Tips for Filling Out Online Financial Aid Applications

These days, many students like you are taking advantage of online financial aid forms, including the FAFSA online application (www.fafsa.ed.gov). As with all other forms you fill out online, there are some rules you should follow and precautions you should take. The following list of suggestions will help you through the process of filling out online applications, according to Deborah Hardy, a high school counselor from New York.

Feeling Drafty?
Download the application and fill it out by hand as a draft, so you know exactly which numbers to put where. If by chance your computer should shut down or you mistakenly fill in the wrong information, you will have a correct copy handy.

Honesty Is the Best Policy
Be honest with the information that is placed on the application. Nothing good can come out of lying on your financial aid forms, especially if it’s your only means of paying for college. If the institution finds out you lied, you could be disqualified from receiving any financial aid. 

Critique Yourself
Review the application and information before clicking to send it. Misspelling your street name or entering in the wrong social security number could cost you valuable time. By the time your agent figures out it is wrong, you could be missing out on thousands of college dollars that should have been awarded to you. Remember, financial aid is handed out on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Print, Baby, Print!
Print a confirmation copy to ensure that it has actually been sent, as some get lost and by the time you realize the financial aid center doesn’t have your application, it’s going to be too late in the game and your money is going, going, gone (see above).

Step-by-Step
Don’t forget to include ALL information and documentation that the application requires. Any failure to send in all the requested information will result in delays to your application process. Any delays can result in (see above!).

3-2-1 Contact!
Contact the financial aid institution to follow up on their receipt of your online application. Just because you filled out all the forms correctly and sent in all the proper documents doesn’t mean the application made it to the financial aid center. Sometimes computer errors occur on the other end of the line. Be The First The early bird catches the worm, so be sure to fill out your financial aid forms as soon after January first as possible. Don’t forget all the previous steps, and you should be in business in no time!