1. File Early—The application for student aid opened up on October 1st. However, January is an ideal time to file when you have all of your income and tax information from the previous year available. Many schools award aid money on a first come first serve basis until funding is depleted, so waiting until the final deadline or last minute can affect your total dollar amount.

2. Not Sure You Qualify? Apply Anyway—Even if you think you won't qualify or need aid right away, you should still fill out the FAFSA. Some colleges and states ban students who do not fill out the FAFSA the first year of college from asking for aid in subsequent years. You can always decline aid when you receive your award letter.

3. Fill out the Form Completely and Accurately—Sure, it sounds like common sense, but mistakes or errors  on the FAFSA can severely delay the processing of your application and move you to the back of the line when it comes to financial awards. Don't leave fields blank, and always double check entered information.

4. Gather Important Documentation Before Beginning—Having your important documents and and information on hand before you begin will save time and frustration. Some helpful items to have include:

   1. Social Security numbers for students and parents, or Alien Registration Numbers for non-U.S. citizens.

   2. Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID–create an FSA ID online, which gives you access to Federal Student Aid’s online systems.

   3. Driver's Licenses or Government Issued IDs

   4. Tax Returns for students and/or parents

   5. Asset Records such as bank statements and investments

   6. Federal school codes for the schools you will apply to, available at ed.gov.

5. Final Deadline for Application: June 30, 2021

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