The FAFSA will be available on January 1 for families to apply for need based aid. But you don’t necessarily have to wait until then to take the most important step to apply for aid.
Visit the financial aid section for each college your student is applying to and find the answer to these three questions:
1. What forms are required?
Every college will require the FAFSA, but some also require the PROFILE and/or their own forms.
2. By what date do the forms need to be submitted?
3. What, if any, supporting documentation will you need to provide?
Here’s a past post highlighting some docs you’ll need for the FAFSA, but some colleges may require that you submit additional items.