Apply even if you do not think you will qualify for financial aid, because many factors affect your eligibility and almost everyone is eligible for some aid.

Step 1: Fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Aid) or Renewal FAFSA
This should be done as soon after January 1st as possible. The government uses the FAFSA to establish your eligibility and determine how much it believes you and your family should contribute to your education based upon income, assets, size of current household and number of family members currently attending college. The FAFSA is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Completing the online form is faster and prevents many of the common errors associated with the traditional paper form.

Things you will need:

• Income tax returns (or close estimate)
• W-2 forms
• Current bank statements
• Mortgage information
• Investment records
• Driver's license
• Social Security Card
• At least 2 hours time (with your parents if applicable)

Renewal FAFSA
Remember to apply for financial aid each year. The good news is that once you have completed the FAFSA once, you only need to complete the renewal FAFSA, which is shorter than the original form.

Step 2: The SAR -- Receive and review your SAR (Student Aid Report)
The SAR should arrive about four to six weeks after you submit the FAFSA. Your SAR includes your "Expected Family Contribution" or EFC. Your school (which also receives a copy of your SAR) will use it to determine your eligibility for various types of financial aid. From this they will create a Financial Aid Award Letter.

Step 3: Receive and review Award Letters from schools you indicated on your FAFSA application
Each school's financial aid office will use the SAR to create a Financial Aid Award Letter which will indicate the type and amount of aid for which you will qualify at that school, including Stafford Loans.

Step 4: Responding to Award Letters
Responding to an Award Letter as instructed by the school will begin the student loan process. You will receive either a Student Loan Worksheet or a Master Promissory Note to complete for your loan. Be sure to choose SNB, lender code 809081, as your lender.