Yes. It’s that time in the college prep process–FAFSA time! If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that you can’t ignore the FAFSA, there are good reasons to file, and who fills out the FAFSA. As far as I’m concerned, your application is not complete without this financial aid form.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) became publicly available January 1st. For those new to the process, it is an annual form that is completed by current and prospective college students to determine eligibility for federal financial aid.

While filing your FAFSA is considered the Step #1 for those in need of financial aid, it can often seem like an intimidating task to undertake.  One of the biggest hurdles to approaching this form is understanding what materials are needed beforehand to prepare for filing.

Taking a deeper look, Zinch gives a list of the absolute must-haves to file the FAFSA.