Filing the FAFSA


Filing the FAFSA on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov is the fastest way to have your information processed. The school will typically receive the information within 1-2 weeks of the completed FAFSA being submitted. Please use this web site as a guide to FAFSA. If you have any questions please contact our office.

2011/2012 FAFSA

You will need the following information to complete the FAFSA worksheet:

  • Your Social Security Number. Be sure it is correct!
  • Your driver's license (if any)
  • Your 2010 W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
  • Your (and your spouse´s, if you are married) 2010 Federal Income Tax Return.
     IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040 EZ
     Foreign Tax Return, or
     Tax Return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands,  the Federal States of Micronesia, or Palau
  • Your Parents´ 2010 Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)
  • Your 2010 untaxed income records
     Veterans non-education benefit records
     Child support received
     Worker's compensation
  • Your current bank statements
  • Your current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond and other investment records
  • Your alien registration or permanent resident card (if you are not a U.S. citizen).


Keep the following in mind when filling out the FAFSA:

  • The words “you” and “your” always mean the student.
  • The word “school” means a college, university, graduate or professional school, community college, vocational or technical school, or any other school beyond high school.
  • Round to the nearest dollar and do not use commas or decimal points.
  • For dates, enter numbers that correspond to the month, day, and year. For example, for November 7, 1981, enter 11071981
  • 2011-2012 FAFSA questions that refer to the “school year” mean the school year from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012.
  • Do not mail tax forms or Worksheets to Federal Student Aid.
  • Check with your financial aid administrator if you have unusual circumstances.

 

Listed below are some key areas that should be reviewed carefully in each of the 7 sections  of the FAFSA.

Section 1 – Student Demographics:

  • Be sure to fill in all boxes.  Some information will already be filled in based on log in information. 
  • Try not to leave items blank.
  • Marital status cannot be updated after the FAFSA is initially filed.
  • Answer the male or female question.
  • List the email address that you check frequently.
  • If you have a driver’s license say yes to providing information.

 

Section 2 – School Section:

  • List the school code or look up the school code (may list up to 10). The school code for UM-Flint is 002327.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page and update the housing plan for each school.
  • Check the boxes next to the types of aid you are interested in receiving (grants are automatically considered).

 

Section 3 – Dependency Status:

  • These questions are used to determine whether or not the student is considered dependent or independent (established by the U.S. Department of Education).
  • When answering questions regarding children/legal dependents. Please make certain that the amount of support they receive from the student filing the FAFSA is taken into consideration and can be documented if necessary.

 

Section 4 – Parent Demographics:

  • The parent information listed here should be for the parent(s) that provide the majority of the support to the student.
  • Household size:  Use the help section on the right side of the screen to determine who should be listed as a member of the household.
  • Number in College:  Parents cannot be included as a family member in college on a child's FAFSA.

 

Section 5:

  • Student/Spouse/Parent Financial Information is listed here. Please refer to a copy of your 2010 tax return. The help section of the right side of the screen will list specific line numbers to look at based on what type of tax return you filed. 
  • Review the checkboxes listed to see if you had any of the items listed in 2010.  Check the box next to the items that pertain to you and fill in the amount for 2010.
  • All questions pertaining to net worth or current balances are as of the day the FAFSA is filed and are not to be updated.

 

Section 6 – Sign & Submit:

  • Both student and parent may sign on-line with their Federal PIN number.  If you do not have a PIN number you may use the link listed to acquire one.
  • A student and/or parent may also print the signature page and the sign and mail the page in to FAFSA.
    NOTE:  The FAFSA is not valid unless it is signed!
  • Submit FAFSA

 

Section 7 – Confirmation:

  • Read and Print the confirmation page. 
  • A student aid report (SAR) will be sent to the email address listed in the student demographics section.

 

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