How do Returning or Continuing Students Re-apply?
File a FAFSA Every Year
You must re-apply for financial aid every academic year. You should expect to receive an email or postcard notice from the U.S. Department of Education in January or February reminding you to use your ED PIN to reapply for federal student aid by completing a new FAFSA. If you are reapplying for federal student aid, you will be given the option to have your FAFSA partially completed for you using information that has been carried over from last year's application.

Priority Filing Period
We have established January 1 - April 15 as a priority filing period for financial aid applications for students returning in the fall. If you file your FAFSA within this time frame, you have the best chance of receiving all the financial aid for which you are eligible. You will also avoid the difficulties in completing fall registration and bill payment that result from filing your application late. Complete your FAFSA as early in the new calendar year as possible after January 1st even if you are unsure about your school plans for the fall.

File Your FAFSA On the Web
Beginning January 1, use your ED PIN to file your FAFSA on the Web.

Use Your PIN
You will need your Personal Identification Number (or PIN) to access your FAFSA data on-line and update it for the new academic year.

Every person who filed a FAFSA in the previous award year will already have a PIN. However, if you (or your parent) has lost or forgotten your PIN, request one at: www.pin.ed.gov. You will be able to view your PIN instantly online or have it sent to you immediately by email.

The U.S. Department of Education may require you to re-authenticate your PIN information before you access your financial aid record. If you don't know your PIN, or if one of your parents needs to get a PIN, or if you have problems with authenticating your PIN, you should get help at: www.pin.ed.gov.

Provide a Valid E-mail Address
Remember to provide a valid e-mail address when you file your FAFSA on the Web. Once your FAFSA is processed, you will receive an e-mail with a URL to access your application results. If you and your parents used a PIN to sign your FAFSA and there are no other problems with your application information, you may receive this e-mail notification in as little as 24-72 hours.

How Do I Re-apply for TAP?
Re-apply for TAP on the Web as part of the FAFSA on the Web process. When you have submitted your electronic FAFSA, you will be taken to the FAFSA Confirmation Page. Click on the link for New York State Residents located below the federal confirmation # on the screen. You will be linked to TAP on the Web. This allows you to re-apply for New York State sponsored tuition assistance programs electronically.

[Note: if you are not a New York State resident, this option will not be available to you.]

Your federal PIN serves as your signature for the TAP on the Web application. If your parent did not use a PIN to sign your FAFSA, the FAFSA signature page satisfies the TAP signature requirement.

If you do not complete the TAP on the Web application when you file your FAFSA on the Web, you will be sent an email or postcard with a link to a TAP on the Web application after your FAFSA is processed.

How Do I Know If I Qualify for Federal or State Aid?
You will receive a printed or electronic response for each of the applications you file. For more information about what you need to do after you file your applications, you should read the information contained in the section on Federal Pell Grants and the New York State Tuition Assistance Program.

What If I Need to Apply for a Federal Direct Loan?
Submit a separate request for a Federal Direct Loan after you have filed your FAFSA by following the instructions on our Direct Loan Request page.