COLLEGE

PREPARATION

CHECKLIST

G

FIND MONEy

FOR SCHOOL

TAKE

THE RIGHT

CLASSES

CHOOSE

A CAREER

®

( )

( )

( )
Why go to college? A higher education 

introduces students to new people and 

new experiences and usually leads to 

a higher salary and lower chance of 

unemployment. This checklist will tell you 

how to get ready for college—and how 

the government will help you pay for it.

How

to use

the 

checklist

Q: Who should use the checklist?

A: Students of all ages who haven’t attended 

college, and parents of students in elementary 

and secondary school.

Q: What is the checklist?

A: A to-do list, starting with elementary school, to 

help students prepare academically and financially 

for education beyond high school. Each section 

is split into subsections for students and parents, 

explaining what to do and which publications or 

websites might be useful to them. 

Q: When should a student or parent refer to 

the checklist?

A: At the beginning of every school year, and then 

more frequently as college approaches. (Or, in the 

case of an adult student returning to school, as 

soon as possible!)

StudentAid.gov

1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243)

TTY: 1-800-730-8913

( )
CONTENTS

Getting a Late Start? ...................................2

MONEY FOR COLLEGE

Federal Student Aid....................................4

More Sources of Student Aid.......................6

YOUR TO-DO LIST

Elementary School......................................8

Junior High or Middle School ......................9

High School .............................................11

Every Year in High School................... 11

Ninth Grade .......................................12

10th Grade ........................................13

11th Grade......................................... 15

Summer Before 12th Grade................ 16

12th Grade ........................................18

Adult Students..........................................21

FAFSA® Filing Time...................................22

1
GETTING A LATE 

START? 

Just decided that you want to go to college, 

but school starts soon? Too late to do all the 

checklist items in this document? Here is your 

must-do list.

If School Starts Next Month

( ) Apply for financial aid using the Free Application for 

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) site at fafsa.gov. Turn to 

“FAFSA® Filing Time” on page 22 of this checklist, and 

follow the steps there to apply for federal, state, and 

school funding.

( ) Ask the school you plan to attend what other financial 

help it can offer you: Does it have last-minute 

scholarships or payment plans available? Can you get a 

job on campus?

( ) Keep in touch with the school about any paperwork you 

need to turn in.

If School Starts Next Week

( ) Apply for federal student aid immediately at fafsa.gov. 

The site has many resources, including live chat with 

a customer service representative, to help you as you 

complete the application.

( ) Talk to the financial aid office staff at the school you 

plan to attend. Ask whether there are other forms you 

need to complete, and find out how and when you will 

receive your financial aid.

2
MONEY 

FOR 

COLLEGE

G

3
FEDERAL

STUDENT AID 

What Is Federal Student Aid?

Federal student aid comes from the federal government—

specifically, the U.S. Department of Education. It’s money 

that helps a student pay for education expenses at a 

college, career school, or graduate school.

Federal student aid covers such expenses as tuition and fees, 

room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. Aid 

also can help pay for a computer and for dependent care.

There are three main categories of federal student aid: 

• Grant—Grant money usually doesn’t have to be repaid. 

Most U.S. Department of Education grants are based on a 

student’s financial need.

• Work-study—Work-study money is earned by a student 

through a job on or near campus while attending school 

and does not have to be repaid.

• Loan—Loan money must be repaid with interest.

For details about the federal student aid programs, 

including maximum annual amounts and loan interest rates, 

visit StudentAid.gov/types.

WHY GET A FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN?

Federal student loans offer low fixed interest rates; 

income-based repayment plans; loan forgiveness; 

and deferment (postponement of repayment) options, 

including deferment of loan payments when a student 

returns to school. Generally, repayment of a federal loan 

does not begin until after the student leaves school. And 

did you know that a student receiving a federal loan does 

not need a credit history or a cosigner? Private loans from 

banks often do not offer such benefits. So if you need to 

borrow money to pay for college or career school, start 

with federal student loans. More information is available at 

StudentAid.gov/federal-vs-private.

