After January 1st, it is time to file for financial aid, since many colleges and universities have a March 1 deadline, and the State of Indiana has a March 10 deadline. The FAFSA is the free Application for Federal Student Aid. The government uses it to determine eligibility for federal aid, which includes grants, scholarships, work-study and loans. Students that show financial need should complete the FAFSA as well as students who are getting academic and athletic awards from colleges and universities. The FAFSA worksheet can be printed off fromwww.fafsa.ed.gov. Students and parents will need to get a PIN. The PIN is the Personal Identification Number, which is how the U.S. Department of Education identifies you online. A PIN will allow you to:
Electronically sign your FAFSA to speed up the process
Check the status of your electronic FAFSA
Make changes to your personal information online
Fill out the Renewal FAFSA
Keep your PIN private, as it allows you (or someone else) to electronically sign federal documents and access confidential information. You can choose to receive your PIN via e-mail notification or regular mail. You will need to submit your name, date of birth, and social security number to receive a PIN. If you completed the FAFSA last year, you may have a PIN automatically sent to you. Students and parents may get their PIN at www.pin.ed.gov.
You will also need the Federal School Code for the colleges and Universities. You can do a search at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Just click on “find my school codes.”
