FSA ID and FAFSA

Seniors, if you plan to attend college, technical school or university after you graduate from high school, you must complete the FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Almost every post-secondary institution requires that you complete the FAFSA in order to be eligible for scholarships, grants, work study and loans.

Each year the FAFSA opens on October 1 and the quicker you fill out your part, the quicker the schools can begin awarding the money they have available for the following school year. Before you fill out your FAFSA you must have a FSA ID (Federal Student Aid ID). Parents must have a SEPARATE ID from students so students need to create an FSA ID and parents need to create a different one for themselves.

It is important to WRITE DOWN YOUR INFORMATION once you establish an FSA ID because you will use it every year you are applying for financial aid and no one can help you look it up. Really. It's important to WRITE IT DOWN and know where you put the information.

Did I mention you need to WRITE DOWN YOUR FSA ID?????

What you need to do:

1. Create an FSA ID for the student who will be attending - WRITE DOWN YOUR INFORMATION AND KEEP IT SAFE!
2. Create an FSA ID for the parent of the student who will be attending - WRITE DOWN YOUR INFORMATION AND KEEP IT SAFE!  NOTE:  If you already have an FSA ID you have used with other children, you should use that FSA ID and not try to create a new one.
3. On October 1 (or as quickly afterwards as possible), fill out the FAFSA form.