4
Who Gets Federal Student Aid?

Our most basic eligibility requirements are that you must

• demonstrate financial need (for most programs);

• be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen;

• have a valid Social Security number; 

• be registered with Selective Service if you’re a male (you 

must register between the ages of 18 and 25);

• be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student 

in an eligible degree or certificate program; 

• be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Direct Loan 

Program funds; 

• maintain satisfactory academic progress in college; 

• sign a statement on the Free Application for Federal 

Student Aid (FAFSA®) stating that 

- you are not in default on a federal student loan and do 

not owe money on a federal student grant, and 

- you will use federal student aid only for educational 

purposes; and

• show you’re qualified to obtain a postsecondary 

education by

- having a high school diploma or recognized equivalent, 

such as a General Educational Development (GED) 

certificate or 

- completing a high school education in a homeschool 

setting approved under state law.

Note: There are some additional requirements and exceptions. 

For more details about our eligibility criteria, visit StudentAid.gov

/eligibility.

How Do You Apply for Federal Student Aid?

Refer to “FAFSA® Filing Time” on page 22 of this checklist for a 

step-by-step guide to filling out the FAFSA.

5
MORE SOURCES 

OF STUDENT AID

The U.S. Department of Education is the main source of 

financial aid for college, but it isn’t the only source.

• Visit StudentAid.gov/types#federal-aid to find out about 

education funding available from other federal agencies.

• Visit www.ed.gov/sgt to find out about money available from 

state governments.

• Visit a college’s website or ask its financial aid office about 

money the school offers its students.

• Read the rest of this page to learn where to look for 

scholarships from sources other than those listed above.

Finding Scholarships

Everyone wants free money to help them attend college. 

There are many types of scholarships (which don’t all 

require that you have outstanding grades!) and many 

different organizations that provide them. Each scholarship 

provider has its own application and its own rules to decide 

who can get its scholarship. Your job is to find scholarships 

for which you think you might qualify and to apply by the 

deadlines. 

And remember: There is no “secret” scholarship money out 

there. You don’t need to pay a consultant or join a society 

just because they say they can help you find scholarships. 

You can find them yourself and save some money. Here are 

some free sources of information:

( ) the free scholarship search at StudentAid.gov

/scholarships

( ) a high school, Upward Bound, or Talent Search 

counselor

( ) your library’s reference section

( ) foundations, religious or community organizations, local 

businesses, or civic groups

( ) organizations (including professional associations) 

related to your field of interest

( ) ethnicity-based organizations

( ) your employer or a parent’s employer

6
YOUR

TO-DO

LIST

G

7
ELEMENTARY 

SCHOOL 

Students

TO DO:

( ) Do your best in school.

( ) Read a lot.

( ) Have fun learning!

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Visit www.kids.gov to learn about jobs and to find fun 

online games.

( ) Check out the Kids’ Zone at nces.ed.gov/nceskids if you 

like such games as puzzles and math teasers.

Parents

TO DO:

( ) Help your kindergartner develop an interest in reading 

by reading aloud to him or her.

( ) Check your child’s homework and follow his or her 

progress in school by looking at report cards and 

attending teacher conferences.

( ) Start saving for your child’s college education. Learn 

about the tax advantages of state-offered college 

savings plans and prepaid tuition plans at 

www.collegesavings.org.

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Read Saving Early = Saving Smart! at StudentAid.gov

/resources#saving-early. This handout explains why 

it’s never too early to save money for college and how 

to use such resources as college savings plans and 

federal student aid.

( ) Check out Helping Your Child Become a Reader at 

www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/hyc.html for advice 

on how to create a foundation for learning for children 

up to age 6. The publication provides a list of resources 

for parents and includes activities that turn daily 

routines into learning experiences.

8
JUNIOR HIGH OR 

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Students

TO DO:

( ) Think about college as an important part of your future. 

