The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form
The FAFSA form is a standard document used to determine your eligibility for Federal and some state aid, including:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant)
- Federal Stafford Loan
- Federal Perkins Loans
- Federal Work-Study
- State Grants
Tips for filling out the FAFSA
Follow the instructions carefully. Give yourself time and quiet. Find a place and time to complete the form without interruption. Get organized. Gather your personal and family financial records. Here's a checklist of records you may need:
- Last year's federal tax returns forms 1040/1040A/1040EZ and W2 forms
- If you haven't filed a return yet, try to do that before you apply for financial aid.
- If you can't find last year's return, call Student Financial Services at The Art Institute of California — Hollywood and we'll help you get a copy from the IRS.
- It is important to keep a copy of your tax return because you may be asked to provide it to the Student Financial Services office later.
- Checkbook records
- Savings account and investment statements
- Installment and mortgage loan payment books
- Information relating to income including wages, dividends, Social Security benefits, welfare payments, alimony or child support, Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, and disability benefits.
All information provided to the school will, of course, be kept confidential. The Art Institute of California — Hollywood is in compliance with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). This law regulates the release of any personal information.
Involve other family members who must provide information. Your parent(s) will need to complete the parent section of the form if you are classified as a "dependent" student for Federal Financial Aid purposes. Remember to sign the form; if you apply through FAFSA on the Web, you will need to print, sign, and mail the signature page. (If you do not have a printer, the signature page will be mailed to you.) Also, remember to include the FAFSA code for The Art Institute of California — Hollywood (031254) on your application. A parent must also sign if they contributed information to the form.
If you need assistance with the form, feel free to call our Student Financial Services Department for help if you need it. Our toll-free telephone number is 877-468-6232.
Federal Loan Applications: Student
To apply for a Federal Stafford Loan (student loan), you may use the form provided by the Student Financial Services office. We suggest that you wait to apply for your loan until you receive your student financial plan so that you will know how much the school recommends that you borrow. Read the promissory note before you sign it. It is a legal document requiring you to pay back the money you borrow. Be sure to answer all of the questions on the application carefully, accurately, and completely. These are the grade level maximums, and you can apply for up to these amounts:
| Grade Level | Dependent Student | Independent Student |
| 1 | $3,500 | $7,500 |
| 2 | $4,500 | $8,500 |
| 3 | $5,500 | $10,500 |
Before you receive a loan, you will need to participate in a loan counseling "Entrance Interview." Before you leave school, you will need to participate in a loan counseling "Exit Interview." Both of these can be done online through the Loan Counseling Link on the The Art Institute of California — Hollywood Financial Aid home page.
Federal Loan Applications: Parent
An eligible parent qualifies for Federal PLUS (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) Loans while their dependent son or daughter attends school. To apply for a PLUS loan, one of your parents must complete the application and pass a credit check. The parent borrower may use the application provided by The Art Institute of California — Hollywood. We suggest that your parent wait to apply for this loan until you receive your student financial plan which will show the recommended amount to be borrowed. The maximum amount that a parent can borrow is the cost of education minus any aid that the student is receiving. Your parent completes the Borrower section of the form and you, the student, complete the Student section. [download Federal PLUS Loan brochure]
Supplemental Data Form
In addition to the loan application, students who apply for a loan will need to complete a Supplemental Data Form. This form is available through the Student Financial Services offices.
When to Apply for Financial Aid
As soon as you enroll at The Art Institute of California — Hollywood, you should apply for financial aid. Appropriate application forms are available in the The Art Institute of California — Hollywood Enrollment Packet—the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and applications for the Federal Stafford Student Loan and Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). If you are enrolled before the forms are available for the year in which you will be starting school, and you need to know as soon as possible what your financial aid amounts might be, we can provide you with an "Estimator" form. These forms are available from the Student Financial Services office.
Continuing students should apply as soon as possible after the new year's FAFSA is distributed. Deadline dates will be provided each year. Students applying for a California State Grant (Cal Grant) must have their FAFSA and their GPA verification form postmarked by March 2 of the year preceding the award year; for example, if you are applying for the 2008-2009 award year, your forms must be postmarked by March 1, 2008.