<p>Is there any way to request that these come earlier so that a student can fill out FAFSA and the CSS Profile earlier? My mom said she cannot start to file for them until January 30th. I'm really new at this whole financial aide business. I've heard that it's first come first serve and I really would like to get as much aide as possible.</p>
<p>I advise using end-of-year pay stubs for income information and online resources for everything that allows you to check things online (e.g., investments, retirement funds, bank accounts). Waiting for the W2s seems logical but actually is probably not a good thing.</p>
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<p>Your parent should have received their last paycheck for the year. From this, they should have their year to date income and taxes taken out of their paychecks. They can use this and their 2009 tax return to get an estimated idea of actual taxes PAID.</p>
<p>You can complete the FAFSA beginning tomorrow using these estimates. When you do this, your FAFSA (and Profile ) will indicate “will file” as the status since you WILL file taxes but have not yet done so. Use the BEST estimates you can possibly muster up. Submit the forms.</p>
<p>THEN do those 2010 taxes ASAP after Feb 1 which is when you should have all of your W-2 forms and the like. This is NOT the year to wait until April to do your taxes. Get them done. Then go back to the FAFSA website and amend the FAFSA to change the items that are reflected on your 2010 tax return. Change the status to “taxes completed” and resubmit.</p>
<p>Re: the Profile…you cannot amend this one online. Once you submit it to the schools, it’s submitted. Again use the best estimates possible. Then contact each school to see how THEY deal with corrections to the Profile. They will tell you.</p>
<p>Thanks! My mother is unemployed but I guess we could use my father’s information.</p>
<p>Also, my mother made a PIN last year when she was doing FAFSA with my brother. Will she have to do another one.</p>
<p>Are your parents married? If so, your mom’s PIN is fine. Only one parent needs a PIN.</p>
<p>If your parents are not married, and you live with your mom, you can’t USE your dad’s info. </p>
<p>If they are married, you use the info from both of them.</p>
<p>I’m confused…did your mom work in 2010 at all? If not, what would be the hold up on tax info…if she didn’t work?</p>
<p>Well my mom doesn’t have an official job. She used to be a nurse but she left that job about 3 years ago so she could take care of me and my brothers more during the school year. She sells cars now though, but not with a company or anything. She still is making a little money and stuff but my dad is the one with an actual government job. She told me that the W2 Form stuff for 2010 will not come until about January 30th. I’m really new on financial aide so I’m not really sure what that means.</p>
<p>And my parents are married, so I guess I’ll tell her that her PIN is fine. She just wasn’t sure if she could use the same one for me that she did with my brother as well. And what do you mean I can use my parents “info”?</p>
<p>If your parents are married (and they are) then you use both of their income and assets on your FAFSA form. That is what I meant.</p>
<p>Re: your mom…it doesn’t matter if she is employed part time, full time, self employed or only works occasionally…ALL of her income still needs to be reported on your FAFSA (and she also would need to include it for tax purposes too). It’s not just “government” jobs where taxes are paid and income/assets reported. BUT I think you know that.</p>
<p>Anyway…back to your question…use estimates to submit. </p>
<p>Have you checked the deadlines for your schools?</p>
<p>Yeah they’re not due until March 1st or February 15th. I still have time, but I like being an early bird and getting things done.</p>
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<p>Well…not really. You really should get the FAFSA done as soon as you can. There are some forms of federally funded aid that are LIMITED and are awarded on a first come/first served basis. These include the Perkins Loans, Work Study and SEOG (and possibly state grants in your state…you would have to check this). </p>
<p>So…file as early as you can. I would not suggest waiting until March.</p>
<p>Alright thanks. Is the money on the CSS Profile first come first serve as well? I’m not really sure what the point of that one is to be honest…</p>
<p>What is the best way/time to file fafsa for a rising sophomore? Is it any different than the first year fafsa?</p>
<p>^ The same time periods apply as a soph as a freshman. Earlier is better for FA.</p>
<p>^^ The CSS Profile is used by some private schools to get additional information (particularly related to assets) for school based FA.</p>
<p>welldad - check the college website for the deadline for returning students. At my son’s college - the deadline for returning students is a few weeks later than the deadline for applicants. It’s still good to get it done asap - but I typically do it in early February since the returning deadline is March 1 for son’s college and that way I have the actual 1040 done and don’t have to use estimates and then revise later.</p>
<p>Another point - in case you are not aware of this - the FA award letter for returning students might not be available until June - as they work on stuff for newly accepted students first. Again - this may vary depending on the school - but I was surprised last year to learn that unlike the initial award letter which came April 1 - I would have to wait until June 1 to see the FA for sophomore year.</p>