The Norman Transcript

Local news

Discussion

February 1, 2013

Now is the time to apply for Free Application for Student Aid

The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Q: I am the parent of a junior and senior in high school. I keep hearing it’s time to apply for FAFSA, but I don’t even know where to begin. Can you give me a short course in FAFSA for dummies?

— Kristi, Norman

Dear Kristi,

What a great question. Yes, it is time to apply now.

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Student Aid. It is required for any financial aid (pellgrants, scholarships, student loans, etc.) for a student to attend college, unless you are able to pay all college expenses and are asking for no financial help.

The website is fafsa.ed.gov. Please don’t confuse this correct website with the many fakes out there that want you to pay for their services. They look very similar. Make sure the website is not redirecting you to another site.

· Step 1: Get on fafsa.ed.gov today and request pin numbers for both you and your student. Put these pin numbers somewhere easily found because you will use the same pin numbers for years.

· Step 2: To complete the entire application, you will need to gather all your current tax information for 2012. You can still create the account even if you don’t currently have all this information. The sooner you can input this tax information, the better because financial aid is based on a first come, first serve basis.

· Step 3: Read every question carefully and thoroughly and answer completely. You will be asked questions about number of people in your household, marital status, bank account balances, investment accounts, number of children in college and all personal information such as address, social security numbers, etc. You will need to list every school that your student is interested in attending, (the first four are free) because each school has their own financial aid packages they can award. Each college/university has a school code, which can be found on the school code finder located in FAFSA.

· Step 4: You will be required to sign the application. You can choose to sign electronically using your acquired pin number or you can print the final page and mail it in. We recommend the electronic option because, as we said before, it’s quicker and all of this is first come, first serve.

· Step 5: Once you have clicked submit, a screen will appear displaying your EFC. This is your Expected Family Contribution. Do not let this frighten you because each school is different. It’s basically telling you how much money you should expect to pay per year for your child’s college education.

After submission, you will get an email in approximately a week referring to the SAR, which is the Student Aid Report. This report is basically a recap of all information you have given FAFSA, and it allows you to review and edit what you entered.

You will most likely be told that you have been chosen for review. At that time, you will be asked to send hard copies of a few pages of your filed tax return to FAFSA. Be sure you sign these documents prior to sending. This does sound like a confusing process, but we promise you if we can do it, you can do it.

We have helped many parents and students through this process. Please feel free to email us if you have more questions. You’ll be fine — we have faith. The website takes you through step by step.

Please send questions to questions.classact@gmail.

com. Sally and Jeannie are certified school counselors with 49 years combined educational experience. Jeannie has two children, Sally three. The responses presented don’t necessarily represent the views of any certain school district.

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local news
  • Former student sues OU over school’s refusal to release student parking citation information

    A lawsuit was filed against the University of Oklahoma last week after the university repeatedly refused to release student parking citation information. The lawsuit was specifically filed against David Boren, individually and as the ...

    May 18, 2013

  • Nonprofithealth care centers Variety Care and Health for Friends to merge

    In an effort to serve Cleveland County’s medically under-served residents, Health for Friends, a Norman nonprofit community health center since 1985, is merging with Variety Care, an Oklahoma City-based nonprofit Federally Qualified Health ...

    May 18, 2013

  • 405 bikers take the path less traveled to work

    Rain, shine or fog, Norman bicyclists show up every year, and have been showing up every year for eight years, for the city’s annual Bike to Work event. Despite drizzle and fog Friday morning, this year was no exception. “Norman has one ...

    May 18, 2013

  • OU student allegedly changed his grades and faculty members’ passcodes

    Charges were filed against a University of Oklahoma student Thursday after the student allegedly changed faculty members’ passcodes and his own grades on Wednesday. Roja Osman Hamad, 24, was charged in Cleveland County District Court with ...

    May 18, 2013

  • Five face drug charges after police search

    Five individuals face drug charges in Cleveland County District Court after Oklahoma City police executed a search warrant for a home in Cleveland County....

    May 18, 2013

  • Norman residents to perform in concert

    Several Norman residents will perform during Windsong Chamber Choir’s spring concert “Windsong Alone” 4 p.m. Sunday at Messiah Lutheran Church, 3600 NW Expressway in Oklahoma City. The concert is free but donations are accepted....

    May 18, 2013

  • Correction

    Moore-Norman Technology Center superintendent Jane Bowen was appreciative of a $3 million increase to the state’s career tech system budget. It was incorrectly reported Friday that Moore-Norman received the $3 million increase instead of ...

    May 18, 2013

  • Noble Farmers Market receives $2,000 grant for signs

    The Noble Farmers Market has been awarded a $2,000 grant by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. The grant funds, available pursuant to the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Farm Bill, will be used to purchase and place ...

    May 18, 2013

  • Technology center board meets

    Weapons policy updates, state funding and a five-year strategic plan were the topics of note at the Moore Norman Technology Center Board meeting Thursday evening....

    May 17, 2013

  • City water customer says site identifying high water users is misleading

    A social media website identifying Norman residents as high water users is factually misleading, according to one Norman homeowner who made the list....

    May 17, 2013