Parents: FAFSA application begins in 3, 2, 1…

Beginning this year, students and families can begin completing the FAFSA for federal financial aid on Oct. 1. (Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com)

Beginning this year, students and families can begin completing the FAFSA for federal financial aid on Oct. 1. (Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com)

Used to be, January 1 in many households was not only New Year’s Day, but also the start date for college financial aid season.

But changes are coming.

Beginning this year, filing for financial aid using the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, begins Oct. 1.

The change begins with students applying to college for the 2017-2018 school year.

FAFSA is the form used to determine how much in federal grants, loans and work-study programs college-bound students are eligible to receive. And in most states, it is also used as a starting point to allocate scholarships and other school-based aid.

All students should complete the FAFSA at least once, and complete it as early as possible, said Ron Day, director of Kennesaw State University’s financial aid department.

The AJC has created the The Ultimate Atlanta School Guide that lets you look at and compare critical data for every school in Georgia. You can find it at http://schools.myajc.com/#/schools.