One Step at a Time

The first steps for most DC students to receive financial aid are to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the DC OneApp.

Filling out the FAFSA will help you find out whether you are eligible for aid from the federal government. The DC OneApp must be filled out to find out whether you are eligible to receive aid from the DC government.

• The FAFSA is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov and in print (call 1-800-4-FED-AID [1-800-433-3243]).
• The DC OneApp is available on the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) Web site.
  

The forms are available as of January 1. If you complete either before January 1 of the year you will be attending college, you may end up with the wrong version of the form. (See step-by-step instructions for filling out the FAFSA and the DC OneApp.) But there are steps you can take starting the fall of your senior year in high school to get ready.

Senior Year Financial Aid Timeline

Fall
	Check with colleges about special paperwork and deadlines for aid programs.
	Begin gathering paperwork.
	Start filling out the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet and the DC OneApp worksheet (PDF). Filling out these worksheets in advance will make it much easier and faster to complete the forms after January 1.
	Apply for a personal identification number (PIN) to submit the FAFSA online. A PIN is not required but allows you to complete the FAFSA paper-free and make online corrections. Be sure to keep your PIN private — don’t share it with anyone, including your school counselor. Note: A PIN is not available for the DC OneApp.
	Make sure you have a Social Security number. If you don’t, go to www.ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213. You’ll need a Social Security number for financial aid and many job applications.
	Identify scholarships you want to apply for and check their application deadlines.
Winter
	Complete the FAFSA and submit it as soon as possible after January 1. The U.S. Department of Education will review your FAFSA and produce the Student Aid Report, which it sends to you (electronically if you supplied an e-mail address or in the mail) and the colleges you designated on the FAFSA. (See step-by-step instructions and tips for completing the FAFSA.)
	As soon as you receive your Student Aid Report, complete and submit the DC OneApp. You must have the Student Aid Report to submit the DC OneApp, which you need to do as soon as possible after January 1. Funds are limited, and the sooner you submit the DC OneApp, the better the chance that you will receive financial aid from the DC government. (See step-by-step instructions and tips for completing the DC OneApp.)
Spring/Summer
	Colleges send you a Financial Aid Award Notification letter, indicating what kind of aid — and how much — you are eligible for.
	The DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education notifies you by mail or in person about financial aid from the DC government. (Note: DC OneApps completed by May 19 will be awarded on the spot!)
	Follow the instructions in the Financial Aid Award Notification letter and/or from OSSE and provide any additional information required to receive your award.
	If your financial aid package does not cover your needs or if you are not eligible for federal or DC aid, apply for additional scholarships or consider other options to reduce your costs.