Completing the FAFSA

The 2007-08 FAFSA is comprised of seven “steps” that must be completed.  The following is a list of the “steps” and a definition of the information provided:

Step One
Demographic information
Citizenship
Student's e-mail address
Drug-related conviction

Note: If the student provides an e-mail address, he or she can receive an e-mail link to his or her online Student Aid Report (SAR) data within 1-3 days. The Central Processing System (CPS) will also use the e-mail address to otherwise correspond with the student regarding his or her application and Personal Identification Number (PIN).

Step Two
Student income tax information
Student asset information

Step Three
Student status (dependent vs. independent) information

Step Four
Parents' Social Security Number(s)
Parents' income tax information
Parents' household information
Parents' asset information

Step Five
Student household information (independent)

Step Six
Federal School Code or College Information (must report a MAP-approved postsecondary school as one of the college choices)

Step Seven
Signatures
Preparer’s information (if applicable)

When completing the paper 2007-08 FAFSA, remember:

• Use a pen with black ink;
• Print carefully in CAPITAL letters and skip a box between words;
• Do not write “N/A” or margin notes;
• Do not leave anything blank;
• Round figures to the nearest dollar;
• Write numbers less than 10 with a zero first (e.g., 01, 02, 03).  Put a zero in the farthest right box if it does not apply; and
• Questions and references to the “school year” mean the school year from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.

Critical Student Data

In addition to the FAFSA data elements that are required to determine a student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC), there are critical data elements that must be reported on the FAFSA to determine a student's eligibilty for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) and Silas Purnell Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) grants.  They are:

Question #18
Student's state of legal residence

Question #24
Grade level in 2007-08

Question #28
Will the student have a bachelor's degree by July 1, 2007 (answer must be no)?

Question #49
Will the student be working on a master's or doctorate program during the 2007-08 academic year (answer must be no)?

Question #68
Parents' state of legal residence