To receive federal or state aid, and in many cases scholarships and other grants, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form becomes available each January for the upcoming academic year.
The FAFSA is completed electronically. To complete the FAFSA both the student and one parent (if student is dependent) must have a federal PIN number.
New York State residents should also apply for a TAP grant. When students file the FAFSA they have the option of completing the TAP application at the end of the FAFSA application. If the student doesn't complete it then they can complete it through TAP on the Web at a later date.
Students should also contact the schools they are interested in to see if there are additional forms or applications required to be considered for a school's institutional scholarships and grants. Often private schools require the completion of a form called the PROFILE or an institutional application.
