Obtain your PIN from the Department of
Education before you fill out the FAFSA.

The Department of Education requires a PIN to access your personal information and to electronically sign your application and master promissory note (MPN). This number should be kept private and not shared with anyone, not even your financial aid counselor. For dependent students, at least one parent must also sign the MPN and therefore must obtain a PIN.

Apply for your PIN from www.pin.ed.gov.

When you apply for a PIN, you will need the following information:

• Full name (as it appears on your Social Security card)
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Mailing address
• E-mail address (if available)

If you provide an e-mail address, you will receive confirmation and a link to your PIN information within one to three days. If you do not provide an email, you will receive your PIN via regular mail in seven to 10 days.

As soon after January 1 of the year you will need student aid, complete the FAFSA online. You will need the following information:

• Social Security number or alien registration number
• Most recent year's W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
• Student's previous year's Federal Income Tax Return
• Any foreign tax returns or tax returns from Puerto Rico
• Any untaxed income records for the previous year (Social Security, welfare, veteran's benefits, etc.)
• Current bank statements, business and investment mortgage information; business and farm records; and stock, bond and other investment records
• Dependent students also need parents' information for financial items
• List of up to six schools that you want to send your results (SAR)

It is possible to fill out a paper copy of the FAFSA. Paper applications can usually be obtained from your local library, high school or financial aid officer. It will take about two to three weeks to process the paper version, compared with three to five days for the online application. I'm ready to fill out the FAFSA online.

The Student Aid Report (SAR) is the results of your FAFSA. It will include all the information you submitted on the FAFSA and will tell you how much of your college costs your family is expected to be able to pay. This is your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

If you applied using the FAFSA online, you should receive your SAR at the e-mail address you provided within about three to five days. If you did not provide an e-mail, you will receive it in the mail about seven to 10 days after processing.

Your SAR will automatically be sent to the schools you listed on the FAFSA form.

Look the SAR over and make sure it is correct. If you need to make changes, use your PIN number at the FAFSA Web site.

Finally, to determine how much financial aid you are eligible to receive, you need to contact the financial aid offices at your targeted schools.

The financial aid offices at your chosen schools will send you letters detailing how much aid and the types of aid for which you are eligible. This constitutes your federal financial aid package and may include a mixture of grants, scholarships, work-study and student loans. Many schools are using e-mail to send this letter. So watch your e-mail carefully.