Discuss your thoughts and ideas with your family and 

with people at school.

( ) Start saving for college if you haven’t already.

( ) Take challenging and interesting classes to prepare for 

high school.

( ) Ask your parent or guardian to help you research which 

high schools or special programs will most benefit your 

interests.

( ) Develop strong study habits.

( ) Do your best in school and on standardized tests. If 

you are having difficulty, don’t give up—get help from a 

teacher, tutor, or mentor.

( ) Become involved in school- or community-based 

activities that let you explore your interests and learn 

new things.

( ) Speak with adults, such as your teacher, school 

counselor or librarian, relatives, or family friends, who 

you think have interesting jobs. Ask them what they 

like about their job and what education they needed 

for it.

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Find out why you should prepare for college now at 

StudentAid.gov/prepare.

( ) Browse My Future, My Way: First Steps Toward College,

a workbook for middle and junior high school students, 

at StudentAid.gov/resources#my-future. 

9
Parents

TO DO:

( ) Use FAFSA4caster at fafsa.gov to find out how much 

federal student aid your child might receive. This 

information will help you plan ahead.

( ) Continue saving for your child’s college education. If 

you have not opened a savings account, you can find 

information about tax advantages and links to state plans 

at www.collegesavings.org.

( ) Talk to your child about his or her interests and help 

match those interests with a college major and career.

( ) Help your child develop good study habits, such as 

studying at the same time and place every day and having 

the necessary materials to complete assignments. 

( ) Stay in contact with your child’s teachers and counselor 

so that they can let you know about any changes in your 

child’s behavior or schoolwork.

( ) Keep an eye on your child’s grades, and help him or her 

find tutoring assistance, if necessary.

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Get tips from the following documents at www.ed.gov

/parents/academic/help/hyc.html:

- Helping Your Child With Homework offers suggestions 

on how to empower your child to successfully complete 

assignments.

- Helping Your Child Through Early Adolescence addresses 

issues that parents of 10- to 14-year-olds generally find 

most challenging.

( ) Browse Parent Power at www.ed.gov/parents/academic

/help/parentpower/booklet.pdf for ideas to help you support 

your child as he or she transitions into high school.

10
HIGH SCHOOL 

Every Year in High School

Students

TO DO:

( ) Work with a parent to estimate your potential financial aid 

using FAFSA4caster at fafsa.gov, and continue to save for 

college.

( ) Take challenging classes in core academic subjects. 

Most colleges require four years of English, at least 

three years of social studies (history, civics, geography, 

economics, etc.), three years of math, and three 

years of science. Many require two years of a foreign 

language. Round out your course load with classes in 

computer science and the arts. 

( ) Stay involved in school- or community-based activities 

that interest you or let you explore career interests. 

Consider working or volunteering. Remember that it’s 

quality—not quantity—that counts.

( ) Talk to your school counselor and other mentors about 

education after high school. Your counselor can answer 

questions about what classes to take in high school, 

how to sign up for standardized tests, and where to get 

money for college.

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Check out KnowHow2Go: The Four Steps to College, at 

www.knowhow2go.org for more advice on actions you can 

take as you start thinking about education beyond high 

school.

( ) Get answers to common questions about college by 

watching our videos on the “Prepare for College” playlist 

at www.YouTube.com/FederalStudentAid.

( ) Learn about managing your money in the 

“High School Youth” section of www.mymoney.gov

/Pages/for-youth.aspx.

11
Parents

TO DO:

( ) Continue to talk to your child about college plans as if 

he or she will definitely go to college.

( ) Keep an eye on your child’s study habits and grades.

Stay involved.

( ) Encourage your child to take Advanced Placement 

courses or other challenging classes.

( ) Add to your child’s college savings account regularly.

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Explore StudentAid.gov/parent for information on 

saving for college, borrowing for college, applying for 

financial aid, getting tax benefits to help make college 

affordable, and more.

