Your FAFSA Roadmap

8 steps from start to finish—we've got you covered

Your FAFSA Journey

Overall Progress
13%
1 of 8 steps

You're making great progress! 7 steps to go.

1

Understand What FAFSA Is

5 minutes

Learn what FAFSA is and why it's crucial for your college funding

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Fun fact: Many scholarships require FAFSA completion even if you don't need federal aid. It's worth doing no matter what.

2

Create Your FSA ID

10 minutes

Set up your legal signature for all federal student aid

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Don't skip this. Students miss deadlines because they don't have FSA IDs ready. Do it today.

3

Gather Required Documents

1 week

Collect all necessary financial documents for you and your parents

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Pro tip: Use your phone to take photos of documents and store them in a FAFSA folder. Makes the actual application way faster.

4

Know Your State Deadline

2 minutes

Mark your calendar with Tennessee's priority deadline

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Submitting early means more aid available. The money literally runs out. First come, first served.

5

Complete FAFSA

30-60 minutes

Fill out the actual FAFSA form with AI guidance

Complete previous steps to unlock
6

Review Your Student Aid Report

15 minutes

Check your SAR for errors and understand your EFC

Complete previous steps to unlock
7

Compare Financial Aid Offers

1 hour

Evaluate and compare aid packages from different colleges

Complete previous steps to unlock
8

Accept Aid & Enroll

30 minutes

Accept your financial aid package and confirm enrollment

Complete previous steps to unlock

Pro Tips for Success

Submit Early

Aid is first-come, first-served. Submit at least 2 weeks before deadlines to maximize your chances.

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Get Parents Involved Early

The biggest delay? Waiting for parent info. Start the conversation now and create their FSA ID together.

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Organize Documents

Create a FAFSA folder (digital or physical) and gather documents over a week. Don't scramble at the last minute.

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Use Your AI Coach

Stuck on a question? Don't guess. Ask your AI coach for clarification—it's what we're here for.