Start now for college financial aid

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Students who plan to start college in the fall of 2003 should begin working on financial aid now.

The experts at ACT offer the following information to help families find the resources they need to complete their financial aid paperwork.

The most important form is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA]. Beginning January 1, students will be able to submit the form that determines eligibility for student financial aid from federal programs.

Students will need family income statement from their 2002 earnings to complete the form. Colleges and universities use the FAFSA, but may also require students to fill out additional forms. The FAFSA is available from high school counselors or at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Here are some financial tips from ACT:

• Apply early for admission and financial aid.

• Check with your college to determine if other financial-aid forms are required.

• Apply for scholarships and grants.

• Look into Work Study programs.

• Surf the Internet for financial-aid information.

Following are Web sites that may be of use to prospective college students:

• Financial Aid Need Estimator and financial aid information, www.act.org/fane

• Free college scholarship search, www.collegenet.com

• The Financial Aid Information Page, www.finaid.org

• The Federal Government Financial Aid Page, www.ed.gov/finaid.html

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid, www.fafsa.ed.gov

• Scholarship scams, www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/scholarship

For more financial aid specifics, visit your school counselor or visit www.act.org