Whether you’re headed to an out-of-state university or a local trade school, take advantage of the country’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA®. While this is primarily used for U.S. government loan money, the information on your FAFSA will also be used to gauge your need for state- and school-provided aid. To ensure your application is successful, use the following three tips when completing it.

Tips for Filling Out the FAFSA

1. Don’t Wait

If you’re filling out an application for the 2019-2020 school year, the federal deadline is June 30, 2020. For the 2020-2021 school year, the Ohio deadline is Oct. 1, 2020, and the federal due date is June 30, 2021.

Still, you shouldn’t wait until these dates are a month or so out. The earlier you submit the form, the higher the chance you’ll receive financial aid, and the sooner you might get a package from your school. Some forms of nonfederal student aid are first-come, first-serve, meaning they run out eventually.  

In fact, the best time to fill out the FAFSA is as soon as you are completing your income tax forms for the previous year.

If you happen to make a mistake, you should have enough time to correct it and resubmit. Plus, you’re no longer required to complete your tax returns before submitting the FAFSA, so there’s no reason to wait.

2. Avoid Data Entry Mistakes

Like tax returns, it’s relatively easy to make a minor data entry mistake that ends in the rejection of your FAFSA. For example, too many blank fields can raise red flags during review, so fill in all open spots with “not applicable” or “0” as needed.

Round all your numerical values to the nearest whole number—no decimals—and avoid using commas in large numbers. If you’re completing your FAFSA on a hard copy and mailing it in, don’t use the margins of the papers to write notes; these could lead to errors when scanning your documents.

3. Let the Future Be Your Guide

When in doubt, answer a question based on its truth in the near future. For example, when the application asks for your household size, you might avoid counting the baby that’s due in several months. However, unborn children must be reported if you expect them to be born during the application year and they will be your dependent.

Also, even though you may not be in classes yet, you should regard yourself as a college student when applying. List the trade school or college you hope to attend, as well as others you’ve sent applications to.

If you’re looking for an affordable, public trade school to enhance your education and prepare you for the workforce, use the FAFSA for Great Oaks Career Campuses. They have been instructing students since 1970, offering a wide range of vocational training programs. Whether you’re interested in welding, nursing, or aviation maintenance, visit the website to browse their wide range of offerings. Call (513) 771-8810 to speak with a representative at their Scarlet Oaks campus.