Free Application for Federal Student Aid

 The FAFSA is a FREE application for financial aid to help find ways to pay for college!  The FAFSA is NOT an application to college, you complete those separately for each school  The FAFSA IS applying for financial aid which can be used at most colleges and technical schools.

 The financial aid offered through the FAFSA includes:  Loans  Grants  Work- Study Opportunities

 Loans are borrowed funds  You must repay loans AFTER you graduate  first payment is due 6 months after you graduate and have a job  Loans charge interest (the cost of borrowing the money)  This mean that you will not only be paying back the amount you borrow but ALSO a percentage of that amount per year  There are many different types of loans available to students both through the FAFSA and through other resources

 Grants are money that you receive and DO NOT have to pay back after you graduate.  These are very similar to scholarships but are financially based not academically based.

 Work Study is an opportunity for you to work either on campus or in some off campus jobs to help earn money to pay for college.  The money you earn if you are eligible for work study will not be included to determine your financial need for the next year but does have to be reported for your taxes.  Most jobs are between 10 and 15 hours a week and you cannot work more hours than your work study award will allow.

 You must be a be a U.S. citizen (or U.S. national) or eligible noncitizen  You must have a valid Social Security Number  Most males must register with Selective Service  If you are male and 18 to 25 years of age  You must have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate or pass an exam approved by the U.S. Department of Education –  ONLY TO RECEIVE THE AID NOT TO APPLY! MAKE SURE YOU APPLY BEFORE!  You must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program at a college that participates in the federal student aid programs  ONLY TO RECEIVE THE AID NOT TO APPLY! MAKE SURE YOU APPLY BEFORE!  You cannot have a drug conviction for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, loans, or work-study)

 The FAFSA is available January 1 st  Funds are distributed on a first come first serve basis  DON’T WAIT TO SUBMIT THIS FORM!!  You will need some information from your parents such as:  Their Social Security Number  Their 2010 Tax Information  Start Talking to Them Now!

 If you need more information you can visit the FAFSA Website directly at:   Or you can contact Liza Behrendt:  Room: H10  