
All applicants, including HOPE/Zell Miller recipients, must reapply for financial aid each year. Failure to reapply for financial aid each year will result in a loss of financial aid for that year and possibly subsequent years. The priority deadline to renew your financial aid is April 1. All financial aid awards are reviewed annually based on:
If you completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) when applying for financial aid for the previous academic year, you should receive an email from the U.S. Department of Education with instructions about how to once again submit the application electronically.
Completing the FAFSA is the most widely used process and the one recommended for ensuring consideration for all programs administered by the Office of Student Financial Aid, including the HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship for Georgia Residents. You can access the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You can also learn more about federal student aid programs at http://studentaid.ed.gov/.
Helpful Tip: Students and parents who have already filed their 2012 tax returns with the IRS will be given the opportunity to use the new IRS Data Retrieval Tool when completing your 2013-2014 FAFSA on-line. This tool is a quick and easy way to transfer information from federal tax returns directly into your FAFSA.
If you are selected for verification but cannot use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, you can order an IRS tax transcript(s) online at www.irs.gov/Individuals/Order-a-Transcript or call 1-800-908-9946. The transcript will be mailed to you within 5 to 10 business days.
Georgia State’s Federal School Code for the FAFSA is 001574.
The FAFSA can be completed online or on paper. Although the online FAFSA is the preferred method, a student can request up to three paper FAFSAs by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center toll-free at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
Before you complete the FAFSA, you will need a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the Department of Education. After you have completed the FAFSA, you will receive an Estimated Family Contribution and a Student Aid Report (SAR).
It is helpful to assemble the documents needed to complete the FAFSA ahead of time. Students and parents will need:
The FAFSA is required each year when applying for need- based funds. The following list is a guide for completing the FAFSA. By adhering to these suggestions, students, and parents will prevent unnecessary delays. Accurate reporting and attention to detail are key elements in completing your application.
For Georgia residents applying for ONLY the HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship; Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) has made changes to the State Scholarship Programs that are administered by the Commission. Effective beginning with summer 2013 semester, students planning to attend a Georgia college or university, are required to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year in order to receive any state aid (this includes HOPE and ZELL Miller Scholarships).
For Summer 2013, you must complete the 2012-2013 FAFSA.
For Fall 2013, you must complete the 2013-2014 FAFSA.
If you lost the Hope Scholarship at one of the checkpoints and need to reapply after meeting a new checkpoint, you will need to complete a Hope Scholarship Institutional Application (HSIA) in addition to the FAFSA and or/GSFAPPS to be reviewed again for Hope eligibility.