In this episode of TUN TV, Dr. Crystal Rose interviews Erica Martinez from College Beyond, an organization that helps students enroll and succeed in college, about the eight steps students should take to complete their FAFSA form. This is Part 2.
Dr. Crystal Rose: Welcome to The University Network TV, where we scan the globe to give students, their families and educators the very best tips for student success. I’m your host today, Dr. Crystal Rose. And in this college success navigation series, we have advice for students entitled, “Eight Steps to Completing Your FAFSA Form.”
We’re exploring this with a college success coach from College Beyond, Erica Martinez. She’ll share insights to help you successfully navigate college today.
Welcome, Erica.
Erica Martinez: Thank you. Thanks for having me. I’m excited to talk about the FAFSA.
Dr. Crystal Rose: Thank you for joining us, Erica, to discuss the eight steps to completing the FAFSA.
Let’s start with Step Five. Can you please tell us about the dependency status questions?
Erica Martinez: Yes. So, there are some questions that are helping the FAFSA identify if you’re an independent or a dependent. Most students under the age of 24 are considered a “dependent.”
These questions are very specific to see if there’s anything that’s different that would classify you as an “independent.” Some of those questions are: Are you active in the military? Do you have children? Or are you married? Are you at risk of being homeless or experiencing homelessness? So, all of these different types of reasons would actually change you from a “dependent” to an “independent.”
And if you get classified as an “independent,” you’ll no longer have to utilize your parents’ tax information on the form, but you will have to provide evidence in university that you do classify as an “independent.”
Dr. Crystal Rose: Here we are now, Step Six.
Let’s explore the parent demographic section as well.
Erica Martinez: So, it’s going to be asking about your parent’s demographic like their name and their information.
And so, if you have one parent, you would be putting the one parent’s information. If you have two parents, it’s going to ask you for both parents’ information.
And so, it should automatically be populated from the previous year. But as you move through it, it’s also going to ask what kind of taxes did they file? So, if it’s a single parent household, it would probably be “head of household.” If it’s a dual parent, it could be “filed separately” or “together.” So, this is where it’s really important that you’re communicating with your parents.
And once you get that filled out, you’ll be able to continue along that process.
Dr. Crystal Rose: Thank you for that. We’re moving on to Step Seven.
What type of financial information needs to be provided?
Erica Martinez: It’s going to ask you for your parents’ taxes from the previous year. And if you have those taxes in front of you, that’s a really great thing to reference.
But what I recommend for everybody is to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. So, when you get to the tax portion, you select the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Your parents’ FSA ID and password should be used, and it’s going to open another window. When you look at that other window, it’s going to show some identifying information about your parent. Make sure that it matches — the address on there is the address that your parent lives at — and then you’re going to select that option to transfer that information into your FAFSA.
Once you do that — so much of that information is already populated into your FAFSA and you don’t have to complete that part because the Retrieval Tool does it for you – then there’s going to be a question that’s going to ask a general question overall, “What was the gross income on the taxes?” That’s when it’s good to have the taxes for reference so that you can type that in. And then you just keep going.
Dr. Crystal Rose: That is very insightful. We’re on to Step Eight, the final step.
What do you need to know about this “Sign and Submit “section?
Erica Martinez: So often, after you’ve completed everything, it can feel like you’re done with the FAFSA, but you’re not until you and your parents have both entered their username and password and selected “Sign and Submit.”
So, it’s not until that “Sign and Submit” button is completed that the information gets sent off to the universities and colleges.
Dr. Crystal Rose: Thank you so much, Erica, for this.
Erica Martinez: Thank you.
Dr. Crystal Rose: And to our audience, thank you very much for joining us.
Hopefully with this segment, you’ll have more confidence in completing your FAFSA form within record time and on time. Here’s to your success. I’m your host, Dr. Crystal Rose. Until next time, on TUN TV.
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