A guide to federal student financial aid programs is provided for students. General information is provided on: eligibility, financial aid, application forms, records needed, the Student Aid Report (SAR), verification by applicants of the information reported on their applications, transfer students, deadlines, addresses where applications are sent and that provide information for dependent and independent students, telephone numbers for asking questions about the application and other federal student aid matters, and student rights and responsibilities. Information is provided on five U.S. Department of Education Programs: Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, College Work-Study, National Direct Student Loans, and Guaranteed Student Loans/Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) program. Addresses and phone numbers are provided of state education agencies that provide information on Guaranteed Student Loans/PLUS Loans and state student aid. Agencies in American Samoa, the Pacific Islands, and Puerto Rico are included. For the 10 regions of the U.S. Department of Education, states in each region are identified, along with the addresses and phone numbers of each regional office. A glossary is included. (SW)