7 Quick Tips for FAFSA Season
With the FAFSA season already here, you want to make sure you do everything you can for the best possible results in a timely manner. Whether it’s your first time filling out an application or it’s your last year in college, the advisors at College Funding of Tampa Bay want you to be successful in every way imaginable! That’s why we compiled this list of quick tips for FAFSA season that are sure to help you out.
Get Your FSA ID Ready to Go
Before all else, you’ll need a functional FSA ID in order to fill out your application. It’s best to get this done as soon as you can instead of waiting until the last minute, just in case there are any issues creating your account. You wouldn’t want to run into problems at the very beginning step just minutes before the deadline. Thankfully, this process is rather easy, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Gather All of the Information and Paperwork You Need Ahead of Time
There’s nothing more discouraging than having to constantly pause in the middle of filling out your application to scramble for the paperwork or information that you need in order to continue. By gathering everything you need beforehand, you could be seeing a completion time difference of a couple of hours. Some of the information that you may be asked for on your FAFSA include:
- Your household’s W2 data
- Social security numbers for you and your parent(s) or guardian(s)
- All records of any untaxed income
- Any other financial information such as any investments or savings
Complete Your Application Online
- Filling out your FAFSA application on a physical form won’t grant you better results than doing it online. Completing your application online is actually much faster and it’s also way easier, so do yourself the favor and take the simple route. If you’ll be completing your application on your own online, it might help to educate yourself on common financial aid terms in case unfamiliar words or phrases come up.
Utilize the IRS Data-Retrieval Tool
You can save a great deal of time by using the nifty IRS data-retrieval tool rather than looking back and forth between your computer and paperwork while typing everything in manually. This online tool can pull up financial information directly onto your application so you can move on to the next steps.
Double-Check Your Application Before Submitting
The most common thing that has been known to delay a student’s financial aid award is the presence of errors and mistakes. Inaccurate information, no matter how minor, can impede the overall process leading to a longer wait for your money. Taking a minute to review your information before hitting “submit” takes much less time than sorting out any flaws later on.
Turn In Your Application At Least One Week in Advance
Since you never know what kind of issues you may encounter, it’s best to give yourself at least a week of wiggle room in case there are any hiccups. Although seven days can give you ample time to fix any problems, it’s always best to just turn in your application as soon as you can. It’s also hard to tell how long the application will take you to complete, but thankfully one of the major FAFSA changes made recently involves fewer questions for a faster process.
See If Your College Requires Additional Information
For some colleges, a FAFSA application isn’t enough. Your school may require you to turn in additional information before seeing any financial aid so you should always ask an administrator in advance for good measure.
College Funding of Tampa Bay Can Help You!
Need help with your FAFSA application? The knowledgeable advisors at College Funding of Tampa Bay are here to assist you with all your financial needs! Give us a call at (813) 755-6834 for a free consultation.
