FAFSA Guide

To get started with the online FAFSA form, you'll need to create an account with a unique ID, username, and password. 

Hot tip: Create your FSA ID ahead of time to avoid any errors or delays. It may take a few days to verify your account. Some of the biggest problems occur when students wait until the last minute to create an FSA ID. 

• Provide both a cell number and email address.
• Use a general email account, not a school account.
• If you're a dependent student, create an FSA ID for your parent(s) as soon as possible. 

Another hot tip: Keep your FSA ID separate from your parent's ID. It's easy to get these mixed up and it may cause delays.

StudentAid.gov: Creating an Account

You will need the following documents ready to go before you start your FAFSA application. Keep these records handy in case you need them again.

• Your Social Security Number.
• Your parents' Social Security numbers if you are a dependent student.
• Your driver's license number (if you have one).
• Your Alien Registration number (if you are not a U.S. citizen).
• Tax returns for you (and your spouse if you are married) and for your parents (if you are a dependent student).
• Records of untaxed income (child support, interest income, and veterans non-education benefits, etc.) for you and for your parents (if you are a dependent student).
• Information on cash, savings, checking account balances, investments, stocks, bonds, real estate (not including the home you live in) and business and farm assets for you and for your parents (if you are a dependent student).

StudentAid.gov: Gathering Needed Documents

The FAFSA will ask you a series of questions that determine your eligibility for federal student aid.

Hot tip: Review these questions before you start entering your data. This will give you a chance to look up definitions of terms that might be new to you.

Here's an overview of what you'll see:

• Dependency status: This determines whose information you must report on the FAFSA. 
• If you're a dependent student, you will report both your information and your parents' information. It doesn't mean your parents are required to pay for your education.
  • If you're an independent student, you will report your own information (and your spouse's if you are married).
• Consent to transfer information from the IRS to your FAFSA: Instead of entering tax data manually, you can opt to allow the IRS to transmit tax returns digitally. This is very safe and usually takes just a few moments to complete.
• Your school choices: You'll be asked to provide a list of your prospective colleges. Add every school you're considering, even if you haven't applied or been accepted yet. Your FAFSA information is sent to each school on your list. WIT's school code is 004590.
• Option to complete a “renewal” FAFSA form: If you wish, the system will save your demographic information for next year.
• Another hot tip: Pay attention to whether you're being asked for student or parent information. When the FAFSA form says “you” or “your,” it's referring to the student (unless otherwise noted).

To complete the FAFSA, you (and your parents if you are a dependent) have to sign it. The easiest way to sign the FAFSA form is online with your FAFSA ID.

Hot tip: After clicking “submit” don't leave your computer yet! Complete the "Iowa Common Application" to access grants and scholarships available through the state of Iowa.