To kick off Financial Aid Awareness Month, the Office of Student Financial Aid is doing its part to help get the word out. For the first week in February we will be handing out business cards in the AMU to remind students to file their FAFSA and also answering any questions they have about the process.  Other outreach that the Office of Student Financial Aid is conducting this month includes articles on the importance of filing a FAFSA in campus newsletters and table tents throughout campus.

Listed below are some resources to help you learn more about financial aid:

FAFSA

• Department of Education's FAFSA Site: The official FAFSA site where students can go to fill out the form online and learn more about how it works.
• Common Errors on the FAFSA: A list of common mistakes students make on the FAFSA.
• Five Reasons to File Your FAFSA: Our list of five great reasons why it pays for students to fill out the FAFSA.
• Five-Minute FAFSA Video: How did the FastWeb team turn the FAFSA into an entertaining five-minute short? Click to find out.
• FAFSA is Step One for Financial Aid: An introduction to the FAFSA for students who might not know that much about it.
• How to Read Your SAR: Everyone has information about the FAFSA, but no one explains the Student Aid Report (SAR). FastWeb has tried to fill that void.
• Department of Education's PIN Site: Students, you won't be able to electronically sign and submit your FAFSA if you don't have a PIN. Get all of your PIN questions answered here.
• FinAid's FAFSA Page: FinAid has an entire section of its site devoted to FAFSA information and links, including common FAFSA errors and deadlines.

Scholarships

• Earn Your Scholarship Letter of Recommendation: Read this article if you're asking yourself "Who should I ask for my recommendation letter?".
• Where to Find Great Scholarships: Scholarships can be found in a lot of different places.
• How to Apply for Scholarships: A good list of tips on what you need to do when applying for scholarships.
• Maximize Your Scholarship Eligibility: Knowing how to "type" yourself is a great way to increase eligibility and expand the number of scholarships you can apply for.
• Paint Your Scholarship Portrait: Part of submitting a winning application is developing a theme that's all about you. The better you paint your portrait, the higher your chances can be of winning.

Loans

• Guide to Student Loans: Help yourself understand the rules behind the different loans that are available.
• Student Loan Glossary: Understanding loan terminology is difficult. This glossary simplifies things.
• Basics of Borrowing: We explain how loans work in general.
• When Student Loans Aren't Enough: What if more funds are needed even after loans are factored in?

Calculators

• Savings Plan Designer (Flat Contribution)
• College Cost Projector
• FAFSA4caster
• Loan Payment Calculator
• Award Letter Comparison Tool

Check out additional calculators on FinAid.

General Financial Aid

• FinAid: The Web's most-trusted financial aid site.
• Financial Aid Resources by State: Not sure what your state offers in aid? Check here.
• Department of Education's Guide to Federal Student Aid: Handbooks describing federal government aid programs are available electronically.
• City Year: Volunteer during gap year (between high school and college) and get an education award of $4,725.
• College Goal Sunday: A program that spreads the word about financial aid, especially to those students from lower-income households with no history of going on to college. Check the site to find out if College Goal Sunday offers a program in your state.