The FAFSA is a necessary document that all college bound students and their parents must file to qualify for financial assistance.  This needs to be filed early in the coming year as soon as you file your tax forms.  Colleges/Universities cannot put together your financial aid package and determine family contributions until this is complete.

The FAFSA may be filed either on paper or on the Web.  The federal agency is moving very quickly away from paper and is strongly encouraging families to apply on the Web.  One advantage to filing online is a quicker turn around and response.  Here is some information you need to know.

• When you file on the Web, do not go to www.fafsa.com.  You will have to pay a fee to file using that address.
• The address you should use is www.fafsa.ed.gov.  This is the sight to file the FAFSA for without a charge to you.  Again, you cannot file the FASA until after January 1, 2004.
• Before you file on the Web, the student and only one (1) parent needs a PIN.  To get your PIN, go to www.pin.ed.gov.  It has been going fairly quickly to receive your PIN, but it might take a while.  You can apply now to receive your PIN.
• You should not use the paper form as a work copy before you file on the Web.  The paper form and the Web form are not the same.  Some things have been simplified on the Web.  You should copy the form from the Web as your work copy and then use that to fill in the electronic form and send it.  On or around December 7, 2003 FAFSA on the Web will have screen shots and a demonstration site at http://fafsademo.test.ed.gov .  After entering the site, the user name to use is eddemo and the password is fafsatest.
• When you apply online, everything is explained and spelled out for you on the websites.
• And remember, whether of not your student plans on going to a college or university in Illinois, always list an Illinois institution first.
• We encourage parents and students to go to www.collegezone.com .  This is an informative site that gives you all safe information you want to know about financial aid and scholarship searches.