Before You Apply

Check the list of Need Access participating schools or ask your financial aid administrator to confirm your school's participation in Need Access.

Determine your filing requirements

If your school is listed as a participating school then you will be required to complete both the FAFSA and the Need Access application. The FAFSA is required for eligibility for federal assistance and Need Access is the application schools use to determine school financial aid such as grants, scholarships and other need-based financial aid. We recommend that you complete both of these forms at the same time. See the FAFSA section for more information.

How Need Access Works

1. You, the student, complete the Need Access Application at NeedAccess.Org.
2. When completing the application, you select the school(s) that should review your data. The questions you answer on the application depend upon the school(s) you select.
3. If a school requires your parents' financial data, make sure this information is entered in the Parent Section and is complete before submitting your application.
4. Access Group processes the financial data you submit and transmits the information to the school(s) selected.
5. The financial aid administrators at the selected school(s) assess the data and determine your eligibility for school-based funds.

Gather your financial records

You may need financial information from some or all of these documents, so we suggest you gather them before you begin the Need Access application:

- Your estimated or completed 2007 U.S. income tax return (IRS form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ). If you are not filing one of these forms, please indicate that in the application.
- Your estimated or completed 2007 state and local income tax returns.
- Your W-2 forms and other records of money earned in 2007.
- Records of untaxed income, such as welfare, Social Security, AFDC, or veterans benefits.
- Current bank statements, mortgage, and other real estate information.
- Records of medical and dental bills that were paid in 2007.
- Business and farm records.
- Records of stocks, bonds, trust funds, IRA accounts, Keogh accounts, and other assets.
- Records of any outstanding debts, including student loans and auto loans .
- Records of previously received financial aid.
- Records of all financial aid received by you and members of your household for the 2007-2008 academic year.
- All of these records for your spouse and your parents, if required.

Note: If you filed a non-U.S. tax form, you will be asked similar questions about your income and assets without reference to the IRS forms.

Parents' Information

Some institutions may require parents' financial data even though the student claims independent status. You are required to provide this information or it may result in denial of consideration for financial assistance.

If parents are married, they should both enter their information in the Parents' section.

If parents are separated or divorced, the main supporting parent (and stepparent, if applicable) should complete the Parents' section, and the other parent (and stepparent, if applicable) should complete the Divorced/Separated Parents' section.

The main supporting parent is the parent with whom the applicant lived the majority of the time in the last 12 months. If the applicant did not live with one parent more than with the other in the last 12 months, it is the parent who provided the most financial support during that time. If neither parent provided greater support during the last 12 months, it is the parent who provided the greater support during the most recent year that the applicant was actually supported by a parent.

Deadlines

Contact your school(s) to find out the deadline for your Need Access Application. Access Group is now accepting 2008-2009 Need Access Applications. Processing of these applications begins January 2, 2008. Access Group will continue accepting 2007-2008 applications through June 30, 2008.

Note: If you are applying for financial aid for the academic year that begins in summer or fall 2008 then you should apply for the 2008-2009 application year.

Password Protection Against Unauthorized Access

After beginning an online application and before entering the student/parent data, you'll be asked to assign a password, which is later used to prevent unauthorized access to that data. There are, in fact, three passwords available, one each for student's, parents' and divorced/separated parent's data. This feature allows each party to separately enter data and maintain confidentiality.

After Submitting your Application

When you complete and submit your Need Access Application, you will see a page listing the schools to which you have applied, along with an indication of any additional information required by these schools.

Access Group does not provide financial assistance but collects and analyzes your financial information within rules and procedures developed by Access Group and participating institutions.

Your school may verify the accuracy of the information you provide in this application. If you are asked to provide additional information, you and/or your spouse and/or parents may have to provide 2007 U.S. tax returns.

Questions?

Please see our Need Access FAQs for answers to some commonly asked questions regarding Need Access. You can also call us toll-free at 800-282-1550, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET or e-mail us at NeedAccess@accessgroup.org with your Need Access questions.

Reminder: Please do not mail these financial documents to Access Group.

Check out our Need Access Tips for additional information before you apply.

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