A couple of FAFSA questions

<p>So March 1st is my schools "priority filing date". I don't even really know what this means but I'm guessing I shoul really get my application in by then. HOWEVER. My name change is going through on May 19th. *** am I going to do? This is for the fall 2012-2013. I also want to file for summer classes, but my name change is slate to be under a month prior to summer classes starting. I know FAFSA does not give a flying F*<em>K about me with millions of applicants, but is there anyway I can get some questions answered here? Every time I contact them I get 43287546398 automations and never get to someone worth anything. Seriously, </em> do I do?</p>

<p>I hesitate to ask this…but is is essential that you change your name right now? Can this wait until the fall?</p>

<p>yes, it can be postponed… but i really hate my name. I suppose I could do that though, theoretically</p>

<p>but then I’d have to change it on FAFSA that’s already submitted or what?</p>

<p>yes/no? Anything is helpful, guys</p>

<p>I believe that in order to change your name you have to already be using the version you want to change it to. As say an extra middle name & go by the middle name, have you been doing that?</p>

<p>File the FAFSA NOW with your current legal name. Until the name change is finalized use your current name name for any up-dates to FAFSA. After all, that name is the one on all of your tax records.</p>

<p>Let the colleges and universities know that a legal name change is in process, and drop them another line as soon as the change is official. </p>

<p>Your Social Security Number will not change. Once you have the new legal name, and make that change official with the Social Security Administration, the change will also be reflected in the databases that the FAFSA system has access to. If you do get an error message from FAFSA about that, you will be able to straighten it out with them (and with any confused college/university financial aid officer) at that time.</p>

<p>Don’t over worry about this. Just keep track of who you have told what and when so that if anyone gets confused you will be able to refer to your previous communications.</p>

<p>cool, so I just filled out all my studentloans.gov stuff and FAFSA under my current legal name. So I’ll be receiving all I need to be receiving before my name change even comes up sinec I’m postponing it until late August. Then I can change it, but the stuff I have already received will still be with me no matter what, right? They won’t suddenly just take it away?</p>

<p>Don’t worry - they won’t take anything away. Did you apply to schools using your current name? If so, everything will link up. In the future, when you change your name, you should talk to your aid office to make sure nothing gets messed up, though.</p>

<p>Yes, I just got done doing my FAFSA and everything that goes with it to get it disbursed. I filed it today, as the priority filing deadline for my school is tomorrow. I’m already enrolled at my school regardless though. Only thing that kind of worries me is the master promissory note(MPN). Not sure if I’ll have to redo that because of a new name.</p>

<p>A girl friend of mine got divorced about November last year and had to completely resubmit an application and she got no grants! Basically homeless since they split, too. I don’t want to end up like her (bless her) and just get a loan and have any grants negated.</p>

<p>That is why I suggest talking to the school around the time the name change gets done. You should be able to get this done without any issues - just make sure you find someone in the finaid office who can work with you. They will want documentation to prove the change after it’s processed, and they can advise you as to what needs to be done on your part. If it were me, I would have used your documents to make the changes to the FAFSA and federal aid system myself, and then I would tell you what things you would need to do yourself.</p>