Every year, more than 20 million students and parents file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the gateway to federal, state and school financial aid. Families often worry about making costly mistakes, but this step-by-step guide provides expert advice and insights to: · Maximize eligibility for student aid · Avoid common errors · Complete the form quickly, easily and accurately Praise for Filing the FAFSA: I found Filing the FAFSA to be an up-to-the-minute, accessible and readable resource for those with a keen interest in the current federal application for student financial aid. –Nancy Coolidge, Office of the President, University of California Families need a guide that breaks down the application form into logical sections. Filing the FAFSA is an important tool in removing some of the mystery surrounding the financial aid process. –Verna Hazen, Assistant Vice President and Director, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, Rochester Institute of Technology With the plethora of information on the subject of completing college financial applications, it’s reassuring to find a guide that students, parents and even guidance counselors can look to for useful and accurate information. –Carlos Adrian, Associate Director, Financial Aid Compliance, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs, Syracuse University As a long-time financial aid professional, I am always looking for helpful tools to assist families in understanding the sometimes overwhelming process of applying for student financial aid for college. Filing the FAFSA is a tool that successfully combines the presentation of detailed information with easy to follow flow charts and summary boxes to guide families through the application process. It is filled with helpful hints and is a valuable resource for families navigating the complicated world of financial aid. –Diane Stemper, Executive Director, Office of Enrollment Services, Student Financial Aid, Ohio State University

This publication speaks to middle school students and their parents to provide information on how to prepare for and how to pay for educational expenses at an eligible college or career school. This workbook provides information for middle and junior high school students about how to prepare and how to pay for education beyond high school. This publication also includes charts, checklists, and other activities to help students answer important questions, such as "Why think about college now?", "What can a college education do for me?", and "How will I pay for college?". Keywords: College; thinking about college; why think about college now; plan for college; where do I start?; college and financial aid options; how do I pay for college?; checklist; college preparation; college costs; financial aid; grants; loans; work-study; student aid; Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); student loans; federal student aid; StudentAid.gov; four-year colleges; two-year colleges; career schools; U.S. Department of Education; scholarships; FAFSA4caaster; choosing a college; pay for college; types of aid; college support team; activity page; workbook; myths vs. reality; college planning; post-secondary degree programs; private grants; Federal student aid; FAFSA; Free Application for Federal Student Aid; money planning for college; paying for college; vocational and technical school programs; professional career choices; student aid; student financial aid; life skills; middle school students; high school students; guidance counseling; career guidance; career training; ed.gov; studentaid.gov; U.S. Department of Education; United States Department of Education; Office of Financial Aid; Financial Aid Office; Federal Financial Aid; Office of Financial Aid (U.S.)