The FAFSA Form or Free Application for Federal Student Aid Form is the first form you must fill out if you are applying for any type of financial aid, student grants or financial help from the government. The government uses this form to determine first and foremost what your financial situation is and if you qualify for any type of financial aid. Your student counselor will also use this information help you find any grants and or special awards programs that you may qualify for.

The results of your Federal Student Aid Financial Application will depend largely on your type of dependency. Most students will fall under a parental guidance dependency, meaning that they rely on their parents for their finances. If you are married than you fall into a different category of dependency and your finances will be looked at differently. There is a survey on the FAFSA website that you can take and it will help guide you when filling out the form, your student counselor should also be very versed in filling out the FAFSA form, so it's a good idea to fill it out in their presence.

It's best to be prepared with all of the proper documents handy when you fill out the form, so here is a breakdown of what you will need when filling out the FAFSA form:

• You will need your Social Security Card or number
• If you have a valid driver's license, it is a good idea to bring it along
• The previous year's W2 forms
• If you are married you will need your federal tax returns for both you and your wife
• If you are dependent on your parents you will need their tax returns
• Records of any untaxed income from the previous year
• Any current bank statements you have available
• If you are not a citizen of the US you will need to provide proof of resident information
• Finally, you will need to show financial documents of any investments or business income etc. you may have

There are two ways to fill out the form, either online or on paper. If you choose to fill out the paper form, you can get a copy from your high school, college or download a copy from the FAFSA website. If you choose to fill out the form online, you can do so at the website, but in order to actually submit it and be approved online, you must apply and qualify for a PIN number. You can apply for the PIN number online at: www.pin.ed.gov. If you do not receive a PIN number, then you will need to fill out a hard copy and mail it in.

The government will use the information you have accurately provided on this form to determine the amount of Expected Family Contribution or EFC. The EFC is the amount of money that the government thinks your family should be able to pay towards your tuition and overall schooling costs. They will forward this information to your school of choice. Any money needed to cover remaining costs is the amount you will be able to apply for in the form of free money grants, financial aid etc. Your school will also receive any information on other loans and grants that you have been offered or are eligible for based on the results.

This does not mean that there are no other grants and or loans available for you. Now that you have completed the FAFSA form and have your results you must continue to research other available options and grants that may not be obvious at first. Most grants are not in plain sight and there are many types of student aid available if you spend the time to find them.