FAFSA

          Another of those necessary evils. The FASFA. This is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It’s main purpose is to determine if you, the student, is eligible for any federal grants or loans. Basically all federal aid is need based. Some things are for academic achievements like high test scores on the ACT or SAT.

          Important dates to remember: The FASFA usually opens at the start of October. The deadline is 2 years later in June. Corrections are after that in September. But most universities want your FASFA information by December or May. (depends on when you are accepted)

          Filing out the FASFA is quick, if you have all you personal information nearby. So save yourself some time and find these things before opening up the FASFA.

          The FASFA website claims that filling this all out takes 30 minutes, and they include finding documents in that estimate. My first year it took much longer. I had to first set up a FASFA account and then get my parents to set up FASFA accounts. Plus every time you log on, you have to do double verification. It is not optional.

          Then, you get to start a new form. I had to fill out part, then my parents had to fill out another part. It felt overly confusing to me. But the intended purpose is simple, how much money or assets do you have access to. So be honest.

          Once you submit, you can still request changes, but FASFA processing is notoriously long. So plan for waiting for the response.