I did my usual research on financial aid, based on questions and comments I get from high schoolers and their parents about what is needed for financial aid. Based that I found this information on fafsa.gov, a website I’m sure many of you have already visited. So I gathered that info below for you…a quick stop shop for your college and careers needs!

You will need records of income earned in the year prior to when you will start school. This is income that you generated, or your parents or guardians. You may also need records of your parents’ income information if you are a dependent student (which means they can claim you on their taxes).

This comes straight from www.fafsa.gov:

For the 2011-2012 school year you will need financial information from 2010. You may need to refer to:

• Your Social Security card. It is important that you enter your Social Security Number correctly!
• Your driver’s license (if any)
• Your 2010 W-2 forms and other records of money earned
• Your (and your spouse’s, if you are married) 2010 Federal Income Tax Return.
  • IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040 EZ
  • Foreign Tax Return, or
  • Tax Return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federal States of Micronesia, or Palau

• Your Parents’ 2010 Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)
• Your 2010 untaxed income records
• Your current bank statements
• Your current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond and other investment records
• Your alien registration or permanent resident card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

To organize your information, you can print and complete a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet before you begin entering your information online. However, you are not required to do so. FAFSA on the Web will guide you through the questions that you must answer, and you can save your application and return to it later if you don’t have the information you need to answer any of the questions.

Keep these records! You may need them again. Do not mail your records to Federal Student Aid. Don’t throw anything away!!

Your Success is My Success,

Keith Lipke

www.keithlipke.com

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Keith Lipke is a careers and college recruiter, coach, mentor and blogger at The Career Closet. His passion is to educate, inspire, and give hope to young people who need it upon their search for the right career and college.