The FAFSA becomes available as of January 1, 2014.  All colleges will require this form for students applying for financial aid.  The process of applying for financial aid can seem daunting to most families.  A myriad of questions run through our minds like will this will hurt my chances for admission, am I answering everything correctly, what are the deadlines, etc.???  This article from Inside Higher Ed contains great insight into how the information you provide on the FAFSA is used.  It’s worth the few minutes to read and some things might surprise you!