1. Read the instructions and questions carefully
2. Meet financial deadlines
3. Apply for two pin numbers --- one for the student and one for the parent
4. A common error is to leave a field blank. All income questions must be completed. If the answer is zero or the question does not apply to you, write 0.
5. Use your legal name as it appears on your Social Security card. Using a nickname or any other name will cause a processing delay. Be careful of putting parent's Social Security number in place of the student's.
6. Be careful to write your Social Security Number and date of birth accurately and clearly. Any error will cause processing delays.
7. The words "you" and "your" on the FAFSA always refer to the student, not the parent.
8. Make sure you have the school's institutional forms completed with the same information.
9. Don't hide assets.
10. Be honest. Some schools verify 100% of the student's financial aid applications through the use of tax returns and federal verification documents.
11. Claim that the student lives with lower earning parent, if the parents are divorced.
12. Report as earned income Box 1 instead of Box 5 of the W-2 form.
13. Don't leave the drug question blank.
14. Another common error is to report taxes withheld or tax due instead of taxes paid. The total of your withholdings can be higher or lower than the taxes paid. Be sure you report the taxes paid.
15. Refer to www.finaid.org for additional information and directions.
Homer Sweeney The College Plan
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