Today is the last day for students to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by the priority deadline.

According to Julie Mallette, director of the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, the FAFSA is the “critical document” the federal government uses to calculate students’ expected family contributions. The EFC is the determining factor for need-based scholarships and grants at the federal and state level.

The FAFSA calculations affect the level of aid funding for the entire school year, as well as any aid for courses students take over the summer.

Although it is late in the game, Mallette said students can still file the form online at www.fafsa.ed.gov today to make it by the deadline. She also pointed out that the electronic medium is now the Department of Education’s preferred method.

“The feds are really pushing the online submission process,” she said.

It’s easier to complete the FAFSA after filing income taxes, Mallette said, but it’s not necessary to do so before students fill out the form, she said. According to Mallette, if students haven’t filed their taxes, it’s better to estimate figures than to turn the form in late.

“It’s more important to get it in by the priority filing date than to submit completely accurate tax amounts,” Mallette said.

Mallette also pointed out that applicants don’t need to have a personal identification number to submit the form. The PIN provides a digital means of signing the form and typically takes up to three days to obtain from the Department of Education, Mallette said.

Students have the option of printing and mailing a signature page or “signing” the form with a PIN after an initial submission online.

Although students can still submit the form after the March 1 priority filing date, Mallette said doing so means students may miss out on funding opportunities.

“We have a finite pool of scholarship and grant resources,” Mallette said. “We give priority to the students who apply early.”

Mallette said only 52 percent of the undergraduates who applied for need-based aid in 2006 – 2007 applied by the priority filing date.