What Are Common Mistakes on the Financial Aid Application?

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It seems asinine to expect applicants to finish their FAFSA before they can finish their income tax return. Figures can be estimated, but that leaves the application incomplete and inaccurate, a stated no-no. Resubmissions increase work for all involved. The government and colleges should reset their expectations and not expect the FAFSA to be completed in mid-January, but rather, mid-February. Financial custodians are not necessarily required to meet the January 31 deadline for mailing tax-related forms, so even mid-February is wishful thinking.

Bill Tetlow of NY 6:11PM February 11, 2012

I just timed myself. A forgotten PIN can be retrieved in 37 seconds flat at www.pin.ed.gov by clicking on "Request a Duplicate PIN."
No need to reset it...

Michael of CO 1:07PM January 26, 2012

This is in respond to -
" A: Don't wait—estimate.
Betsy Morgan, founder, College Matters LLC"
I work in financial aid at a large community college and we never recommend that students estimate their financial aid when submitting their FAFSA. However, all colleges are different. What I recommend is the student first ask their financial aid office if they should estimate.

Raymond of NM 10:42AM January 26, 2012

Excellent summary of important points for student applicants and families to remember. As someone who presents talks at about 15 schools a season (Fall), and who has done this for some 44 years, you have covered the topic very well.

Joseph Sciame of NY 8:50AM January 26, 2012