UCLA Financial Aid Office - General Application Process Questions FAQ's

GENERAL/APPLICATION PROCESS QUESTIONS

Do I have to apply for financial aid every year?

How do I apply for financial aid?

Why do I need a FAFSA PIN?

How do I obtain a FAFSA PIN?

What is the deadline to apply for financial aid?

My parents don't provide me with financial support. Can I apply as an “Independent” student?

My parents are divorced. Whose information do I provide on the FAFSA?

My parents live in another country. Do I need to report their information on the FAFSA?

What happens once I complete my FAFSA?

How can I make corrections to my FAFSA?

How do I get a copy of my Student Aid Report (SAR)?

I want to apply for financial aid, but my parents and/or myself have not completed Federal Tax Returns yet. Should I wait to file my FAFSA?

I am expecting to receive outside assistance (scholarships, fellowships, loans, etc.) How will these affect my financial aid?

I received a better financial aid award from another university. Will UCLA match the other school's award?

Do I have to apply for financial aid every year?

Yes, the priority deadline is March 2nd of every year. Your financial situation must be reevaluated each year.

How do I apply for financial aid?

You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can complete at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

If you are a continuing applicant, you will be able to access and complete a FAFSA on the web if you know your FAFSA PIN.

Why do I need a FAFSA PIN?

The FAFSA PIN allows you to:

• Sign your application electronically (parents can also sign electronically with their PIN)

• Make corrections to your application

• Access your application (continuing applicants)

• Access your Student Aid Report (SAR) on the web

How do I obtain a FAFSA PIN?

If you forgot your PIN or need to register for one, go to http://www.pin.ed.gov/ .

What is the deadline to apply for financial aid?

Applications for the upcoming academic year become available on January 1 and should be filed by the March 2 priority deadline. Applications submitted after this date will be considered late and limit your eligibility to federal aid (Pell Grant, Federal Stafford and Parent Loans) only.

I want to apply for financial aid, but my parents haven't completed their Federal Tax Returns yet. Should I wait to file my FAFSA?
In order for you to be considered for all types of financial aid you must submit your FAFSA before March 2. You may provide estimated financial information on your application. If the information changes once the tax returns are filed you must make corrections on your FAFSA, or notify the Financial Aid Office to make corrections for you.

My parents don't provide me with financial support. Can I apply as an “Independent” student?

In order to be considered independent for financial aid purposes you must meet one of the following criteria:

• You must turn 24 before January 1 of the academic year that you are applying for.

• Graduate/Professional student.

• Married (as of the day you complete the FAFSA).

• Have children who receive more than half of their support from you.

• Have dependents (other than your children/spouse) that live with you and receive more than half of their support from you.

• Veteran of the United States Armed Forces *At the time since you turned age 13, both of your parents were deceased, you were in foster care, or a dependent or ward of the court.* An emancipated minor as determined by state court.

• Are or were in legal guardianship as determined by state court.

• At any time on or after July 1, 2008 you were an unaccompanied and homeless youth (see FAFSA for specific qualifications)

If you do not meet any of the criteria listed above, but can document extreme family circumstances that prevent you from obtaining your parents information/support, you may file an Independent Appeal Form (available under FAO Forms on our site) with the Financial Aid Office for a possible re-evaluation of your status.

My parents are divorced. Whose information do I provide on the FAFSA?

Provide information for the parent you lived with more during the past twelve 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 twelve months, or during the most recent year that you actually received from a parent. If this parent is remarried as of today, answer the questions about that parent and the person whom your parent married (your step-parent).

My parents live in another country. Do I need to report their information on the FAFSA?

Yes. Report their financial data in U.S. dollars. Use the exchange rate at the time you complete the FAFSA form.

What happens once I complete my FAFSA?

When you complete your FAFSA on the web, you will be provided with a confirmation number at the end of your session verifying that the process was completed successfully. You will also receive an email from the processor confirming the receipt of your application.

If you complete a paper application, the federal processor will mail you a Student Aid Report (SAR) verifying that your application was received.

If you listed UCLA on your FAFSA the federal processor will transmit your data to us electronically within two to three weeks after you submit your application.

How can I make corrections to my FAFSA?

If you filed electronically you can use your PIN to correct your application on the web.

If you filed a paper application you must use the Student Aid Report (SAR) to make corrections. If you need to request a copy of your SAR, call 1-800-4FEDAID.

How do I get a copy of my Student Aid Report (SAR)?

If you filed electronically you may print a copy of your SAR off the web, using your PIN. If you completed a paper application you need to call 1-800-4FEDAID to obtain a free copy of your SAR.

I want to apply for financial aid, but my parents and/or myself have not completed Federal Tax Returns yet. Should I wait to file my FAFSA?

No, you may still complete the FAFSA with estimated Federal tax information. However, you will be required to correct this information as soon as you/your parent(s) file a Federal tax return. The Financial Aid Office will not be able to determine your eligibility for aid until you have updated/verified your and your parent(s) earnings and tax filing status (from “Will file” to “Already Completed”) on your FAFSA.

I am expecting to receive outside assistance (scholarships, fellowships, fee waivers, stipends, loans, etc.) How will these affect my financial aid?

Because UCLA meets 100% of your demonstrated need, the receipt of aid from outside sources does make an adjustment to your aid necessary. In order that these awards can help a student as much as possible, it is our policy to replace a student's self-help (loan and work awards) first. If the amount of outside aid received exceeds the amount of loan and work in your package, grants are then reduced.

Any delay in reporting this information to the Financial Aid Office may result in you receiving financial aid in excess of your eligibility, which may result in a bill or a reduction in your financial aid.

I received a better financial aid award from another university. Will UCLA match the other school's award?

UCLA does not "negotiate" their financial aid awards in response to offers from other universities. If the other school has information about your family's financial situation that you did not share with us, or if you have reason to believe we have made an error in our evaluation, please contact us to discuss a possible re-evaluation.

HOME