FAFSA, short for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is the application form for federal studnt grants, work study aid, and loans. In some msituations, the application can be used to apply for private aid as well. In short, its a big deal, and everyone looking to receive some form of financial aid for college will likely need to fill one out.

Because of its popularity, there are many methods available for filling out the FAFSA.

An option common with graduating high school seniors is the Electronic Data Exchange for schools. High schools often provide a method for students to complete and enter their FAFSA forms to ensure they are done correctly, and in a timely manner.

You can also complete a FAFSA application on the web - simply go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov, and follow the instructions there. If you need to renew your FAFSA application, this is where you do it.

You can complete it on paper and mail it in, ensuring that even if you dont have an internet connection or a school which participates in the Electronic Data exchange, you can still apply.

The FAFSA is also available in Spanish.

There are a few different deadlines to keep in mind when filling out a FAFSA form: First, there are School aid deadlines - these are the deadlines a school imposes for students requesting aid from them. Second, there are Federal student aid deadlines. These can be viewed by clicking here. Last, there are State student aid deadlines. These vary by state, and are often earlier than the Federal deadlines. To be safe, always try to submit your FAFSA application by early January.