Transfer101

What is a FAFSA?

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, asks questions about a family’s income and assets to determine an Estimated Family Contribution, or EFC. Each college compares a family’s EFC with the total costs of attendance to determine the amount of your financial aid package.

Total Cost of Attendance – EFC = Financial Aid amount

When you complete the FAFSA they’ll review your file for additional financial aid. In addition to federal and state grants, you may be eligible for other grants, campus employment or low-interest student loans. (Remember, scholarships and grants are money that doesn’t have to be paid back!)

Four Steps for filing your FAFSA

Step 1: Get a PIN

What is a PIN? The PIN is a four-digit number issued to you by the Department of Education that allows you to complete and sign the FAFSA electronically, to check the results of your FAFSA and to make corrections to your application online.

Getting a PIN:

Get your free PIN online from the Department of Education. If you provide an e-mail address when you register, your PIN information will be sent to you by e-mail within three days of your request.

PIN for Parents:

Parents must request their own separate PIN to use as an electronic signature on the FAFSA.

Step 2: Complete the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet

The Department of Education provides a worksheet that you can use to gather the financial information you’ll need to complete the FAFSA before you go online. Download the worksheet now.

Step 3: File your FAFSA

Once you’ve received your PIN and completed the “FAFSA on the Web” worksheet, log on to www.fafsa.ed.gov to file your FAFSA. Complete each step and write down your confirmation number when you finish entering the form. (You will need the confirmation number in case any problems arise with the processing of your application.)

Step 4: Monitor the Status of your FAFSA

After you’ve filed your form, you can check the status of your FAFSA online, or you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 and use the automated response system. Schools should receive the results of your application two to three days after it’s been processed. If you do not receive a response from the Department of Education within two weeks after submitting your FAFSA, you should contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center for assistance.

What will College Cost?

You can find a list of all the public universities in Texas and their average costs (depending on whether or not you live on campus) at the College for All Texans.

Some websites can help by giving you a Financial Aid Calculator (a prediction of what it might cost and how much aid you might recieve).

Remember — the federal application for federal student aid (FAFSA) can cover tuition and living expenses.

Looking for other ways to reduce costs?

• Explore your options. There may be a less expensive university that offers your degree plan.
• Look for transfer agreements. Fewer classes to take means less cost to you.
• Check with your parents to make sure they’re getting all those tax credits.
• Remember that military service offers education benefits.
• Remember that transfer and department scholarships are available.
• Look for a job on the university campus.

Scholarships

There are many scholarships available to students, but they are first come first serve so start early!  Contact your University Advisor to ask about specific scholarships you might qualify for.  There are also national scholarships available for you to apply for.  Check out some of these links for more information:

Phi Theta Kappa offers transfer scholarships 

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation also offers transfer scholarships

Texas Financial Aid Information Center

Have more questions?  Want to talk to someone who knows?  Try the Texas Financial Aid Information Center 1.888.311.8881.  Hours: Monday – Thursday 7am – 6:50 pm and Friday 7am – 4:50 pm.