Frequently Asked Questions

Q1.  What form should I complete? Where do I get a form to apply for federal and state programs? When should I complete the form?

A1.  The form you need to complete is called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available in both English and Spanish versions. Forms are available from the counselor's office at your high school, college financial aid office, ISAC and electronically on the Internet. It's recommended that students completing the FAFSA on the Web review the "Before Beginning a FAFSA" section on the FAFSA Web site (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/). It provides a list of documents the student will need to help complete the process. Students can also print a pre-FAFSA worksheet.

All students should complete the FAFSA, but the college to which you are applying may require that you complete a supplemental form. You must check with the financial aid office at the college you are planning to attend to make certain you have completed all the required forms and that you meet whatever deadline they may have for submitting those forms.

Q2.  How much time elapses before I am notified of the amount of financial aid that I may receive?

A2.  The time between application and response varies depending on your college's policies. Call your college financial aid office for more information.

Q3.  What is the deadline for submitting the FAFSA?

A3.  Your deadline can vary depending on federal and state programs.

Your FAFSA for 2011-2012 must be received by June 30, 2012 for federal consideration.

Q4.  If I am not a U.S. citizen, what documentation am I required to provide in order to be eligible for federal and state financial aid programs?

A4.  If you are a permanent resident, you must provide a current Alien Registration Receipt Card Form I-151, I551, or I551C.  You may also provide your passport that is stamped "Processed for I-551"or "Temporary Form I551"�.  Other eligible non-citizens must provide Arrival-Departure Record Form I-94.

Q5.  What is a PIN and how do I get one?

A5.  A PIN is a Personal Identification Number.  It is used instead of a signature when completing FAFSA on the Web or using Corrections on the Web. A PIN may also be used as part of the signature process for a Federal Stafford Loan and a Federal Perkins Loan.

You may apply for a PIN by accessing http://www.pin.ed.gov. You must complete all the questions to receive a PIN.  You will receive your PIN number at the time of your request.

Q6.  My sister applied for financial aid last year, but didn't receive any aid. Is it worth it for me to apply this year?

A6.  Absolutely.  Your sister should apply again as well. With two family members in college, your family will incur greater educational costs; also other family circumstances or eligibility criteria may have changed. This will be taken into consideration when you apply for aid.

Q7.  My brother is 27 years old and lives at home. Should he be included in the household size?

A7.  Family members should be included in the household size only if your parents can verify that they provide more than half the support for the individual.

Q8.  I don't live at home with my parents. Does this mean I am an independent student?

A8.  Not necessarily. You will be considered a dependent student for the 2011-2012 academic year unless you were born before January 1, 1988, are an orphan or ward/dependent of the court, a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, a student working on a master's or doctorate degree, a married student, or a student who has legal dependents other than a spouse. However, check with the financial aid administrator at the college you plan to attend if you feel you have a unique situation that does not meet any of the above criteria.

Q9.  My mother is thinking about taking college classes. Will I receive more aid if my mother is in college?

A9.  Parents are not included in the number in college; therefore, your mother taking classes will not affect the amount of financial aid you receive.

Q10.  My father refuses to complete an application for aid with his financial information. What should I do?

A10.  If you do not meet the requirements for an independent student, it is essential that your parent(s) complete an application for aid with their financial information in order for you to be considered for state and federal aid. Explain this to your father. If all else fails, contact the financial aid administrator at the college you plan to attend. Many times the financial aid administrator can explain to parents that this information is necessary and will be kept strictly confidential.

Q11.  My friend got more financial aid than I did, and I don't understand why. Her parents make more money than my parents.

A11.  There are many reasons why your friend could have received more aid. For example, the college she is attending may have more aid to offer or may have a higher cost of attendance. There may be more family members in the household that her parents are supporting. She may have earned less money from working than you did. Her family might have experienced unusually high medical expenses. These and other differences could cause two students to receive different amounts of financial aid.

Whatever the reason(s), keep in mind that each student's financial aid package is designed especially for that individual.

