• Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov or pick up a paper application in the Financial Aid Office at Central Maine Community College. (School Code: 005276)
• After approximately 2 weeks, you should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). The SAR will report your Pell Grant eligibility and your Expected Family Contribution. This will help determine your eligibility for Federal financial aid.
• Approximately 30% of all students are picked for verification by the Federal government. If you are picked Central Maine Community College's financial aid office will request additional information before processing your aid package.
• The school will present a financial aid package to you that details your eligibility for grants, scholarships and loans. You will receive a letter with a login and PIN number from the Financial Aid Office, directing you to FA AWARDS on our website.
• Respond to your award Information "Update Form" immediately to notify the school that you accept all, part, or none of the financial aid package offered. Be sure to complete any applicable sections and sign your acceptance before you return the Information Form.

   

The Federal Government requires schools to verify 30% of the Financial Aid Applications they receive. If you have been chosen for verification, you must provide certain documents such as tax returns, verification forms and W2's before you can receive the financial aid funds.

Failure to provide the documentation necessary to complete the verification process will result in the cancellation of the financial aid award.

1. Forgetting to sign the application. Be sure you and your parents, if applicable, remember to sign.
2. For income reporting, applicants often use their W-2 form. You should take the adjusted gross income from the last 1040 Federal tax return.
3. When reporting taxes paid, applicants often use the taxes withheld on their W-2 form. You should list the actual taxes paid as shown on the last 1040 Federal tax return.
4. Students and parents often forget to report all the required sources of untaxed income. They should include untaxed income such as Social Security, child support, and Aid to Dependent Children (ADC).
5. Divorced applicants sometimes include their ex-spouse's income. They should only list their own income and that of their current spouse.
6. Using wrong or conflicting social security numbers on the FAFSA and other forms.
7. Waiting too long to file the FAFSA.