1) Apply online using www.fafsa.ed.gov.
2) Check deadlines. Be aware of your state's and your school's application deadlines. While there is no deadline for applying for federal student aid, you should apply as early as possible after January 1 of each year that you will attend college. Some state and school aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
3) Collect the information you need to complete the FAFSA:
* Your Social Security number and your parents' Social Security numbers;
* Your driver's license number, if you have one;
* Your alien registration number, if you are not a U.S. citizen; and
* Your federal tax returns and income information
4) Check your FAFSA. After you complete the FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). Review the information carefully and make any necessary corrections.
5) Respond immediately to any request from your school for additional information.
(Source: federalstudentaid.ed.gov)
