How To Apply

Financial Aid

Checklist

1. Important Reminders Before You Start
   • The FAFSA is Always Free: Never pay to file your FAFSA. If a website asks for a credit card, you are not on the official government site. Always use StudentAid.gov.
   • Check Your Email: We send all official updates, document requests, and award notices to your MEC student email. Check it regularly to avoid missing deadlines.
2. Gather Your Documents
   Before you begin, have the following information ready for yourself and your parents (if you are a dependent student):
   • Tax Returns: Your completed 2023 Federal and NYS tax documents.
   • FSA ID: Create your account at StudentAid.gov. You and your parent will both need one to sign the form.
   • Residency Info: If you are not a U.S. citizen, have your valid U.S. Residency card on hand.
3. Submit Your Applications
   You must submit both a federal and a state application to maximize your aid.
   • Federal (FAFSA): File your application at StudentAid.gov. Use school code 010097.
   • State (TAP): You can often link to the NYS TAP application directly from the FAFSA confirmation page. You can also file directly at hesc.ny.gov. Use school code 1415.
   • CUNY Supplement: If you are interested in part-time study grants (APTS), remember to complete the CUNY Supplement form found in your CUNYfirst Student Center.

   When completing your FAFSA, use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. It automatically transfers your tax information into the form, which saves time and reduces the chance of errors. If you choose not to use this tool, you may be required to submit official IRS tax transcripts later.

4. Stay Proactive After You File
   After submitting, your work isn’t quite done. Stay proactive:
   • Check Your CUNYfirst Portal: Log in to your student portal regularly to view your “To-Do List” for any requested documents.
   • Watch for “Verification”: If you are selected for verification, don’t panic! This is a random process, not an accusation of an error. We simply need to confirm the data you provided. If selected, we will email you to request specific items like tax transcripts.
   • Review Your SAR: A few days after filing, you will receive your Student Aid Report (SAR). Review it to ensure all your information is correct.
   • Income Adjustments: Life changes. If you or your family have experienced a major drop in income due to job loss or other hardships, please contact us. You may be eligible for an Income Adjustment (Professional Judgment), which allows us to review your aid based on your current reality rather than past tax data.