It's January, and you probably know what that means — time to fill out your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) 
. The FAFSA is the best place to begin if you need financial aid (including student loans) to help pay for college.
Even if you think your parents make too much money to qualify for aid, you should still look into the FAFSA. Not all aid is based on financial need, and many factors go into the formulas for determining eligibility.
We always recommend that you fill out your FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible. Some state aid is awarded based on your FAFSA application, and those deadlines vary , so it's in your best interest to get your FAFSA submitted as soon as possible. This is a great article that makes a good case for filling out the FAFSA and lists all the documents you'll need on hand before you get started.
You can get a paper FAFSA from your high school guidance counselor, or you can fill it out online . This article covers some of the common mistakes people make when filling out the FAFSA that can jeopardize your chances for maximum aid. Check it out to avoid making any costly blunders.
I'm curious — especially for you first-timers — how you feel about filling out the FAFSA. Did you fill it out online, or use the paper form? Was the application too long and complicated, or was completing it no big deal?
I know this is an old article but I was just wanting to let some steam off about how long the "review process" takes. I filled out the FAFSA electronically in Feb. 08. I was told I was put under review and requested some information. So I brought it into the school. At this I waited until June to carry through with the rest of my FAFSA. They asked for like 10 different documents on separate basis, which each took 2-4 weeks to process! I am still under review and it is Aug. 25th, the first day of class. Why on earth would it ever take them that long to review me? My account says how much I'll be getting...as long as it goes through, but I'm so aggravated, this has taken WAY too long. You'd think I was being investigated by the FBI...but then that would be done in a timely fashion...
@Jason -- If you haven't already, check in with your school's financial aid office to see if they can be of assistance. Another option may be contact the FSA Ombudsman (although they are generally a post-disbursement resource, they might be able to offer some insight.) Sorry to hear this has taken so long. Let us know if either of these sources are helpful to you.