Ninth Grade

Students

TO DO:

( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this 

checklist.

( ) Talk to your school counselor or teachers about 

Advanced Placement courses. Find out what courses 

are available, whether you are eligible, and how to 

enroll in them.

( ) Use the career search at StudentAid.gov/careersearch

to research your career options.

( ) Make a list of your awards, honors, extracurricular 

activities, and paid and volunteer work. Consider 

participating in academic enrichment programs, 

summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses 

such as music, arts, or science. 

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Visit StudentAid.gov/whycollege for a quick rundown on 

why deciding to attend college is a no-brainer.

( ) Find ways to get help preparing for college at

StudentAid.gov/prepare-for-college/help.

12
Parents

TO DO:

( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this 

checklist.

( ) Make sure you are fully aware of the provisions of any 

college savings accounts you have opened for your child.

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Learn about the tax benefits of cashing in savings 

bonds to pay for your child’s education; search for 

“Publication 970” at www.irs.gov.

10th Grade

Students

TO DO:

( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this 

checklist.

( ) Meet with your school counselor or mentor to discuss 

colleges and their admissions requirements.

( ) Consider taking a practice Preliminary SAT/National 

Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®) or 

PSATTM 10, or the PreACTTM.

( ) Plan to use your summer wisely: Work, volunteer, or 

take a summer course (away from home or at a local 

college). 

( ) Go to career information events. 

( ) Research majors that might be a good match 

with your interests and goals. Consider what fits 

well with your results from the career search at 

StudentAid.gov/careersearch.

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Learn the differences between grants, loans, workstudy, and scholarships at StudentAid.gov/types.

( ) Think about starting to research different colleges. 

Play around with the College Scorecard tool at 

collegescorecard.ed.gov to explore schools based on size, 

location, programs, and more. 

13
Parents

TO DO:

( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this 

checklist.

( ) Find out whether your child’s school has college nights. 

Plan to attend those events with your child.

( ) Help your child develop independence by encouraging 

him or her to take responsibility for balancing homework 

with other activities or a part-time job.

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Learn about the standardized tests your child will 

take during 10th, 11th, and 12th grades: the 

PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10, SAT and SAT Subject Tests 

(see www.collegeboard.org), and/or the PreACT and 

the ACT (see www.act.org).

( ) Get a brief overview of financial aid from Federal 

Student Aid at a Glance at StudentAid.gov/glance.

14
11th Grade

Students

TO DO:

...all year

( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this 

checklist.

( ) Explore careers and their earning potential with the 

Occupational Outlook Handbook search tool at 

www.bls.gov/oco.

( ) Learn about choosing a college (and find a link

to our free college search tool) at StudentAid.gov

/prepare-for-college/choosing-schools.

( ) Go to college fairs and college-preparation 

presentations hosted by college representatives.

...fall

( ) Take the PSAT/NMSQT.* You must take the test in 

11th grade to qualify for scholarships and programs 

associated with the National Merit Scholarship 

Program.

...spring

( ) Register for and take exams for college admission.* The 

tests that many colleges require are the SAT, the SAT 

Subject Tests, and the ACT. Check with the colleges you 

are interested in to see what tests they require.

( ) Use the free scholarship search tool at 

StudentAid.gov/scholarships to find scholarships for 

which you might want to apply. Some deadlines fall as 

early as the summer between 11th and 12th grades, 

so prepare now to submit applications soon.

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Visit www.YouTube.com/FederalStudentAid and go to the 

“Types of Aid” playlist to see how the government can 

help you pay for college.

( ) Learn how to avoid scholarship scams and identity theft 

at StudentAid.gov/scams.

*REMEMBER: Register for all tests in advance, and be 

sure to give yourself time to prepare appropriately! If you 

have difficulty paying a registration fee, ask your school 

counselor about getting the fee waived.

15
Parents

TO DO:

( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this 

checklist.

( ) Take another look at your financial situation, and be 

sure you’re on the right track to pay for college.

