1. Step One: Collect the following items and documents

• Social Security Numbers and date(s) of birth for your custodial parent(s) and student
• Latest Federal and State tax returns for you and your custodial parent(s)
• Records of untaxed income (such as child support)
• Bank, stock, real estate and business records (if applicable) for you and your parents

2. Step Two: If required by the school(s) you are applying to, submit College Board CSS PROFILE on the web at profileonline.collegeboard.com after October 1st of your senior year in high school

3. Step Three: Get FSA IDs for you and one of your parents

• Request Federal FSA ID at http://www.fsaid.ed.gov for yourself and custodial parent(s)

4. Step Four: File your FAFSA on the Web at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov after October 1st of your senior year in high school

5. Step Five: Check your Financial Aid Application Responses

• If there are errors, you will receive a request for more information by mail or email in 2-3 weeks
• If you applied to any school in New York, you will receive a notification from The Higher Education Services Corporation/HESC about applying for a Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) grant sometime in the spring
• If you qualify, you will need to complete the paperwork for NYS Excelsior Tuition Scholarship (SUNY or CUNY) or NYS Enhanced Tuition Scholarship (for private colleges that enroll in program)
• Any time after filing a FAFSA application, use your FSA ID to make corrections to your application at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Check your TAP status at any time after filing or to make corrections at http://www.hesc.org
• Respond to any requests for additional information from your school – most delays in processing a financial aid award come from delayed responses from the student and parents

6. Step Six: Apply for Federal Direct Loans, if wanted, after June 1 of student’s senior year in high school

• Student loan – Submit Master Promissory Note and Federal Entrance Counseling at https://studentaid.gov
• Parent Loan – Submit Federal credit check, Parent PLUS Loan, and Master Promissory Note at https://studentaid.gov. Credit check is required