Q12.  What if my parents' tax returns are not completed by the college's deadline to apply for aid?

A12.  You can use an estimate of income and taxes to file the FAFSA; however, you may have to provide completed federal income tax information before actual awards will be made. You should check with the college you plan to attend for their verification requirements.

Q13.  I don't know which college I'm going to attend. Should I send a Student Aid Report (SAR) to each college that I apply?

A13.  Not all colleges require a SAR; check with the college(s) you plan to attend for requirements. Your information will be automatically sent to all of the colleges you listed on the FAFSA. You may need to provide a copy of your SAR to a college that was not one of your six choices on your FAFSA. You may request duplicate SARs from the Federal Student Aid Information Center.

Q14.  What do I do if my SAR contains incorrect information?

A14.  You can use Part II of your SAR to make corrections or contact your financial aid office to see if they can process your correction(s) electronically or you can make corrections by using FAFSA on the Web.

Q15.  How long does it take to receive my SAR?

A15.  To expedite the filing process, you may file using FAFSA on the Web at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov in order to receive results in one to two weeks.

Q16.  My parents are divorced. I live with my mother, but my father claims me on his tax return. How do I apply for financial aid?

A16.  Complete the FAFSA with your information and your mother's information. Only the parent you lived with most in the last 12 months is required to supply the necessary financial information.  If you did not live with one parent more than the other, answer in terms of the parent who provided the most financial support during the last 12 months, or during the most recent calendar year that you actually were supported by a parent.

Q17.  My parents are divorced and I live with my mother. My mother is remarried, and my stepfather hasn't adopted me. Is my stepfather required to supply his financial aid information when I apply for financial aid?

A17.  Yes. Since your mother and stepfather are married at the time you complete the FAFSA, you must include information about your stepfather.

Q18.  After I applied for aid, my father got a new job. He isn't going to earn as much money from his new job as he did from his previous job. Can I receive more financial aid?

A18.  Contact the financial aid office at the college you plan to attend. The financial aid administrator will want to review your situation and can then make a decision regarding your financial aid award.

Q19.  I live with my parents and have a child. Am I considered independent?

A19.  If you are currently providing more than one-half of the support to your child and will continue through June 30, 2009, you are considered independent. If your parents are providing more than one-half of the support for your child, you are not considered independent.

Q20.  Do I have to go to a lending institution to get an application for a Federal Stafford and/or Federal Perkins loan?

A20.  The FAFSA is the application for the Federal Perkins loan and the Federal Direct Loan. Since not all colleges participate in the Federal Perkins Loan Program, contact the financial aid office at the college you plan to attend for additional information. For the Federal Direct Loan, you need to contact the financial aid office at the college for information on completing the correct Master Promissory Note (MPN) for the FFELP or Federal Direct Loan Program.

Q21.  What is the Master Promissory Note?

A21.  The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is the legal document that is signed which is required to receive a Federal Stafford loan. It has replaced the Application/Promissory Note. In many cases, you may only sign one promissory note that may be used for all of your Federal Stafford loans.

Q22.  Can I complete the MPN electronically since I can complete the FAFSA electronically?

A22.  Yes. The federal PIN process and other electronic signature processes allow a borrower to electronically sign for his/her student loan. The electronic signature is the same as signing the paper document.

Q23.  How do my parents apply for a Federal PLUS loan?

A23.  Your parents should check with your college's financial aid office to find out whether the college requires additional documents. Many colleges will require the student to complete the FAFSA to apply for a Federal PLUS loan, as well as an institutional application.*

Q24.  Do I have to complete a financial aid application before applying for an Unsubsidized Federal DIrect Loan?

A24.  Yes. Even though eligibility for the Unsubsidized Federal Direct loan is not based on financial need, the financial aid administrator must first determine your eligibility for other financial aid, such as the Subsidized Federal Direct Loan, before certifying an unsubsidized loan. You may be eligible for grant and scholarship aid or a Subsidized Federal Direct loan, so it is important to be considered for these other programs before applying for an Unsubsidized Federal Direct loan.