( ) Talk to your child about the schools he or she is 

considering. Ask why those schools appeal to your 

child, and help him or her clarify goals and priorities.

( ) Attend college fairs with your child, but don’t take over 

the conversation with the college representatives. Just 

listen; let your child do the talking.

( ) Take your child to visit college campuses, preferably 

when classes are in session.

( ) Attend any financial aid information events at your

child’s school.

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Get in-depth information on federal student aid 

programs at StudentAid.gov/types. 

( ) Learn about student and parent loans in the Federal 

Student Loans: Basics for Students and Federal 

Student Loans: Direct PLUS Loan Basics for Parents

booklets at StudentAid.gov/resources#loans. 

Summer Before 12th Grade

Students

TO DO:

( ) Create a username and password called an FSA ID that 

you’ll use to confirm your identity when accessing your 

government financial aid information and electronically 

signing your federal student aid documents. You and your 

parent will each need your own unique FSA ID. Learn 

about the FSA ID, and create yours, at StudentAid.gov

/fsaid. Note: You must create your own FSA ID; if your 

parent creates it for you, that’ll cause confusion later and 

will slow down the financial aid application process.

( ) Narrow down the list of colleges you are considering 

attending. If you can, visit the schools that interest you.

16
( ) Contact colleges to request information and 

applications for admission. Ask about financial aid, 

admission requirements, and deadlines.

( ) Decide whether you are going to apply under a 

particular college’s early decision or early action 

program. Be sure to learn about the program’s 

deadlines and requirements.

( ) Apply for scholarships. Your goal is to minimize the 

amount of loan funds you borrow so you have less to 

pay back later. 

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Find out what government financial aid you can apply 

for, and how, in Federal Student Aid at a Glance at 

StudentAid.gov/glance.

( ) Watch the “Overview of the Financial Aid Process” 

video at www.YouTube.com/FederalStudentAid to learn 

about getting student aid from the government.

( ) Be careful when searching for scholarships. Read 

Don’t Get Scammed on Your Way to College! at 

StudentAid.gov/resources#consumer-protection to learn 

how to avoid getting cheated out of money.

Parents

TO DO:

( ) Create your own FSA ID if you don’t have one yet. (See 

“To Do” in the “Summer Before 12th Grade: Students” 

section for details.)

( ) Review your financial situation and make sure 

your child is looking into or already has applied for 

scholarships.

( ) Ask your employer whether scholarships are available 

for employees’ children. 

17
( ) Find out whether your child has added any schools to 

his or her college wish list since the last time you visited 

colleges. Visit additional campuses if possible.

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Take a closer look at StudentAid.gov/types and 

StudentAid.gov/fafsa to ensure you understand the 

federal aid programs and upcoming application 

process.

12th Grade

Students

TO DO:

...all year

( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this 

checklist.

( ) Work hard all the way to graduation—second-semester 

grades can affect scholarship eligibility.

( ) Stay involved in after-school activities, and seek 

leadership roles if possible.

...fall

( ) As soon as possible after its Oct. 1 release, complete 

and submit your Free Application for Federal Student 

Aid (FAFSA®) at fafsa.gov, along with any other 

financial aid applications your chosen school(s) may 

require. You should submit your FAFSA by the earliest 

financial aid deadline of the schools to which you are 

applying, usually by early February. Refer to “FAFSA 

Filing Time” on page 22 of this checklist as you go 

through the application process.

( ) After you submit the FAFSA, you should receive 

your Student Aid Report (SAR) within three days to 

three weeks. This document lists your answers to the 

questions on your FAFSA and gives you some basic 

information about your aid eligibility. Quickly make any 

necessary corrections and submit them to the FAFSA 

processor.

( ) If you haven’t done so already, register for and take 

such exams as the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, or ACT for 

18
college admission.* Check with the colleges you are 

interested in to see what tests they require.

( ) Apply to the colleges you have chosen. Prepare your 

applications carefully. Follow the instructions, and PAY 

CLOSE ATTENTION TO DEADLINES!

