Video Transcript
[Narrator]:Our dreams for the future inspire us. Drive us. Uplift us. Making them a reality starts with an education. Don’t think you can afford it? There is help. You can apply for grants, Types of Aid You Can Apply for Using the FAFSA Form loans, work-study funds, and certain scholarships by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA® form. When the FAFSA Form Is Available and When to Fill It Out October 1 is the date the application becomes available for the following school year. You should fill it out ASAP to meet your state, school, and federal deadlines. More on that in a moment.
To be eligible for federal student aid, you must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen (such as, a U.S. national or permanent resident); have a valid Social Security number; have a high school diploma or equivalent; and be enrolled or accepted as a student in an eligible degree or certificate program. Check out StudentAid.gov/eligibility for more criteria and details. There are a few things you need to have on hand when filling out your FAFSA® form. What You Need to Fill Out the FAFSA Form You’ll need your Social Security number; Alien Registration number (if you’re not a U.S. citizen); federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned; bank statements and investment records, if applicable; records of untaxed income, if applicable; and FSA ID (account username and password) to sign electronically. If you’re a dependent student, your parents will need most of this information, too.
Finally, let’s talk deadlines. Besides federal government aid, you may also be eligible for aid from your state and school. And to be considered for that aid, you have to fill out the FAFSA® form in time. Visit the “FAFSA Deadlines” section at StudentAid.gov/fafsa. Make sure to mark your calendar for the cutoff date for your state and school. Better yet, just remember to apply ASAP after October 1. To make sure you don’t miss out on any aid you’re eligible to receive, you must fill out your FAFSA® form each year you plan to attend school. Start turning your dream into a reality today at fafsa.gov.