You complete the form & it will calculate your EFC. This is the basis of Federal Financial Aid awards.

USE: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

NEVER PAY to complete or submit a FAFSA!!!

FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid

EFC = Expected Family Contribution

You fill at the fafsa starting January 1st. It is important to do it as soon as possible, if you haven’t filed taxes yet use last years info. Then they will send you your SAR, once you have filed your taxes use the info on their to correct it. They will then send the SAR to the schools you list and they will tell you your Efc, expected family contribution. Your financial need is the Cost of attendence, minus your efc. Your school will then send you your Financial Aid Award letter. It should include grants, work study, or loans.

You usually have to start filling it out after you or your parents get their tax returns around April or May. Depending on due dates each state has different deadlines, I know NJ is June 1. you fill it out, send it back to them and they send you a form back called an SAR or student aid report and it either asks you to give more information or it tells you what kind of aid you are qualified for and those companies will notify the colleges you are applying to or attending and then the school will inform you of your award notice and you have to either accept or decline depending on what you need.

first step into aid process of goen to school…they will go by you rapplication an see how much u qualify for . measures your families financial strength . to determine eligibility for student help. they send u a SAR thru mail or internet. lists info u sent them an tellu your efc. review this sar make sure all info is correct. school then uses this info to help u meet your financial needs. contact your schools financial aid office for more if u qualify it is paid to u thru your school . any remaining money is then paid to you……after tuition, fees, room an board is paid for . studentaid.gov

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hope this helps. good luck