FAFSA Tips
You are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) via the web at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. This is the official FAFSA website.
Overview:
- Each student and at least one parent should apply for a PIN (personal identification number) http://pin.ed.gov prior to filing the FAFSA.
- Central College’s FAFSA school code is 001850.
- Processing time for the web FAFSA takes about 3 weeks.
- The Department of Education will notify you that you application has been processed and will provide you with a Student Aid Report (SAR).
- Iowa students need to file the FAFSA by July 1 to be eligible for Iowa Tuition Grant. Note that your form must be received at the processor (not simply mailed) by this date.
- You should not pay to file the FAFSA. It is a free service.
- Do not use any website to file the FAFSA other than the official site listed above. All other sites are typically "for profit" sites and you could be charged a fee.
- You may choose to file the paper FAFSA instead of filing online. You can get a paper FAFSA in your high school guidance office or Central's financial aid office. Please note that processing time for the paper FAFSA is longer than the web version. The paper version also does not contain the checks and balances built into the web version.
- Central College can assist you in filing the FAFSA. Please call Donna at 641-628-5187 if you need help.
Other helpful tips:
- More on the PIN - Each student and at least one parent should apply for a Department of Education PIN http://pin.ed.gov to electronically sign a FAFSA or make electronic corrections. The parent may use their PIN to electronically sign the FAFSA for more than one student in the family, but each student must have their own PIN. You should apply for your PIN numbers in advance of completing the FAFSA. If a parent already has a Department of Education PIN number, you may continue to use that PIN. If you forget your PIN, you may reapply for a new PIN. If you supply an e-mail address when applying for the PIN, you should receive your PIN electronically within 3 working days.
- Read and follow the FAFSA instructions carefully. If you have questions, ask for assistance.
- Do not skip questions unless specifically instructed to do so. If the answer to a question is zero, answer with "0". Do not write N/A or notes in the margins if filing the paper FAFSA. Report whole dollar amounts, no cents.
- “You and your” refers to the student, not the parent.
- Please make sure that the SSN you list and the spelling of the student and parent(s) name exactly match that listed on the social security card. The information you list will be matched against a database at the Social Security Administration. If the name and SSN listed do not match exactly it will delay your receipt of financial aid.
- Funding for many programs is limited. Make sure you know and meet all necessary deadlines. Be sure to complete the entire form as instructed, if you do not supply all required information, your application may be rejected, and you may miss the deadline.
- Keep copies of federal tax returns for the student and parent for verification purposes, as well as a copy of the completed FAFSA.
- Dependent students and one parent, or stepparent, must sign the FAFSA application.
- Your application must be dated after January 1, any applications received prior to January 1 will be returned unprocessed.
- Do not send copies of tax returns, guardianship papers, divorce decrees, etc. to the processor. Additional information, if applicable, should be mailed directly to the Financial Aid Office at Central College, 812 University Pella, IA 50219.