( ) Well before your college application deadlines, ask 

your counselor and teachers to submit the required 

documents (e.g., transcript, letters of recommendation) 

to the colleges to which you’re applying.

( ) Complete any last scholarship applications.

...spring

( ) Visit colleges that have invited you to enroll.

( ) Review your college acceptances and compare the 

colleges’ financial aid offers. Use the “Compare 

Financial Aid Offers” tool at www.consumerfinance.gov

/paying-for-college to analyze aid offers side by side.

( ) Contact a school’s financial aid office if you have 

questions about the aid that school has offered you. 

In fact, getting to know your financial aid staff early is 

a good idea no matter what—they can tell you about 

deadlines, paperwork you might need to submit, and 

other aid for which you might wish to apply.

( ) When you decide which school you want to attend, 

notify that school of your commitment and submit any 

required financial deposit. Many schools require this 

notification and deposit by May 1.

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Refer to StudentAid.gov/fafsa to learn about the FAFSA 

process.

( ) Understand the FAFSA better by watching the videos in 

the “FAFSA: Apply for Aid” playlist at 

www.YouTube.com/FederalStudentAid.

( ) Follow or like the office of Federal Student Aid at 

www.Twitter.com/FAFSA and

www.Facebook.com/FederalStudentAid to get regular 

financial aid tips.

( ) Make informed decisions about student loans; find 

important information at the “Why Get a Federal 

Student Loan?” section on page 4 of this checklist 

and the “Federal Versus Private Loans” page at 

StudentAid.gov/federal-vs-private.

*REMEMBER: Register for all tests in advance, and be 

sure to give yourself time to prepare appropriately! If you 

have difficulty paying a registration fee, ask your school 

counselor about getting the fee waived. 19
Parents

TO DO:

( ) Review “Every Year in High School” on page 11 of this 

checklist.

( ) Work with your child on filling out the FAFSA. See 

“FAFSA® Filing Time” on page 22 of this checklist for 

specific instructions.

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Make sure your child’s personal information is 

safe when he or she applies for financial aid. For 

tips, read Federal Student Aid and Identity Theft at 

StudentAid.gov/resources#consumer-protection.

( ) Go to www.irs.gov and read IRS Publication 970, Tax 

Benefits for Education to see how you might benefit 

from federal income tax credits for education expenses. 

Search for “Publication 970” from the IRS home page 

to find the most recent version of the document.

( ) Understand the benefits of federal student loans by 

reading “Why Get a Federal Student Loan?” on page 4 

of this checklist.

( ) Help your child learn about the responsibilities 

involved in accepting a student loan by reviewing 

StudentAid.gov/types/loans#considerations with 

him or her.

( ) Look at communications from schools to which your 

child sent FAFSA information. If a school has offered you 

or your child Direct Loans, the Federal Student Loans: 

Basics for Students and Federal Student Loans: Direct 

PLUS Loan Basics for Parents booklets might be useful to 

you. Find them at StudentAid.gov/resources#loans. 

20
ADULT

STUDENTS

If you’ve never been to college, or started but 

never finished, we can help. Need to improve 

your skills or knowledge? Find a new career?

TO DO:

( ) Look into getting a General Educational Development 

(GED) certificate if you don’t have a high school 

diploma; try searching online for “GED certificate” and 

your state’s name. Other options include the HiSET 

(High School Equivalency Test) and the Test Assessing 

Secondary Completion (TASC).

( ) Research careers and the need for various jobs with the 

Occupational Outlook Handbook search tool at 

www.bls.gov/oco.

( ) Use College Navigator at nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator

to find the right school for your career goals.

( ) Ask your employer if assistance is available to help you 

pay for school.

( ) Use the scholarship search tool at StudentAid.gov

/scholarships to find scholarships.

( ) Apply for federal student aid by following the guidance 

in “FAFSA® Filing Time” on page 22 of this checklist.

