phrase multiplicity: Federal college student aid applications accepted

published online: 1/17/2012

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For college-bound students and their parents, January marks when they can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2012-2013 academic year.

The FAFSA is a standardized application used to determine eligibility for federal, state, and, in some cases, institutional financial aid.

System updates and enhancements have helped to make filing the FAFSA easier for students and families.

"We encourage students and parents to complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov because the instructions, help features and built-in edits which reduce applicant error simply aren't an option when completing the paper FAFSA," said Karen Misjak, executive director of the Iowa College Student Aid Commission (Iowa College Aid). "It is also processed faster than the paper version, which can be an important factor when meeting financial aid deadlines."

Iowa College Aid urges all college-bound students to complete the FAFSA regardless of their financial situation.

To help Iowa families, Iowa College Aid offers the following FAFSA filing tips.

*? File the FAFSA no matter your financial situation. Even if families do not think they will qualify for need-based financial aid, they still should file. Many colleges require completed FAFSA applications to be considered for institutional aid. In addition, completed FAFSA are necessary to be eligible for federal Stafford loans. Completing the FAFSA does not obligate a student to accept any aid offered.

*? Never pay to file the FAFSA. Students can file the FAFSA for free at www.fafsa.gov. Reputable resources, including Iowa College Aid, are available for free assistance.

*? Meet state and college deadlines. Many states, including Iowa, have a FAFSA filing deadline for state-funded scholarships, grants and work-study opportunities.

To be eligible for several State of Iowa financial aid programs, a FAFSA must be completed and received at the federal processing center before July 1 (earlier priority filing deadlines exist for certain programs). Students also need to complete the Iowa Financial Aid Application, which can be accessed through the statewide community web portal, www.IHaveaPlanIowa.gov.

*? Double check information to avoid delays. Make sure the student's Social Security number and the parent's Social Security number are typed in the correct spaces. Mix-ups will cause processing delays.

*? Electronically sign your FAFSA. The electronic application is not complete until both the student and parent electronically sign the FAFSA using their Federal Student Aid Personal Identification Numbers. Go to the Federal Student Aid PIN website,www.pin.ed.gov, to obtain a PIN prior to starting the FAFSA.

Students and families who have questions about financial aid, or are interested in learning more about the resources available through Iowa College Aid can contact their Information Service Center at (877) 272-4456.

Additional resources are available on Iowa College Aid's website, www.IowaCollegeAid.gov.

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