How to Complete the FAFSA
Gather Required Documents
You will need to know the student’s and parent(s)’ legal name, date of birth, social security number, and valid email address.
Decide Who Will Be Contributors
Contributors are the student, student spouse (if married), parent and other parent.
The “other parent” is needed if marital status is Not Married, but Living Together or tax filing status is Married and Filing Separately.
Create Your FSA ID
All contributors described above will need to create FSA IDs to sign and submit the FAFSA online.
Keep these tips in mind when creating your FSA IDs:
- Parent(s) will need their own, separate username and password (FSA ID). Students should make sure they’re using their own information when creating their FSA ID.
- Only one verified phone number can be linked to an account, so students should not enter a parent’s number.
- Students should avoid using a school email for their account. Students may need their FSA ID for loan repayment after they graduate from high school.
- Students should link an email and phone number to their account and set the challenge questions in case they need to recover their username or reset their password.
Complete the FAFSA Form
On the FAFSA, all contributors will give consent to have their tax data automatically transferred in an IRS Direct Data Exchange to all colleges and universities listed on the FAFSA. You can list up to 20 colleges. Make sure PC is one of them!
If the student starts the FAFSA and invites the parent to be a contributor, the student will have five sections to complete:
- Personal circumstances
- Demographics
- Financials
- Colleges
- Signature
Your contributor will have 45 days to complete their section. If they do not, your student section will be deleted and need to be completed again. Contributors, when invited to complete the FAFSA only have three sections: demographics, financials, and signature.
If the parent starts the FAFSA and invites the student to be a contributor, the parent will complete the student’s four sections (personal circumstances, demographics, financials, colleges) and the parents sections (demographics, financials and signature). The contributor in this instance will be the student who will have 45 days to complete their section which will only include consent and signature.
On the FAFSA, all contributors will give consent to have their tax data automatically transferred in an IRS Direct Data Exchange to all colleges and universities listed on the FAFSA.
Check Your Work
Review the form for accuracy before submitting it.
Understanding the FAFSA Results
After submitting the FAFSA, you will receive a notification of processing email from the Department of Education.
At any time you are able to login to the FAFSA website to review the information you provided on your FAFSA and the results of your Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is used to determine your eligibility for need-based programs.
Common FAFSA Mistakes to Avoid
Missing Deadlines
Submit your FAFSA as early as possible, but also pay attention to state- and school-specific FAFSA deadlines.
Incomplete Information
Confirm all of the contributors have completed their individual sections and check the FAFSA website to confirm the FAFSA has been submitted.
Tips for a Successful FAFSA Application
- Start early and submit your FAFSA as soon as possible.
- Keep records of your FSA ID (studentaid.gov account username and password) and FAFSA confirmation.
- Reach out to us if your financial or family circumstances change.
Types of Financial Aid
You could be eligible for the following types of financial aid if you complete the FAFSA:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
- Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loan(s)
- Federal Work-Study
- Federal Direct PLUS Loan
- Federal TEACH Grant
- South Carolina Tuition Grant
- PC Grant
- Some private scholarships also request FAFSA data.
Have questions about the new FAFSA?
If you have questions about the new FASFA, here’s a handy resource that might help. April Baur, the director of financial aid at PC, held a webinar about the FAFSA and covered helpful information such as changes to this year’s form and known issues with the FAFSA. This recording of the webinar can serve as a valuable resource that explains the importance of completing the FAFSA.