( ) Read over Federal Student Aid for Adult Students at 

StudentAid.gov/resources#adult-students for a crash 

course on what aid looks like for adults.

( ) Get to know the financial aid staff at the school you plan 

to attend. They can help you with aid applications and 

explain the types of aid that are available.

TO EXPLORE:

( ) Use the College Scorecard at collegescorecard.ed.gov

to compare schools’ annual costs, graduation rates, and 

median salaries of individuals who attended.

( ) Try the career search at StudentAid.gov/careersearch if 

you’re not sure what career you want.

( ) Ensure that you get your money’s worth out of your 

career or technical education by following the tips in 

Choose a Career School Carefully at StudentAid.gov

/resources#consumer-protection.

21
( ) Learn about the different kinds of federal funding 

available for your education at StudentAid.gov/types.

( ) Discover why federal student loans are frequently 

a better option than private loans by reading 

StudentAid.gov/federal-vs-private.

( ) Use StudentAid.gov/fafsa/next-steps/accept-aid to help 

you determine which loans to accept and how much to 

borrow. 

( ) Go to www.irs.gov and read IRS Publication 970, Tax 

Benefits for Education to see how you might benefit 

from federal income tax credits for education expenses. 

Search for “Publication 970” from the IRS home page 

to find the most recent version of the document. 

FAFSA®

FILING TIME

Students

You must complete and submit the Free Application for 

Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to apply for federal student 

aid—that’s government money for college or career school. 

Financial aid offices use information from the FAFSA to 

determine whether you are eligible to receive federal grants, 

loans, or work-study funds. States and schools also use 

the information from the FAFSA to determine whether 

you qualify for additional aid. In fact, some schools won’t 

consider a student for the school’s merit scholarships (i.e., 

scholarships awarded based on a student’s grades, talents, 

or achievements) until the student has submitted a FAFSA. 

So be sure to fill out a FAFSA even if you think you won’t 

qualify for federal aid.

DEADLINES

The FAFSA becomes available on Oct. 1 for the next school 

year. If you want to be considered for aid from your state or 

college, you must meet its FAFSA deadline. 

State deadlines: If you plan to go to college in the fall, your 

state financial aid deadline is probably going to be between 

March and May, though some states request that you 

submit your FAFSA as soon as possible after Oct. 1. So in 

that case, if you planned to start college in the fall, you’d 

fill out your FAFSA nearly a year ahead of time. The FAFSA 

site at fafsa.gov lists many state deadlines and tells you 

how to find yours if it’s not listed.

22
College deadlines: College financial aid deadlines may be 

as early as February. For a college’s deadline, check the 

school’s website or contact its financial aid office. 

In any case, completing the FAFSA as soon as possible 

after its release the preceding October is your 

surest option. 

TO DO:

( ) Get free information and help from your school 

counselor, the financial aid office at the college you 

plan to attend, or the U.S. Department of Education 

at fafsa.gov or 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). 

Free help is available at any time during the application 

process. 

( ) If you think the Social Security Administration might 

have the wrong name or date of birth for you in its 

records, go to www.ssa.gov to find out how to correct 

any errors. Your information must be correct before 

your FAFSA can be processed.

( ) If you’re filing the FAFSA online, it helps to create an FSA 

ID ahead of time. This username and password is used 

to confirm your identity when accessing your financial 

aid information and electronically signing your federal 

student aid documents. Your FSA ID is unique; it must be 

your own and not a parent’s. You must create your FSA ID 

yourself. To create your FSA ID, and for more information, 

go to StudentAid.gov/fsaid. For a step-by-step guide, 

watch “How to Create an FSA ID” on the “FAFSA: Apply 

for Aid” playlist at www.YouTube.com/FederalStudentAid.

( ) Collect the documents needed to apply. You may 

be able to have the FAFSA automatically retrieve 

information from your tax return; otherwise, you’ll need 

your federal tax documents or your income records. 

