa.ed.gov website will be unavailable
every Sunday from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. Eastern Time.

Only use the official FAFSA website at:
www.fafsa.ed.gov.  The FAFSA is FREE. Do not pay
for this form.  If you are asked to pay a fee, you are
at the wrong website.

WHAT IS FINANCIAL AID?

FINANCIAL AID consists of Grants, Loans and Work Study

GRANTS:

Pell Grants
are need based for low income. Grants are a gift and
do not need to be paid back.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants  SEOG
are for low income students.

LOANS:

Federal Perkins loans
are low-intererest loans for undergraduate
and graduate students with exceptional financial need.

Subsidized Stafford Loans are available for students who meet
financial requirements and are attending at least half-time.  The
government pays interest from when you get the loan money until
up to six months after you leave school.

Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are available to any student
regardless of financial need but the student pays the interest.

Federal PLUS Loans are available for parents or stepparents who
need to borrow for their dependent child's undergraduate education.

WORK STUDY:
The Federal Work-Study Program will help students find a part-time
job on or off campus.

STATE GRANTS: Check with your high school for additional
information on grant programs in your state.

Alabama  www.ache.state.al.us
Alaska  www.alaskaadvantage.state.ak.us
Arizona  www.azhighered.org
Arkansas www.arkansashighered.com
California www.csac.ca.gov
Colorado www.state.co.us/cche
Connecticut  www.ctdhe.org
Delaware  www.doe.state.de.us/high-ed
District of Columbia  www.seo.dc.gov
Florida  www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org
Georgia  www.gsfc.org
Hawaii  www.hawaii.edu/academics/admissions/aid.html
Idaho  www.boardofed.idaho.gov/scholarships
Illinois  www.collegezone.com
Indiana  www.in.gov/ssaci
Iowa  www.iowacollegeaid.org
Kansas  www.kansasregents.org
Kentucky  www.kheaa.com
Louisiana  www.osfa.state.la.us
Maine  www.famemaine.com
Maryland  www.mhec.state.md.us
Massachusetts  www.osfa.mass.edu
Michigan  www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid
Minnesota  www.ohe.state.mn.us
Mississippi  www.ihl.state.ms.us
Missouri  www.dhe.mo.gov
Montana  www.oche.montana.edu
Nebraska  www.ccpe.state.ne.us
Nevada  www.doe.nv.gov
New Hampshire  www.state.nh.us/postsecondary
New Jersey  www.hessa.org
New Mexica  www.hed.state.nm.us
New York  www.hesc.org
North Carolina  www.cfnc.org
North Dakota  www.ndus.edu
Ohio  www.regents.state.oh.us/sgs
Oklahoma  www.okhighered.org
Oregon  www.osac.state.or.us
Pennsylvania  www.pheaa.org
Rhode Island  www.riheaa.org
South Carolina  www.che.sc.gov
South Dakota  www.sdbor.edu
Tennessee  www.state.tn.us/tsac
Texas  www.collegefortexans.com
Utah  www.utahsbr.edu
Vermont  www.vsac.org
Virginia  www.schev.edu
Washington  www.hecb.wa.gov
West Virginia  www.hepc.wvet.edu
Wisconsin  www.heab.wisconsin.gov
Wyoming  www.k12.wy.us


What is the Definition of Need?
The cost of attendance (COA) tuition, books, living expenses
minus the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) equals need.

IF YOU ARE APPLYING TO PRIVATE COLLEGES:

CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE
Some private colleges require this form to help them award private
grants and scholarship funds. The form is available on the web at:
www.collegeboard.org  Click CSS/PROFILE under "Pay for
College" on the student's home page. The profile does have a fee.


You will need to provide information for the FAFSA from your
parent's 1040 tax return.

You do not need completed tax forms in order to fill out the FAFSA.
You will provide a revised FAFSA after your parents  file a  tax return.
Since funds are limited, it is important to submit the form early.
Many colleges want the information by February 1 or even in
January.  You may apply for financial aid after January 1.

You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) about 3 weeks if you file
electronically.

FAFSA4Caster Worksheet is available now at:
www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov
You can fill out this worksheet to get an idea of the amount of aid
you might receive. After January 1, you can transfer the information
from the worksheet to the FAFSA.

How Can I Add Additional Colleges To My FAFSA?
Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and look under Step 3

FEE WAIVERS FOR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
Students with family financial hardship may apply for up to four fee
waivers for college applications. Fee waivers are also available tor
SAT tests. Students should check with their high school counselor
for the form. Information is also available at:
www.collegeboard.com and at the National Association for
College Admission Counseling website at:
www.nacac.org.

What Do I Do If I have Questions and Need Some
Help?

Attend Financial Aid Night programs at your high school or in your
community.

For FAFSA questions, call: 1-800-433-3243

Go to the web site at:
www.fafsa.ed.gov.


Material To Help Understand the Process:

Your high school should receive many helpful free financial aid
booklets for students and parents in the fall.  If not, check the web
site for these materials at:  
www.fafsa.ed.gov.

You may also find some financial aid materials at your local library
or at a local college.
Advice on How to Apply for Financial Aid for College