Bright Futures and FAFSA

Students and Parents,

There is lots of confusion out there regarding the Bright Futures application and the FAFSA.  You should fill out the Bright Futures application now whether you are qualified for the scholarship or not.  Once you fill in the application, you do not have to do anything else (except make the qualifications!)  This application is also the financial aid application for the State of Florida.  You do NOT need to fill out the FAFSA first.

The FAFSA is the Federal financial aid application.  This should be filled out as soon as possible using estimated figures from 2011 tax information.  You can go back and correct it once tax return is finished without a penalty.  You must fill out a FAFSA this year in order to receive MONEY from your Bright Futures in September.  On the FAFSA by indicating which colleges you are applying to, each college will be able to know that you filed the form and are eligible to receive funding from Bright Futures.  Do not procrastinate on FAFSA.  Each college has a deadline for filing it.  Once the deadline passes, the colleges start handing out money to qualifiers.  If you are late, you will receive less money.

Websites:  www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org
                 www.fafsa.ed gov