Students who complete a Winthrop University application for admissions for the 2023-2024 academic year and who indicate plans to apply for financial aid on the application, will receive information regarding the application process including a brochure with specific instructions to assist in filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online.
Tips for completing the FAFSA
It is essential that you use accurate information in the completion of your 2023-2024 FAFSA. Students and parents of dependent students will report income for the 2021 tax year. Completing the 2021 federal tax form 1040 before answering the questions on the FAFSA will make answering the FAFSA questions much easier as there are references to specific lines on your federal tax returns. Please note that is not necessary to mail the federal tax forms before filing the FAFSA, just complete the forms early so you will have accurate information on the FAFSA. Estimating your 2021 income is permissible, but estimate very carefully.
Students and parents of dependent students will report assets as they are at the time of filing the FAFSA. Family size and number of family members to be in college refers to the upcoming 2023-2024 academic year, so you are projecting your family size and number in college for the coming year.
Parent Section on the FAFSA
Students whose natural parents are separated or divorced should pay special attention to page 7 of the FAFSA which explains in detail whose information is to be reported on the FAFSA. Income and asset information should be provided by the parent with whom you have resided the most in the previous twelve months. If the parent with whom you live has remarried, information is provided for both the parent and the stepparent.
For students who reside with relatives, you may not use your relative's financial information unless that relative has legally adopted you. If you currently live with a relative rather than your parent, you should provide information from the parent you lived with the most during the last 12 months. If you did not live with one parent more than the other, give answers about the parent who provided more financial support during the last 12 months, or during the most recent year that you actually were supported by a parent. (You will be providing information about one person.) If this parent has remarried as of the day you complete the form, answer the questions on the FAFSA about that parent and the person whom your parent married. (You will be providing information about two people.)
You may not include a parent who plans to attend college in 2023-2024 in the number of college students in your family.
The Student Aid Report
After completing the FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report. If you filed on the web, or you filed on paper and listed a valid e-mail address, you will receive an electronic link to your SAR. Otherwise, you will receive a non-correctable paper SAR Acknowledgment.
If changes must be made, or corrections are needed, they must be made through the corrections process on the online FAFSA. If you do not have web access, you must request a duplicate paper SAR to make any necessary corrections. Many corrections can be made by the Office of Financial Aid with proper documentation. You may contact our office at 803/323-2189 for more information on this process.
If you listed Winthrop's federal school code (003456) when you filed your FAFSA, the Office of Financial Aid will receive an electronic record of your application about the time you receive your Student Aid Report.
Once you are admitted and the Office of Financial Aid has the information from your FAFSA, you will be notified of the financial aid programs and amounts you are eligible to receive. You may also be asked to provide additional information at this time.
Income Changes
If you have concluded that your family's income will be significantly less during 2023 than in 2021 due to loss of employment or untaxed income, you may request a Special Circumstances form from our office and provide additional information about your 2023 income. This process begins in late March 2023.
