This rollercoaster of a life is full of twists and turns, but there are ways you can get the help you need. If just can’t pay for college tuition on your own, you can most likely get financial aid from the federal government to help. If you aren’t sure where to start with that process, here’s exactly How to Apply for Financial Aid:

How to Apply for Financial Aid

When you being with deciding to head to college the first thing that pops into one’s mind is the aspect of paying for the college tuition. Whether or not you received a scholarship or have some savings, college can be a huge financial burden.

So to lessen the burden, you can apply for what is called “Federal Student Aid”.

Federal Student Aid is a free website where you can apply for help to pay for college. Of course, it is a bit of a lengthy process but in the end should you qualify, you will be that much more closer to your dream career.

Here is how to apply:

1. Go to FAFSA Website: When you search for financial aid for school or FAFSA, you will get a ton of sites, but it is much simpler to go directly through the government site. You can find the site here.

   

2. Click on Start a New FAFSA: You will need to start a new FAFSA if you have never applied for financial aid before. In order to apply for this, you will need to be enrolled in a school of your choice or know the school’s ID code of where you are planning to attend. You do not need to be actively taking classes to apply.
3. Make Sure you have Everything: If you are unmarried with no children and under 21, you will need not only your information but your parents information including their current taxes. Make sure to have your parent’s taxes for the prior year, your taxes for the prior year, all of your social security numbers, and financials. FAFSA is very particular on this. If you are married, the same type of information will be used but you will use you and your spouses information to complete the application.
4. Wait: Once you have filled out your FAFSA, all you need to do is wait. The government will contact you via email if they need more information so check your email often. Make sure to turn in any additional items they may need. Once they have determined everything is accurate and you qualify, they will send money straight to your school.

The beauty of applying for Federal Student Aid is that there is FREE money from the government in the form of a government grants typically available. This means you do not have to pay it back like you would a student loan. The money is free just as long as you attend school and meet all the eligibility requirements. Aside from the free money, there are several other types of aid that are offered and available to those that qualify so be sure to read through the application entirely.

Making the decision to head to college is a big step but to avoid graduating with more debt than you can handle, apply for financial aid. Take your time when you apply and give accurate information for a quicker process.