 TITLE: Does the FAFSA Affect Your Credit Scores? CONTENT: How to Apply for Financial Aid\n------------------------------\nThe good news: FAFSA won't affect your credit scores. The bad news: You'll have to complete an online FAFSA form every year you need aid. After the FAFSA comes out in October, you should submit it ASAP to meet your school's and state's deadlines.\nFor a preview of the questions you'll be asked, you can download a free worksheet from the U.S. Department of Education.\nThe information required will depend on your personal situation. If your parents or guardian can claim you as a dependent, you'll need to supply their financial details too. If you're an independent student, you'll only report your information (plus that of your spouse, if you're married). If you're in a special circumstance, such as not being in touch with your parents, you'll be able to indicate that on the FAFSA application.\nAs a baseline, you should have your driver's license handy, plus the following for all parties:\n*   Social Security numbers or Alien Registration numbers\n*   Federal tax returns\n*   Bank statements\n*   Records of untaxed income\nCompleting the FAFSA usually takes less than 30 minutes, but if you don't finish it all in one sitting, you can save your progress and return later. Don't forget to double-check all the fields, especially any info that repopulates—and avoid these other common FAFSA mistakes too. END