MIDDLESEX COMMUNITY COLLEGE 2009-2010 FAFSA TIPS

In order to make the application process for financial aid as simple as possible, we have developed the following set of instructions and informational notes:

FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) is the application Middlesex Community College (MCC) uses to award federal, state and institutional financial aid. You can apply on-line using the federal FAFSA web site at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov, after January 1, 2008. MCC Federal School Code is 009936 for Bedford and E00562 for Lowell. If you want to file the paper application, download and print out a FAFSA by going to http://www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov/index.html and click on FAFSA filing Options. DON'T MAIL THE FAFSA WORKSHEET.

We recommend that you complete the FAFSA on the web and obtain a federal PIN (Personal Identification Number) to electronically sign your FAFSA. One of your parents will need a PIN as well if you are a dependent student. You can apply for a PIN before you complete your FAFSA or get a duplicate PIN if you misplaced yours. Obtain a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov.

You can apply for your PIN at the same time you're completing the FAFSA.A time saver!

Please file the FAFSA as soon as possible to receive maximum consideration for all types of aid. The Massachusetts deadline for state grant programs is May 1, 2009. If you or your family's 2008 income tax returns are not yet complete, complete your federal tax returns, if possible, then apply for aid. If not, use income estimates on the FAFSA. You must make corrections at a later date if your actual income differs from estimated income. 

FAFSA INSTRUCTIONS STEP BY STEP

SECTION 1 -GENERAL STUDENT INFORMATION

You will need to include student's personal information

If you provide your email address in question 13, you will receive information via email from the U.S. Department of Education (Not from MCC) about your application within a few days after it is processed. Do not use a temporary email address or one you do not use regularly.

• Question #18 When completing this question about your state residency, be sure to complete question 19 and/or question 20 about how long you've lived in the state.
• Question #28- Choose one; (Never attended any college, Attend college before = have completed less than 30 college credits or 2nd year sophomore = have completed 30 or more college credits).
• Question #29- Choose one; Associate degree (2 yr program) or certificate
• Question #30 choose one (fulltime=12 credits or more, 3 /4 time=9-11 credits, 1 /2 time =6-8 credits and less than 1 /2 time=5 credits or less)

SECTION 2-DEPENDENCY STATUS

Make sure you answer "NO: on Question #50. If you are able to answer �YES� to any question in Section 2, the FAFSA web site will skip Section 3 (Parents' information) and go to Step 4. You are considered independent for financial aid. You may be required to document your answer later.

If you answered "NO" to every question in Section 2, the FAFSA web site will take you to Step 3 to complete your parent's personal and financial information (questions #61-93).

SECTION 3  PARENT INFORMATION (Dependent Students Only)

Please complete your parent or parent's personal and financial information (questions #61-93). Grandparents, foster parents and legal guardians are not parents for this form. Contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance. If your parents are living and married to each other, answer the questions about them. If your parent is widowed or single, answer the questions about that parent. If your parent remarried, answer these questions about your parent and the person your parent married (stepparent). If your parents are divorced or separated, answer these questions about the parent you lived with most during the past 12 months. You will need a copy of your parents' 2008 federal income tax return, 2008 W-2 forms and information on any non-taxable income your parents received in 2008 for this section (Child support, SSI, etc).

• Question #61  This question asks about your parents' current marital status.
• Question #75  Household Size - Include your parents and yourself. Include other children if they are supported by your parents and can answer  "NO" to every question in STEP 2.  Include other people living with your parents if your parents support them and will support them for the next 12 months.

SECTION 4 YOUR INCOME & ASSETS

In most cases if you worked, you have to file a federal income tax return. You will need a copy of your 2008 federal income tax return, 2008 W-2 forms and information on any non-taxable income you received in 2008 for this section. If you're not going to file a federal tax return, you still need to report the income you've earned in 2008.

• Question #33- Choose either A, B or C for your tax filing status. Choose "A" if you've already filed your tax return with the IRS, or choose "B" if you will file your return or choose "C" if you know you will not file a federal tax return for 2008.
• Question #35- If your income is under $100,000, and you do not itemize deductions and receive no business or rental income, say "Yes".
• Question #36 - #40 Refer to the specific lines on your tax return for each question. The web site will skip these questions if you will not file a federal tax return.
• Question #39 - #40 If you worked at all in 2008, regardless of filing a tax return, indicate the amount of wages here.
• Question #46 - #47 These questions collect additional information about student (& spouse) untaxed income and benefits.
• Question #41 - #43 Asset information; Report amounts as of the day you complete this FAFSA.

 SECTION 5- SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE YOUR RESULTS

This is where you enter the federal school code for the MCC campus you'll be attending in the 2009-10 academic year (Question #104A). MCC Federal School Code is 009936 for Bedford or E00562 for Lowell.

• Question #104B - Include your expected housing plans, even if you're not sure. (2=off-campus, 3=living with parents).

SECTION 6- REVIEW FAFSA AND APPLY SIGNATURES

We strongly recommend you sign your FAFSA using the federal student aid PIN. You may apply for a PIN and get one immediately or you may get a previous PIN if you forgot it or don't remember. If you choose not to sign your application using the PIN, print out a signature page, sign it (parent signature too, if you're dependent), and mail it to the address provided.

STEP 7- SUBMIT FAFSA

Print out your confirmation page after transmitting your FAFSA and keep for your records.