Are you in need of financial aid for the 2017-18 school year? The first step to applying for aid is filling out FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is a tool to help you apply for grants, work-study, and loans, all through one simple application. In the past, FAFSA has opened on January 1 at midnight but this year, it is opening three months early, on October 1! This means that students applying for aid will get their award letter much earlier than they have in the past.

If you are not yet a college student, but thinking of applying to WOU, make sure to list us on your FAFSA! Only schools that are listed will receive your information, and there is no penalty for listing a school that you later decide not to attend. The FAFSA application allows you to list up to 10 schools, so make sure to list any school you are even considering.

What will you need to fill out the FAFSA?

• Your social security number
• Your alien registration number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
• 2015 tax information– since the FAFSA is being released three months early this year, tax information from the previous year will be used to calculate aid. This will save you from having to update your information later on. You may be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to input your tax information directly into your FAFSA.
• Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
• Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
• An FSA ID to sign electronically– this is an id that you create on the FAFSA website that allows you to sign your FAFSA application online. The pin that has been used in the past is no longer valid.

If you are a dependent student, you will need all of the above information for your parents as well. If you are unsure if you are a dependent student, click here to find out!

Need help or have questions about filling out your FAFSA? WOU is here to help! There are four workshops in the Hamersly Library to help you apply early. These workshops are Oct. 3-6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in room 108. Don’t forget to bring your FSA ID and your 2015 tax information!

If you choose to do it on your own instead, make sure you are on the right website. If the site tries to charge you for filling out the application, it’s not real! The correct site is fafsa.gov, and it is completely free.

Although the final application deadline isn’t until June 30, 2018 for the 2017-18 school year, many awards are first come, first serve so apply early!

Other important deadlines to remember:

• OSAC Scholarships: March 1, 2017
• Oregon Promise Grant: April 1, 2017
• Oregon Opportunity Grant: As soon as possible after October 1, awards will be granted until funds are depleted
• WOU Foundation Scholarships: March 1, 2017