FAFSA HELP!!! PLZ and Thanks.?

Question

Okay here is the thing. I'm graduating from high school in 2009 and would like to get a head start on getting things ready to fill out for FAFSA. I was wondering how it goes. My mother and my father were never married. Do i need my Father's information too? if so plz let me kno what.. it means a court battle to get it if I have to have it. that is why I am starting now... Thanks for all you help.

Answer 1

You will only need your moms info... and if you have a Step Dad (as in mom is married and you have a step father) then his information would be on the fafsa application as well.

Since you are a bit early for fin aid... only being a Junior in high school... you might use this:

FAFSA4caster

What is FAFSA4caster?

FAFSA4caster is an online tool to help students and families

prepare financially for college before officially applying for

federal student aid. It provides an estimate of federal student aid eligibility by instantly calculating an estimated Expected Family Contribution*—the indicator used to estimate a family’s or a student’s ability to contribute toward the cost of an education after high school. FAFSA4caster determines what type of federal aid (grants, work-study and loans) the student is eligible to receive and provides an estimated award amount for each.

Who should use FAFSA4caster?

FAFSA4caster is not just for high school juniors. Parents of

younger students can use it to receive early estimates, create

scenarios based on future earnings, and establish college savings strategies. Students considering going back to college can also use FAFSA4caster to get an idea of how much federal aid they may qualify to receive. The benefit of using FAFSA4caster goes beyond early estimates. Some of the data entered in FAFSA4caster will populate FAFSA on the Web when the student officially applies for federal student aid.  

Note: To apply for aid, students must use FAFSA on the Web

at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

What are other benefits?

FAFSA4caster also:

• Reduces the time it will take to complete the online  application,

FAFSA on Web

• Helps users become familiar with the student aid lifecycle

• Conducts a data match with the Social Security Administration;

this gives students the opportunity to resolve issues prior to applying for federal student aid. If a Social Security number match fails, students will be notified to have the issue  resolved before officially applying for aid.

• Automatically generates and e-mails the Federal Student Aid PIN for the student to use when applying for federal student aid at FAFSA on the Web.

Answer 2

Talk with a someone from your financial aid office from your local college.  You can alos download the fafsa form online or get a paper copy from the financial aid office.  your guidance counselor should also have those available for you to look at and that will give you an idea of what you will need to complete the form. Hope this helps and good luck.

Answer 3

No, if your dad is not in the picture, you can just include your mom's info.  There will be a place on the FAFSA where you can explain this your dad has not supported you financially and it was just your mom.  Then all you (and your mom) have to  provide on the forms is her income.

Answer 4

you only need the information of the parent(s) who care for you.  If you live with just your mom, then use your mom's tax info.  if your mom is remarried and you live with a stepfather then you'd use both of their information.  if you have a relationship with your biological father, and he makes less money than your mother, than you may want to use his information.  The scheme is to show you have as little income as possible, so that you show 'need' to have as much 'assistance.' AND you want to file your parent(s) to file their income taxes as early as possible - as close to Jan 1 as you can.  Because you need the tax information to file your FAFSA.  and the earlier YOU submit your information as close to Jan 1 as possible the more money you get.  they do the first draw at Mar 1 so if you have ALL your stuff in by then, then you'll be in the first group to get reviewed and get money.  ALSO - you can put many schools on your application free of charge, HOWEVER you must APPLY to all those schools in order to receive the review of how much you'll get.  SO you need to choose the school(s) you want to apply to, and get your OFFICIAL high school transcripts together, and apply.  You should probably send all the stuff at the same time. (apps + transcripts and fafsa stuff ) so the GOVT will review your stuff, and send THEIR information to all the schools you select. but the school will not review your info unless you've paid them the app fee and sent them transcripts, because they will offer you academic awards  at that time.  it's really not difficult.  take your time, and pay attention to what you're doing.   but the earlier you 'get in line' then the more chance you'll have of getting more.  Good grades don't hurt either

Answer 5

You only need your mother's information, if she is your primary caregiver. She will put any child support payments she has received from him, if any. If she doesn't receive child support then no information from him is needed.

Answer 6

You dont need to fill out a FAFSA until next year in Jan.  But other then that you just need your mothers info since they were never married.  So dont worry about his, just get your moms.

Answer 7

The first thing to do is to apply for FAFSA. This is a federal grant (aka Pell Grant). You can do this for free online...anytime. And you just need your mothers OR fathers info.

Here is the info.

A. FAFSA Application

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the form used by virtually all two and four-year colleges, universities and career schools for the awarding of federal student aid and most state and college aid.

For the 2007-2008 school year, you can apply for federal student aid by:

Applying online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or

Completing the paper FAFSA .

For the 2008-2009 school year, you can apply for federal student aid by:

Applying online at www.fafsa.ed.gov or

Complete a PDF FAFSA (Note: PDF FAFSA must be mailed for processing) or

Request a paper FAFSA by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243), 1-319-337-5665 or 1-800-730-8913 (TTY users).

Deadlines: For the 2007-2008 school year, submit your application as early as possible, but no earlier than January 1, 2007. We must have your application no later than June 30, 2008. Your college must have your correct, complete information by your last day of enrollment in the 2007-2008 school year.

For the 2008-2009 school year, submit your application as early as possible, but no earlier than January 1, 2008. We must have your application no later than June 30, 2009. Your college must have your correct, complete information by your last day of enrollment in the 2008-2009 school year.

New For 2008-2009 School Year: FAFSA PDF Form

For the 2008-2009 school year, you have the option of applying for federal student aid by completing a PDF form of the FAFSA. The PDF FAFSA must be mailed for processing.

Renewal FAFSA 2007-08

The 2007-08 Renewal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available online for eligible students who applied for financial aid in the prior award year. Completing the Renewal FAFSA is a tremendous time-saver because most of the information provided on the prior year application is carried forward to the student's 2007-08 Renewal FAFSA. Click here for Renewal FAFSA on the Web.

Note: Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, eligible students who applied for financial aid in the prior award year, will have the option to use their preexisting data when filing the FAFSA online.

Your FAFSA will be processed in two to four weeks. If you don't hear anything within four weeks of the date it was mailed, you can check the status by going to www.fafsa.ed.gov. You can also check by contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center at the address or toll free number listed below.

The next thing to do is to inquire about any state grants. Go to the financial aid office @ your school. They will help you out!

Third, apply for the scholarship provided by your school. Again, ask the financial aid office concerning their scholarships.