FAFSA

[SpeechLaedy]

When do you plan to submit your FAFSA? Is there a deadline? I have some missing tax info left to fill out so I'm just trying to figure out if I need to worry about that now or what (or if it'll interfere with finding out about funding from the schools I applied to)

[imunster]

I've already submitted my FAFSA a few months ago. I dont quite remember the deadline but they're doing new thing this year where they use information from your 2015 taxes instead of your 2016 taxes because they know some people don't file until later in the year. 

[kenz]

I just submitted mine last week. This year FAFSA is only asking for your 2015 info, not your 2016 for exactly the reason you mentioned. I'm not sure if that's all FAFSA will be asking for or if they're going to let us update it with our 2016 info later if we want. Also, I believe the deadline is March 1st, but different schools may have their own individual deadlines. 

Edited February 14, 2017 by kenz

[SpeechLaedy]

7 minutes ago, kenz said:

I just submitted mine last week. This year FAFSA is only asking for your 2015 info, not your 2016 for exactly the reason you mentioned. I'm not sure if that's all FAFSA will be asking for or if they're going to let us update it with our 2016 info later if we want. Also, I believe the deadline is March 1st, but different schools may have their own individual deadlines. 

Ah! I was wondering about that! I thought it was some kind of error! Okay I'll have to dig through to find our 2015 tax documents

[maurmaur]

Did you guys submit FAFSA's to every school you applied?

[speechie575]

2 minutes ago, maurmaur said:

Did you guys submit FAFSA's to every school you applied?

I submitted mine to 10/11 schools I applied to (only because they only let you send it to 10)

[maurmaur]

5 minutes ago, Murr57 said:

I submitted mine to 10/11 schools I applied to (only because they only let you send it to 10)

How did you pick the one you left out?

[jmk]

You can update your FAFSA after acceptances to add in the school you will be attending. (I could dig around my email for the more eloquent wording I received on this, haha). 

[speechie575]

14 minutes ago, maurmaur said:

How did you pick the one you left out?

Honestly I think I left out one of the state schools with the cheaper tuition that I felt less confident about getting into 

[joyannna]

I received this in an email from a school I got accepted to (GW): 

1. Submit your FAFSA Early! The Office of Student Financial Assistance has set a priority deadline of February 15th to ensure your funds are available before classes begin. Federal Direct Plus and Private Alternative loan applications are due May 15th.

Not sure if this is the same for every school, so I just went ahead and completed mine today. 

[angela4]

I didn't think income mattered in terms of how much you are eligible for for a graduate loan. I thought you could borrow up to $20,500 direct stafford loan, whether you make $10,000 a year or $100,000. Am I wrong?

[kayyyyy_]

19 minutes ago, angela4 said:

I didn't think income mattered in terms of how much you are eligible for for a graduate loan. I thought you could borrow up to $20,500 direct stafford loan, whether you make $10,000 a year or $100,000. Am I wrong?

I thought that too but they might be doing it different this year :/

[angela4]

17 minutes ago, kayyyyy_ said:

I thought that too but they might be doing it different this year :/

oh no! This makes me nervous because my 2015 tax information is quite different from 2016 (more income in 2016, but I don't want to have aid for the 2017-2018 academic year and then receive nothing for the following year(s)). Does that make sense? What would be the next option if they decide I don't qualify for Stafford loans (or if I only qualify for a small amount). Would I have to look into the GradPlus loans? 

Thank you so much for your help. This is a little overwhelming!

Edited February 15, 2017 by angela4

[kayyyyy_]

23 minutes ago, angela4 said:

oh no! This makes me nervous because my 2015 tax information is quite different from 2016 (more income in 2016, but I don't want to have aid for the 2017-2018 academic year and then receive nothing for the following year(s)). Does that make sense? What would be the next option if they decide I don't qualify for Stafford loans (or if I only qualify for a small amount). Would I have to look into the GradPlus loans? 

Thank you so much for your help. This is a little overwhelming!

I'm not sure. You may want to go through the university when the time comes. I found that the FAFSA only got me so far but I received a lot more support/ options when I went through the financial aid of the school. 

[angela4]

21 minutes ago, kayyyyy_ said:

I'm not sure. You may want to go through the university when the time comes. I found that the FAFSA only got me so far but I received a lot more support/ options when I went through the financial aid of the school. 

Thank you so much for your help. 

[SpeechLaedy]

On 2/14/2017 at 1:00 AM, joyannna said:

I received this in an email from a school I got accepted to (GW): 

1. Submit your FAFSA Early! The Office of Student Financial Assistance has set a priority deadline of February 15th to ensure your funds are available before classes begin. Federal Direct Plus and Private Alternative loan applications are due May 15th.

Not sure if this is the same for every school, so I just went ahead and completed mine today. 

Ah okay. Well I got no acceptance letters or any response letters yet so hopefully if I'm accepted, I'll get a later date in that regard