Tips for Applying for Aid

Source: https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/process/how-to-apply-for-aid/tips-for-applying-for-aid/ Parent: https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/process/financial-aid-basics/

Apply Early

• Submit your 2025-26 FAFSA to the federal processor as soon as possible. Submit your 2025-26 FAFSA on or before December 1, 2024.
• Complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov.
• Although you must be accepted for enrollment at UF before you are considered for financial aid, you should apply for aid before being admitted.
• In order for us to consider you for a financial aid offer, you must be a degree-seeking admitted student.
• Apply for financial aid at the same time, or even before, you apply for admission.

Re-Apply Each Year

Remember, financial aid is not renewed automatically. You must re-apply each year in order to keep your financial aid.

Keep the Following in Your Financial Aid File:

• Photocopies of your federal income tax return schedules and W-2s
• Photocopies or printouts of your completed FAFSA
• Your Federal Student Aid Report
• Borrower copy of promissory notes
• Your FSA ID (The FSA ID replaced the Federal Student Aid PIN on May 10, 2015)
• Your State of Florida PIN and paperwork
• Photocopies of forms or information used to complete your aid application and all correspondence with aid agencies

Financial Aid Help Sessions

“Financial Aid Application Help Sessions” are held every year. Students can get individual help completing the FAFSA online. All sessions are open — no appointment is required.

Watch our Web site, the Independent Florida Alligator, or Student News on ONE.UF for times and locations.

Change in Family Circumstances

If you/your family have extenuating financial circumstances, check with your financial aid advisor to see if they might affect your financial aid application. Examples include:

1. Divorce of parents, or you from your spouse
2. Death of a major wage earner
3. Loss of employment of a major wage earner
4. Loss of other income or benefits (such as child support), by you, your parents, or spouse

Students petitioning financial aid offers are strongly encouraged to do so from March 1 through June 1.

Dependent or Independent

Dependency status is one of the most confusing aspects of financial aid application. The federal government has established extremely specific criteria for classifying financial aid recipients as dependent or independent. This classification is important, because it determines whose financial information must be reported on the FAFSA.

FAFSA on the Web has a convenient, Dependency Status Page to aid students and parents in determining their dependency status.

More FAFSA Tips