Applying for financial aid can be an important step in pursuing your dream of attending beauty school. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a crucial form that determines your eligibility for Federal Pell Grants and loans. To help navigate the financial aid process easier, here are three tips to help you fill out your FAFSA application for beauty school.
If you've never created a FAFSA account before, click "Create Account" at studentaid.gov. You'll need your social security number as well as your own mobile number or email address. Keep in mind, you can only have one login per social security number. So, I've you've created an account in the past, but don't remember your login, use the "forgot password" function on the login screen. If you don't have access to the email or phone number you originally used (and can't answer the security questions), try contacting FAFSA directly by phone.
Entering your income and tax information can sometimes be the most difficult part of your application. Thankfully, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) is a helpful way to simplify the process. This tool will help import your tax and income information rather than keying it in manually. It can speed up the process and often leads to fewer errors in your application. If you are eligible, it's recommended to use the IRS DRT. When using the tool, make sure to match your name, filing status, and address information from the corresponding tax filing year when on the IRS page. For example, the 23-24 FAFSA year uses 2021 tax information and you can look at your IRS 1040 form to confirm your submission details for that year. Some situations, such as a recent change in your marital status compared to the tax year may make you ineligible to use the IRS DRT. In that case, you'll submit your information manually.
Completing the FAFSA accurately and thoroughly is vital to the application process. Take your time to read each question carefully and provide accurate information based on your situation. Click on the question mark icons throughout to learn more details about specific sections that need clarification. Also, be sure to add the relevant school code (ours is 041482) to ensure your prospective beauty school will receive your application. Students that are considered dependent, will also need to provide parent information.
After submission, it will usually take 3-5 business days to process your application and the school to receive your information. Follow up with your school contact to learn more about what you qualify for. Navigating the FAFSA application process for beauty school can be daunting, but with these three essential tips, you can make the process a little easier.
For one-on-one help with your application or to answer more questions about beauty school financial aid for our cosmetology or esthetician program, fill out a contact form on our website.