Here are some additional items you might need:

- Your Social Security number and your parent’s 

(parents’) Social Security number(s) if you are 

providing parent information

- Your Alien Registration number if you are not a U.S. 

citizen

- Information on savings, investments, and business 

assets for yourself (and for your parent[s] if you are 

providing parent information)

23
( ) Submit the FAFSA in time to meet school and state 

aid deadlines. Here are the ways you can complete 

the FAFSA: 

- Apply online (the fastest and easiest way) by going 

to fafsa.gov. 

- Download a PDF version of the FAFSA at fafsa.gov. 

Fill out the PDF and mail it to the address on the 

form. (You also can visit www.edpubs.gov or call 

1-800-4-FED-AID to request a print-out of the PDF

FAFSA.)

- Ask the financial aid staff at the college you plan 

to attend whether you may fill out the FAFSA with 

their help and have them submit it for you.

( ) Review your Student Aid Report (SAR)—the result 

of your FAFSA. You will receive your SAR by email or 

by mail. If necessary, make changes or corrections 

and submit your information for reprocessing. Your 

complete, correct SAR will contain your Expected 

Family Contribution (EFC)—the index number used by 

colleges to determine how much federal student aid 

you can receive. If you do not receive your SAR within 

three weeks of submitting your FAFSA, go to fafsa.gov

and log in to check the status of your FAFSA; you may 

also call 1-800-4-FED-AID.

( ) Your school might request additional information from 

you. Be sure to respond by any deadlines, or you might 

not receive federal student aid.

( ) All applicants: Contact the financial aid office if you 

have any questions about the aid being offered.

( ) First-time applicants: Review award letters from schools 

to compare amounts and types of aid being offered. 

Decide which school to attend based on a combination 

of (a) how well the school suits your needs and (b) its 

affordability after all aid is taken into account.

( ) Keep in touch with the school you choose to find out 

when tuition and fees are due, whether your financial 

aid will cover those expenses completely, and how 

much (if any) extra financial aid will come directly to 

you once your tuition and fees are paid.

( ) Pay special attention to letters or emails from schools, 

and contact the financial aid office if you do not 

understand what the school is offering you.

( ) Follow all directions on the FAFSA and on any 

communications from your school. 

24
Parents

TO DO:

( ) Complete the “Students: To Do” list on pages 23–24 

of this checklist with your child. If possible, file the 

FAFSA online—it’s much faster and easier, and your 

information is safe because it’s encrypted (i.e., we use a 

mathematical formula to scramble the data).

( ) If you’re filing online, create your own FSA ID to be 

able to sign your child’s FAFSA electronically. Your 

FSA ID must be separate from your child’s and 

created by you (just as your child must create his 

or her own FSA ID). To create your FSA ID, go to 

StudentAid.gov/fsaid. For help with the FSA ID, watch 

“FAFSA and FSA ID Tips for Parents” in the “FAFSA: 

Apply for Aid” playlist at www.YouTube.com

/FederalStudentAid.

( ) Examine the bill from the school your child chooses 

and make sure you understand all the fees and how 

they will be paid (e.g., through scholarships, student 

loans, etc.).

FOR 

MORE 

HELP

FAFSA® Videos and 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Learn more about the FAFSA at 

www.YouTube.com/FederalStudentAid

(visit the “FAFSA: Apply for Aid” playlist) 

and at StudentAid.gov/fafsa.
Have 

questions 

about federal 

student aid 

and want to 

talk to a 

real person?

Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 

1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 1-800-730-8913 (TTY for

the hearing impaired). Toll number: 334-523-2691.

Many of the publications mentioned in this checklist are 

available to order or download for free atwww.edpubs.gov. 

Find detailed federal student aid information at StudentAid.gov.

 /FederalStudentAid

 /FAFSA

 /FederalStudentAid

Printed July 2016

Interior photos: U.S. Department of Education

Cover photo: Paper Boat Creative/Getty Images

( )