Iowa College Aid is announcing they will be opening the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, for the 2017/18 school year earlier than ever before. On Saturday, Oct. 1, parents, students and prospective students can log on, fill out the forms and determine their eligibility for federal grants, loans and work-study opportunities. Many schools will also use this information to determine who will receive scholarship money. “The FAFSA is the crucial first step in applying for financial aid for college,” said Iowa College Aid Executive Director, Karen Misjak. She added that in the 2014/15 school year, only 65 percent of high school seniors in Iowa filed the FAFSA. Prospective students are urged to fill out the forms, even if they don’t think they will qualify for student aid or are unsure if they will attend college next year. Many are surprised at how much help is available, and sometimes that may sway the decision to start or return to college. Until this year, students and families were required to use prior-year tax information. For this year, FAFSA filers may use the year prior to last year’s taxes, so 2015 tax filing information will be accepted. A new FAFSA must be filed each year a student is requesting aid. To apply online, log on to FAFSA.ed.gov. Paper applications can be requested by calling 800-433-3243.