B

Why should I apply online? student; yours and your spouse’s, if you’re an independent and
• FAFSA on the Web identifies potential errors right away married student; or yours and your parents’ if you are a
and prompts you to make on-the-spot corrections. dependent student.
When you apply for federal student aid, your answers to the
• You get online instructions for each question, and you
questions in Step 3 of the paper FAFSA, or in Step 2 of the
can access live online help with a customer service
electronic online FAFSA, determine whether you are considered
representative for free if you have additional questions.
a dependent or independent student.
• Once you submit your application, your information
Dependent students must report their parents’ income and
is immediately sent to the U.S. Department of Education.
assets on the FAFSA as well as their own. If you’re considered a
You’ll get a confirmation notice right away when you click dependent student, your parents are expected to contribute toward
on “Submit My FAFSA Now.” the cost of your education. Federal student aid programs are
• Your application will be processed quickly, usually in based on the concept that a dependent student’s parents have
three to five days, if you (and your parents, if applicable) the primary responsibility for paying for their child’s education.
provided electronic signatures using the PIN.
Dependency Status
What if I decide I want a paper FAFSA application?
You can get a paper FAFSA—in English or Spanish—from:
For the 2007–08 academic year,* you’re an
independent student IF at least one of the
• Your local library, following applies to you:

• High school, • You were born before Jan. 1, 1984.
• College or career school you plan • You are or will be enrolled in a master’s
to attend, or or doctoral degree program (beyond a
• Our Federal Student Aid Information bachelor’s degree) at the beginning of
Center by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID the 2007-08 academic year*.
(1-800-433-3243). • You’re married on the day you apply
(even if you are separated but not divorced).
Then what should I do? • You have children who receive more
• Complete, sign and mail the FAFSA in the preaddressed than half their support from you.
envelope that’s in your FAFSA packet. Your FAFSA will be
processed in two to three weeks. But, before mailing it, you • You have dependents (other than your
should check to see if your school, or a school that you’re children or spouse) who live with you
interested in, would submit your FAFSA for you electronically. and who receive more than half their
support from you at the time you apply
• I f you don’t hear anything within three weeks of the date and through June 30, 2008.
you submitted your application, check your status through
FAFSA on the Web ([Link]). You can also check • Both your parents are deceased, or
your status by contacting the Federal Student Aid Infor- you are (or were until age 18) a ward
mation Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). or dependent of the court.
• You are currently serving on active duty
in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes
No paper or electronic FAFSA application will other than training.
be accepted prior to Jan. 1, 2007. Any FAFSA • You’re a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
application received before Jan. 1, 2007, will not (A “veteran” includes students who attended
be processed and will be rejected. a U.S. service academy and were released
under a condition other than dishonorable.
PREPARE APPLY RECEIVE REPAY

For more detail on who is considered a

Dependency status veteran, see the explanatory notes on
When you file the FAFSA, the financial information you report will the FAFSA.)
be used to determine if you need financial aid. That information will
If none of these criteria apply to you, you’re a
be used to determine whether you receive any type of need-based
dependent student.
federal student aid and if eligible, how much federal financial aid
you will receive. You’ll need to determine whose information to
report on the FAFSA—yours, if you’re an independent
*See “Important Terms,” page 38. The Guide 21
Terms frequently used in discussing financial aid throughout this publication will appear with
an asterisk, and you’ll find a description of them under “Important Terms,” beginning on page 38.
 Start Here ... How Do I Apply?

I am considered a dependent student; however, Do I report stepparent’s information?

I have no contact with my parents. What do I do Your stepparent’s financial information is required on the FAFSA:
about reporting my parents’ income? • If the parent you received financial support from
In unusual cases: was a single parent who is now married, or
• An aid administrator can determine that a • If the parent you received financial support from
student who doesn’t meet the above criteria was divorced or widowed but has remarried.
should still be treated as an independent student.
This does not mean your stepparent is obligated to give financial
• The financial aid administrator can change assistance to you, but his or her income and assets represent
your dependency status from dependent to significant information about the family’s financial resources.
independent based on adequate documentation Including this information on the FAFSA helps us form an
of your special circumstances. accurate picture of your family’s total financial strength.
• You must provide this documentation.
Process for renewal applicants
• The financial aid administrator cannot
You must reapply for federal student aid every year. If you
automatically change your status simply
change schools, your aid doesn’t automatically transfer with
because you request it.
you. Remember to check with your new school to find out
• The decision is based on the financial aid what you need to do to continue receiving financial aid.
administrator’s judgment of the facts of
For those who applied in 2006-07 there will be fewer questions
your situation and is final.
to answer for 2007-08 because the Renewal FAFSA contains much
• You cannot appeal that decision to us. of the information given in the 2006-07 application. Only the
Independent students report their own income and assets information that has changed in the 2006-07 FAFSA application
(and those of a spouse, if married). will have to be updated and a few new questions answered. Renewal
FAFSAs can only be completed online at [Link]
between Jan. 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008. Remember that
Not living with parents or not being claimed states and schools may have earlier deadlines for nonfederal
by them on tax forms does not determine aid so it’s important to check with your state or school deadlines.
dependency status for federal student aid. State contact information is provided at the end of this guide.
To complete your Renewal FAFSA:
If I am a dependent student, whose information do • In January 2007, you’ll receive notice (e-mail
I report if my parents are divorced or separated? or regular mail) reminding you to apply for the
• You report information about the parent you 2007–08 award year (July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008).
lived with for the greater amount of time during • You’ll access your 2007-08 Renewal FAFSA on
the 12 months preceding the date you file your the Web using your PIN. There are no paper
FAFSA application. renewal applications.
• If you didn’t live with either parent, or if you lived • Review the information on the Renewal FAFSA
with each parent an equal amount of time, then use and change or add information as needed, sign
information about the parent who provided the greater and submit it.
amount of financial support during the 12 months prior
• You’ll then receive your Student Aid Report*
to the date you file your FAFSA application.
(SAR) containing your application results.
• If you didn’t receive any parental financial support
• Review your SAR to make sure all your
PREPARE APPLY RECEIVE REPAY

during that time, you must report information about

information is correct.
the parent who most recently provided the greater
amount of parental support. • Check with your financial aid office, or contact
the Federal Student Aid Information Center at
1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) if you have
questions about the FAFSA renewal process.

The Guide 22