You are probably not a secret agent and you probably do not
have anything big to hide, but your privacy still matters. The financial aid
process requires that you and your parents disclose, or tell, many things about
yourselves and your finances. While you are required to include that
information on the FAFSA, you do not and should not give that information to
your teacher, friends, or classmates. In the information age, protecting
privacy is more than just a good idea, it is a critical responsibility.
Be sure that you never provide financial or other personal information without permission from your parents and unless you can be sure that your private information will only be used in the way you intended it to be used.
In this course, you will complete various financial aid planning activities. In each case, you will use sample information. This will allow you to gain some experience processing financial aid and school financing information without compromising your privacy.
Never put your Social Security Number (SSN) on any document that will be accessible to those who are not part of the benefit process. Your SSN is like a lifetime ticket to your personal financial and business accounts. Guard it. You will need to enter it on your FAFSA and other financial aid forms, but your teachers, counselors, and classmates have no need for it.
