Yet ANOTHER FAFSA ????

[cmjaffe]

Since it's past 1/1 we can file (or try to) the FAFSA forms. Are we supposed to have TWO pins -- on for parents and the other for student or only one?
If it's TWO do we need BOTH pins for the ONE application?
DSs school is totally worthless. We're not expecting on getting anything from FAFSA BUT some of the schools he's applying to make you file FAFSA to be considered for their MERIT $$$ so we have to jump through some hoops.
I thought the supplements for the Common AP was bad enough.
TIA
Carolyn

 

[FourBees]

You each need to apply for your own pin (by each I mean student and parent).
When you complete your FAFSA online it will ask you to sign electronically with your pin numbers (both you and your student need to sign). Good luck.

 

[Marionnette]

Since it's past 1/1 we can file (or try to) the FAFSA forms. Are we supposed to have TWO pins -- on for parents and the other for student or only one?
If it's TWO do we need BOTH pins for the ONE application?
DSs school is totally worthless. We're not expecting on getting anything from FAFSA BUT some of the schools he's applying to make you file FAFSA to be considered for their MERIT $$$ so we have to jump through some hoops.
I thought the supplements for the Common AP was bad enough.
TIA
Carolyn

You need to file fafsa if you expect to take out any federally sponsored student loans. Even the unsubsidized student loans require fafsa. My daughters school also requires her to file fafsa in order to get her merit scholarship every year. The scholarship has nothing to do with need but they want to disperse the academic money after all grant money has been awarded. So if the scholarship covered more than tuition/room/board once the grants were applied then they would reduce the scholarship by the excess amount. Thats kind of laughable since the scholarship isnt half of the cost of tuition alone and we are not a family that fits the "grant money" demographics.

 

[MelanieC]

Ugg - I'm dreading the FAFSA again, lol. Yep, you definately each need one.

 

[RangerPooh]

However once your student becomes an "independent" (age, marital status, etc) you will no longer need to assist wit the FAFSA process. It will just require your child's pin. It is tedious to do every year but you have to. I'm working on my PhD and am still required to do it, even though I have never received a scholarship in my entire college career; just grants and loans.

 

[Leajess99]

Also, if you are a recent college student who also filed a FAFSA in the past few years than you would already have and use that pin.

 

[linnylu]

For thos with experience- it worries me when a school requires the FAFSA for merit money. We will not qualify for financial aid. If a school sees our income, will they give DS less merit money? He is eligible for the presidential scholarship at his school- which hopefully would bring the price down to an instate university. But what if they offer less based on our EFC, then DS would not be able to afford the school?

Does anyone have any experience with this? Not sure if I should call the college's financial aid dept about it

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We will not qualify for financial aid. If a school sees our income, will they give DS less merit money?

Who can say? We don't know the school or their financial aid policy. Contact the FA office for an answer.

 

[dthogue]

New this year you must also complete the FAFSA is you want to apply for a Federal Parent PLUS loan.

Better go dig out our pin numbers - I have 2 FAFSA's to do - yippee!! and about $500 worth of textbooks to buy - Happy New Year!!

Tammy

 

[Disnee4Me]

Is anyone have trouble with the FAFSA site? I tried filling out the form yesterday and again today. I did almost complete it yesterday and when I tried to save it an error message displayed. I tried to save the first page today and the same thing. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[WDWMom]

Both parent and student need a pin number but our's are the same number so you do not need to remember 2 different numbers.

I would check with the school's FA office, but I believe once they offer you a merit scholarship they don't give them away. They are not need based if they are offering them for grades or test scores. I think if schools started lowing those merit scholarships, then they would have less students applying. They want the best and brightest regardless of need.

 

[FourBees]

I did both of mine yesterday and had no problem. They were accepted and are being processed. Are you sure you went to the right site. From what I understand there is another site that tries to get you to pay for the FAFSA and that is not the site you want.

 

[Disnee4Me]

The site is "http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/". Is this the right site? Thanks.

 

[Marionnette]

For thos with experience- it worries me when a school requires the FAFSA for merit money. We will not qualify for financial aid. If a school sees our income, will they give DS less merit money? He is eligible for the presidential scholarship at his school- which hopefully would bring the price down to an instate university. But what if they offer less based on our EFC, then DS would not be able to afford the school?

Does anyone have any experience with this? Not sure if I should call the college's financial aid dept about it

It will depend on the school and the nature of the scholarships. Some merit scholarships are also income-dependent. Some are looking for certain demographics such as students going into specific fields of study or coming from specific geographic regions. Our personal income was NOT a factor determining our kids merit scholarships. But if we had gotten grant money from other sources and the merit scholarship covered more than our daughter needed for college expenses then the school would have reduced her scholarship money accordingly for that academic year. Again, that is the nature of this particular scholarship and does not play out the same in all schools or for all scholarships.

 

[FourBees]

Yes that is the right website. I did mine first thing in the morning around 8:30 or so and my friend did hers also around that time and ours both went through without a problem but the only thing I can think of is if you were doing them later in the day and alot of people were doing them at the same time it might have affected the site. I say try again maybe later tonight or first thing in the morning and if you are still having trouble give them a call. I have had to call before and they were very helpful. Also make sure you read what error you are getting and make sure that you are not missing any information that is needed. Good luck.

 

[disneyleslie]

Can you do the fafsa if you don't have your taxes done?

 

[Marionnette]

Can you do the fafsa if you don't have your taxes done?

Yes. Just amend the form after you complete your 2010 taxes.

 

[Disnee4Me]

Thanks FOURBEES. I just went into the site and completed my forms. The site must of been getting hit hard yesterday. Thanks for your help.

 

[njsweetP]

Yes. Just amend the form after you complete your 2010 taxes.

From what I understand (my DH is doing the forms) you can 'save' the form and amend as needed right? When do you actually 'submit' it? We, like most, are using 2009 info. Or does it get submitted automatically when you are all done filling out the forms?

 

[FourBees]

Your welcome. Good luck to your child! njsweetP fill out the application and hit submit now. When you get your 2010 taxes done go back to the website and it will ask you somewhere (I can't remember exactly where) if you want to make corrections to your FAFSA and you will using your completed 2010 taxes. Hope this helps.