As 2015 starts drawing to close, it’s time to start thinking about what lies ahead in 2016.

Our predictions?

Well, in a perfect world, January 1, 2016, will be the day every high school senior sits down to file the FAFSA. After all, it’s important to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. Some schools and states award aid money on a first-come, first-served basis.

Our other, perhaps more realistic, prediction? Not everyone will be prepared with a FAFSA ID. The FAFSA ID is new this year, replacing the Federal Student Aid PIN. Everyone who files a FAFSA will need a FAFSA ID.

Student should be aware of two important points:

• Everyone needs a separate FAFSA ID. The legal parent who is signing will need their own unique FAFSA ID. Using someone else’s counts as identity theft. (Not sure who counts as a parent on the FAFSA? Find more info here.)
• Each FAFSA ID must be associated with its own email address. In other words, a parent and student will each need a FAFSA ID, each using a different email address.

To help students complete the FAFSA as early as possible, review the FAFSA ID with them now. It’s worth creating one before they start, so they’re ready to go in 2016!

To create a FAFSA ID, visit the Federal Student Aid website: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa/filling-out/fsaid