Question 1

What is the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)?

Accepted Answer

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form prepared annually by prospective and current college students in the U.S. to determine eligibility for student financial aid (including Pell grants, work-study programs, and loans). The U.S. Department of Education begins accepting the applications for the upcoming academic year on October 1st.   For more information regarding FAFSA, please see http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.   Note: You can apply for financial aid before you file your income tax return and before you apply to MSF for a scholarship. Corrections to your FAFSA application can be submitted after you and/or your parents have filed a tax return.

Question 2

What is a Student Aid Report (SAR) and why do I need to submit one?

Accepted Answer

The Student Aid Report (SAR) is produced by the U.S. Department of Education from information supplied on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The SAR contains the federally-calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your EFC is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college nor is it the amount of student federal aid you will receive. Your EFC is a number used by your college/university to calculate the amount of and types of student aid you are eligible to receive.   MSF uses the calculated EFC to determine student financial need. If you receive an updated (SAR) after submitting additional info, provide this form to MSF.

Question 3

How do I submit a copy of my FAFSA/SAR to MSF?

Accepted Answer

Upload a PDF copy of your FAFSA/SAR with your online application.

Question 4

What is a Financial Aid Award letter?

Accepted Answer

A financial aid award letter is the total amount of monetary assistance a school is offering you.  The offer may include scholarships and grants (gift aid), student loans, and work study opportunities.  If you are selected to be considered for an MSF scholarship, MSF will send you an email request for a copy of the letter (required).

Required MSF Application Support Documents

About MSF
Contact MSF

Donate to MSF
Apply for a Scholarship