Tips for Receiving Federal Student Aid

Ah, financial aid. It's one of the most important (and most eagerly awaited) parts of the college experience. Whether you need the funds to pay for your classes, your dorm room, or a new TV (don't worry, I won't tell), you will need to fill out a FAFSA to get your hands on the money.

The FAFSA is the U.S. government's Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Think of it as a giant wall placed squarely between you and your new TV.

Don't worry, though, I'm here to give you some tips to make things a little bit easier for you.

Just in case you're wondering who I am to give you advice, I work in the financial aid department of a major university.

First and foremost, have a copy of the taxes you filed last year handy. If you're a dependant student, you'll need your parents' taxes, as well. This applies to you if you are a)under 24 years old, b)single, c)without children, or d)have living parents. If you can say that any of these do not apply to you, then you will be considered independent. This is good, because it means you maybe eligible for more money than a dependent student.

Anyway, back to the taxes. You will need last year's if you filed. You will be asked questions about your income on the FAFSA, and you need to be exact. Guessing could lead to problems down the line (more on that later).

On to the form itself. The first mistake I see often has to do with a student's name. That's right, their name. Make sure you use your legal name. No nicknames, no middle names, even if that's what you go by. If you use a name other than your legal one, the government won't be able to link it with your social security number.

More on names: If your name has changed recently due to marriage, divorce, etc., use the name that is on your social security card. If you haven't talked to the SSA since changing your name, do so immediately. Name issues are some of the hardest to fix.

The silliest question on the FAFSA asks, "Are You Male?" Be sure to answer this. It sounds silly, but that's the government's way of deciding whether they need to look for you in the Selective Service Database. All males in the U.S. are to have registered by the time they turn 18. It is a silly question, but not answering it leads to more paperwork.

Another silly question: "Do you have a high school diploma or G.E.D.?" Again, be sure to answer. If you don't, you'll have to dig through your belongings to find a copy of your diploma. If you don't have a degree or G.E.D., put the form down and come back when you have one.

The number of people in a student's family often becomes an issue on the FAFSA. The questions seem easy, but are poorly worded:

1. Are you married? (easy enough)
2. Do you have children who receive over %50 of their support from you? (again, pretty easy)
3. Do you have dependents OTHER THAN YOUR CHILDREN that receive %50 of their support from you? (many students miss the capitalized portion.

You will then be asked how many people are in your family. Include only your spouse, children, and/or other dependents. That's all the government cares about. Leave Aunt Susie out of it.

Again, I'm going to harp on the tax thing. Have your taxes handy! Not only for the FAFSA, but for what comes afterward. About one third of students are selected for a process called verification. Don't worry; it's not as bad as it sounds. It entails filling out a small worksheet and faxing in a copy of last year's taxes. If you didn't file, there will be a little bit more information you'll need to fill out on the verification worksheet, but it's not that bad.

Well, that's about all I've got. In summary: Read the questions carefully, answer every one, and be sure to have last year's taxes handy. Keep these things in mind, and you'll have that new TV in no time.