Lights, Camera, FAFSA! Sallie Mae Releases Movie-Inspired Tips to Help Families Apply for Federal Financial Aid

‘Reel
Guide to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid’
Provides Timely Advice for Filling Out the All-Important FAFSA, and
Information on What’s New This Year

NEWARK, Del.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Oscar buzz is building, and highly anticipated movies are coming
soon to a theater near you, but for college-bound students and their
families, it’s time to start gearing up for a different kind of
premiere: the official launch of the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is the free ticket to all forms of
federal financial aid, including grants, loans, and work-study programs,
as well as certain state-based aid.

With deadlines quickly approaching, and significant changes to the FAFSA
on the horizon, Sallie Mae – the nation’s saving, planning and paying
for college company – today released its “Reel
Guide to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid,” which
features movie-inspired tips to help families navigate the process and
star in their own award-winning FAFSA production. Here’s what students
and families need to know:

FAFSA and Furious (Know Your Deadlines)

Some federal- and state-based aid is awarded on a first-come,
first-served basis, so families should race to file the FAFSA on Jan. 1
to reserve their spot in line. Families should complete a FAFSA every
year the student is in college. Deadlines vary by state; for a complete
list, visit FAFSA.gov.

The FAFSA Games (Do Your Homework)

The odds of completing the FAFSA will be ever in your favor if you
gather all necessary information first. That includes Social Security
and driver’s license numbers, parents’ Social Security numbers and birth
dates, 2015 income tax returns (or estimates), W-2 forms, and bank
statements.

He’s Just Not That into FAFSA (Assume Nothing)

Thinking about bypassing the FAFSA because your family’s income and
savings are too high? Think again. Nearly every student is eligible for
some form of financial assistance. Again, families should complete the
FAFSA every year the student is in college.

FAFSA Fiction (Avoid Scams)

Just because it says FAFSA doesn’t mean it is FAFSA. Watch out for
scams. Filing the FAFSA is absolutely free at FAFSA.gov.
Create a Federal Student Aid ID there, and get started.

FAFSA Maguire (List Your Schools)

If you’re looking for schools to show you the money, be sure to list
them on your application. Start with state schools first to be in line
for eligible state aid, and then add schools with the earliest federal
aid deadlines.

You’ve Got FAFSA (File Electronically)

Include an email address with your FAFSA application, and you’ll receive
your Student Aid Report (SAR) within three to five days. The SAR will
explain eligibility for financial aid and next steps.

The FAFSA Awakens (What’s New)

This is the last year students and families will have to wait until
January to file a FAFSA. For the 2017-18 academic year, students will be
able to submit a FAFSA as early as Oct. 1, 2016, and use a 2015 tax
return. So that means students and families will complete a FAFSA for
academic year 2016-17 beginning in January and, come October, file a
FAFSA for academic year 2017-18. In other words, families will complete
two FAFSAs in 2016 using the same tax information, so now’s the time to
gather all the information and keep it handy.

“Filing the FAFSA may interest you about as much as standing in line for
‘Star Wars’ for hours, but if college is in your future, it’s the most
important thing you can do to get federal or state money to help pay for
your education,” said Martha Holler, senior vice president, Sallie Mae.
“Yoda says there is no try, there is only do or not do – and that
especially applies to the FAFSA. So if you are headed to college next
year, fill it out and submit it as close to Jan. 1 as possible.”

When FAFSA Met Sallie (Additional Resources)

In addition to the “Reel
Guide to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid,” Sallie Mae
has a new FAFSA video
to help families through the process. For more FAFSA-related information
and updates, visit Salliemae.com/FAFSA
or follow us on Twitter @SallieMae.

When it comes to paying for college, Sallie Mae recommends following the
1-2-3 approach: first, maximize money that does not need to be repaid,
such as scholarships and grants; second, explore federal student loans;
and, third, consider a responsible private education loan.

Sallie Mae (NASDAQ: SLM) is the nation’s saving, planning, and
paying for college company. Whether college is a long way off or just
around the corner, Sallie Mae offers products that promote responsible
personal finance, including private education loans, Upromise rewards,
scholarship search, college financial planning tools, and online retail
banking. Learn more at SallieMae.com.
Commonly known as Sallie Mae, SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are
not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.

Contacts

Sallie Mae
Abigail Brooks, 302-451-0230
Abigail.Brooks@salliemae.com