Easy Ways To Get Help With The FAFSA

Easy Ways To Get Help With The FAFSA

The form, which asks 130 questions about assets, income, and dependent status and is necessary for any student seeking federal loans, work-study employment while enrolled in school, or need-based college scholarships, sometimes causes anxiety among parents.

However, there are methods to get assistance when filling out the FAFSA.

Ways To Get Help With The FAFSA

1. Live FAFSA Help

First, Federal Student Aid specialists are available by phone or live chat to answer any issues you may have regarding the FAFSA. This service is offered every day of the week.

If you’d like, you can send your inquiries by email. Please visit the Federal Student Aid Information Center for additional details and assistance with completing your FAFSA.

2. FAFSA Videos

YouTube is another resource for assistance with completing the FAFSA. The US Department of Education has several videos on YouTube that can assist you in understanding the FAFSA.

3. Local FAFSA Help

You can frequently get assistance in your neighborhood when completing the FAFSA. To assist families in completing the much-dreaded FAFSA, colleges and other non-profit organizations organize financial aid lectures and interactive FAFSA boot camps every year.

To find local FAFSA workshops, ask your high school counselor or search online for further resources.

3. FAFSA on the Web

If you have any questions about the form, the federal government can assist you. Simply give the FAFSA helpline a call at (800) 433-3243. You can click the “Live Help” button when completing the FAFSA online.

4. Use a worksheet

It may be simpler to complete the FAFSA if you are aware of the information that is required beforehand. By printing the “FAFSA on the Web” worksheet from the Federal Student Assistance website, you can see what questions are on the FAFSA.

5. The IRS

Your income tax information is required to finish the FAFSA. The IRS data retrieval tool, newly developed by the federal government, greatly eases the process of entering this data. Parents can use this service, which goes live on February 3, to transmit federal tax data directly from their 2012 tax returns to the FAFSA.

6. College Goal Sunday

Seek out one of the free weekend workshops for families in need of assistance with the FAFSA that are planned for January and February. Hosted in 37 states and the District of Columbia, College Goal Sunday programs were started by the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association.

During the same time frame, the California Student Aid Commission also provides free FAFSA sessions all around the state through the “California Cash for College” program.

7. Check out TuitionCoach

To assist you in estimating your college expenses, the TuitionCoach website offers free videos, financial aid backgrounders, and an FAFSA calculator.

I especially appreciate the helpful worksheets on the website that explain how to finish the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE and the FAFSA. To access the worksheets and most of the other content, you must first register on the free website.

8. Use a FAFSA preparer

The FAFSA is available to anybody for free its name emphasizes this—but some preparers will fill it out for a charge. I recommend that you look into Student Financial Aid Services if you need assistance.

They have helped over a million families fill out and prepare the FAFSA online and over the phone. The organization charges $79.99 for online FAFSA preparation and $99.99 for phone preparation.

FAQ

How international students get financial aid in the US

International students, in contrast to domestic students, are not eligible for federal or state aid and usually rely on their funds as well as funds from outside the United States to pay for tuition and other costs. However, institutional options such as grants and scholarships are available.

How to apply for financial aid in US universities

Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step in applying for federal financial aid if you are a permanent resident.

You might be eligible for state and federal government grants and loans as a permanent resident, such as the Federal Work-Study, Pell Grant, Perkins Loan, PLUS Loan, Stafford Loan, or SEOG Grant.

US Universities Offering Financial Aid to International Students Highlights