FAFSA – Tips for Completing it Online
The quickest way to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is to complete the application online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
By completing the FAFSA, you are able to apply for all the federal and state aid, and also for all Northwest University institutional aid (foundation, partnership, alumni, and outside scholarships have additional applications). Following are some helpful hints for completing your FAFSA online.
These tips and other resources can be found on the FAFSA Tip Sheet at www.studentaid.ed.gov. Tips have been modified.
FAFSA Checklist – here is what you need
- Your Social Security Number
- Your drivers license number, if you have one
- Your W-2 forms
- Your federal income tax return
- Current bank statements and records of stocks, bonds, and other investments
- Records of other untaxed income received
- Your business or farm records, if applicable
- If you are NOT a US citizen, your alien registration number
- Northwest University School Code: 003783. You will need this number if you want Northwest University to get a copy of your application.
Dependent Students! [Glossary]
Your parents will also need the same information and forms to complete their section of the FAFSA. Remember your FAFSA cannot be processed without their information and signature.
NOTE: Financial and income records should be for the calendar year prior to the academic year for which you are applying for financial aid. For example, to complete the 2008-2009 FAFSA, use income info from the 2007 tax year.
Get a PIN
Before filling out your FAFSA, apply for a PIN so that you can sign your FAFSA and any other Department of Education documents electronically. A PIN will be e-mailed to you between 1-5 days after applying. If you do not have an e-mail address, it will take 7-10 days for your PIN to be mailed to you. Your FAFSA can be processed weeks faster when you sign with your PIN. If you're a dependent student, your parents will also need to apply for a PIN.
Print the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet
Some find this helpful to be able to enter information on paper first and then transfer it online.
Save your FAFSA
Use the SAVE button, and use it often to prevent losing information you have already put in. If you ever need to come back to your online FAFSA, remember to hit SAVE so that you can log back on and start right where you left off instead of having to fill in all the information again.
Ask for Help
If you're not sure about a question, there is free help available to you. Just click on any of the HELP buttons, or to chat with a customer service representative, click on the CHAT button.
Sign Your Application
You can use your PIN and sign your FAFSA electronically. If you don't have a PIN, you can print off a signature page, then send it in. Remember that your FAFSA is not valid without a signature. For dependent students, your FAFSA is not valid and cannot be processed without a parent signature as well.
Submit Your Application
Don't forget to click the SUBMIT button on the very last page of the online FAFSA form. There will be a confirmation page that comes up after you have submitted the FAFSA, along with a confirmation number. Print the page and keep it for your records.
After the FAFSA...
After submitting your FAFSA online, you should receive a Student Aid Report ("SAR") in the mail about two weeks later, or if you provided an e-mail address, it should be e-mailed to you about five days later. Once you receive your SAR, make sure all the information is correct. If you remembered to put our school code in your list of schools, Northwest University will automatically receive a copy of your FAFSA, too.