Students who complete a Winthrop University application for admissions for the 2008-09 academic year and who indicate plans to apply for financial aid on the application, will receive information regarding the application process including a brochure with specific instructions to assist in filing the FAFSA on the Web.

Tips for completing the FAFSA

It is essential that you use accurate information in the completion of your 2008-09 FAFSA. Students and parents of dependent students will report income for the 2007 tax year. Completing the 2007 federal tax form 1040 (1040A or 1040EZ) before answering the questions on the FAFSA will make answering the FAFSA questions much easier as there are references to specific lines on your federal tax returns. Please note that is not necessary to mail the federal tax forms before filing the FAFSA, just complete the forms early so you will have accurate information on the FAFSA. Estimating your 2007 income is permissible, but estimate very carefully.

Students and parents of dependent students will report assets as they are at the time of filing the FAFSA. Family size and number of family members to be in college refers to the upcoming 2008-09 academic year, so you are projecting your family size and number in college for the coming year.

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Parent Section on the FAFSA

Students whose natural parents are separated or divorced should pay special attention to page 7 of the FAFSA which explains in detail whose information is to be reported on the FAFSA. Income and asset information should be provided by the parent with whom you have resided the most in the previous twelve months. If the parent with whom you live has remarried, information is provided for both the parent and the stepparent.

For students who reside with relatives, you may not use your relative's financial information unless that relative has legally adopted you. If you currently live with a relative rather than your parent, you should provide information from the parent you lived with the most during the last 12 months. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, give answers about the parent who provided more financial support during the last 12 months, or during the most recent year that you actually were supported by a parent. (You will be providing information about one person.) If this parent has remarried as of the day you complete the form, answer the questions on the FAFSA about that parent and the person whom your parent married. (You will be providing information about two people.)

You may not include a parent who plans to attend college in 2008-09 in the number of college students in your family.

Attention FAFSA on the WEB filers: Be sure you have a PIN - one for the student and one for the parent (for dependent students) before you attempt to file on the web. Apply for a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov.

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The Student Aid Report

After completing the FAFSA, you will receive a 2008-09 Student Aid Report. If you filed on the web, or you filed on paper and listed a valid e-mail address, you will receive an electronic link to your SAR. Otherwise, you will receive a non-correctable paper SAR Acknowledgment.

If changes must be made, or corrections are needed, they must be made through the corrections process on FAFSA on the WEB. If you do not have web access, you must request a duplicate paper SAR to make any necessary corrections. Many corrections can be made by the financial aid office with proper documentation. You may contact our office at (803) 323-2189 for more information on this process.

If you listed Winthrop's federal school code (003456) when you filed your FAFSA, the Office of Financial Aid will receive an electronic record of your application about the time you receive your Student Aid Report.

Once you are admitted and the Office of Financial Aid has the information from your FAFSA, you will be notified of the financial aid programs and amounts you are eligible to receive. You may also be asked to provide additional information at this time.

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Income Changes

If you have concluded that your family's income will be significantly less during 2008 than in 2007 due to loss of employment or untaxed income, you may request a Special Circumstances form from our office and provide additional information about your 2008 income. This process begins after May 1, 2008. You may reach the Office of Financial Aid at (803)323-2189.