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Tips for Completing Your FAFSA

At first glance, the FAFSA can be an intimidating form. Remember, however, that there are many financial aid professionals available who are familiar with the form. Review the tips below when completing your FAFSA. You can also always direct your questions to one of our counselors, or you can contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4FEDAID (1-800-433-3243).

When completing the FAFSA on-line, take a moment to register for a PIN for both yourself and your parent. Keep your PIN in a safe place. This will enable you to make corrections and will smooth the process in future years.

Gather all of the documents you will need to complete the FAFSA before you begin the application. This includes your and your parents' tax returns if you have already filed, W-2s, bank statements, and business financial statements.

Make time to sit with your parents and complete the form together. Generally, you can complete the form in one evening if you have gathered all of the information.

Use your full name. The FAFSA is no place for nicknames! The information you put on the FAFSA goes through a series of database matches, and misprinting your name can cause a delay.

Double-check the Social Security number you list for yourself. This is going to be used to verify your status as a citizen. If your parent is helping you complete your form, make certain they don't accidentally list their own SSN.

If you are a male, you must register with the Selective Service prior to receiving financial aid. Be sure to complete your registration-- you can even use the FAFSA to register!

For entering freshmen, make sure you indicate your interest in Work-Study. We will use your answer to this question to help provide you Work-Study funds.

Answer the question concerning drug conviction accurately! If you leave this question blank, your FAFSA will not be processed and you might miss out on grant funds!

Estimate your and your parents' income information. Use as accurate a figure as possible. If you estimate your information, you are more likely to be able to complete the form and submit it in time for our March 1 priority filing date. Once you and your parents have filed, you can use your PIN or the copy of your Student Aid Report to make corrections.

Answer all of the income questions! If a question doesn't apply to you, enter a zero.

If you feel you have special circumstances, call us. We can help you determine the best course of action before you file.

You must provide a Social Security number for your parents or stepparents. If you do not, your FAFSA will not be processed until the correction is made, which will delay your financial aid.

Make sure you include CNU's Title IV school code, 003706. This is the only way the Department of Education knows to send the results to our school.

Tell us your housing plans! This determines how much financial aid your may be eligible for.

Indicate what your enrollment for the school year will be. Leaving this blank can delay your financial aid.

Sign the form! An unsigned application cannot be processed, and we will not receive valid results. This is true if your parents fail to sign, too. If you file on-line and do not obtain PINs for both yourself and your parents, be sure you print and sign the certification page and mail it.

Make a copy of the information you are mailing if you complete the paper form, or print the completed form if you apply on-line.

Check the email address you provided on your FAFSA! The Department of Education will use this address to send your Student Aid Report results to you, as well as other communications. If your email deletes spam, you may also need to check your trash to see if the email was incorrectly identified as junk mail.