<p>My son applied to over 20 schools. I know that he's supposed to submit his 1st ten schools on FAFSA, then go back in, delete those and put more in. </p>
<p>But, when I called the FAFSA advice line to double check this procedure, the lady told me that since we didn't have my husband's W-2s yet (& we'd be re-entering the FASFA form to update the info from our 2008 tax return) I should wait until we got our 2008 taxes finished before entering the additional schools.</p>
<p>I asked 'why' and she said that it would be 'too confusing' (for me, apparently) to re-enter 10 more schools, then, at a later date re-enter the tax data for all 20+ schools. She thought I might confuse something. </p>
<p>Alrighty...putting aside the (seemingly) patronizing aspect of this advice (I assured her I have a few spreadsheets!) I wondered if there is anything to this?</p>
<p>I asked some questions about schools wanting to know how much federal aid my son is getting, in order to perhaps assess the complete picture of his need and evaluate how much $$ they were going to offer him in scholarships, etc. Thus..it would seem better to input all the FAFSA stuff before the calculate an award package for him.</p>
<p>She assured me that the 2 things (school scholarships & FAFSA federal aid) are completely separate, have nothing to do w/one another, thus it doesn't matter that over 1/2 of son's schools don't get his FAFSA info until end of Feb (or whenever husband's tax stuff comes).</p>
<p>Jolynne, I feel this is just bad advice. You certainly don't want to miss any of these FAFSA deadlines for schools, even with the estimates. </p>
<p>Follow this : First 10 Favorite schools, submit FAFSA, when you get clarification that it has been processed in your email, go in delete those schools, add the next 10 schools. </p>
<p>When you get email clarifying that the second 10 schools have been processed, go in, delete the 2nd 10 schools & add the rest of the schools.. </p>
<p>When your taxes are finally done, you will then make 3 sets of corrections to the FAFSA.
Unless some of the schools have dropped out of the running, say your child has changed his mind or has not been accepted or is wait-listed. </p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with making 3 sets of corrections, it isn't even that much work really, for most people it is changing income, maybe dividend income, federal taxes paid and so on. </p>
<p>You will certainly print out confirmation numbers and so on & be well-organized. This advisor isn't giving you enough credit!</p>
<p>SLUMOM--really! I thought the same, just wanted to check! Talk about patronizing. I know in my phonecalls/emails on this financial subject I come off a little 'basic' -- but I'm just trying to get all the info, from A-Z correct and not operate under any mistaken assumptions. </p>
<p>I passed the bar in 2 states & helped my son apply to 24 schools... I think I can keep track of some FASFA data. Kind of funny when you think about it...advisor protecting me from my own (presumed) disorganization/inability. I may contact the FAFSA and make a comment about this advice. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, I'll do as you said.</p>
<p>Additionally, I did some general internet research, and it seems colleges DO take federal aid into account when formulating how much to give students. So, advisor was not only patronizing, but, it seems, factually incorrect.</p>
<p>Well yes, the FAFSA will show that you have need & are eligible for financial aid.<br>
Obviously if your EFC on the FAFSA is about 75K or something, the colleges are going to see that you don't need any aid. Maybe what the advisor was trying to communicate was the the FAFSA demonstrates your need for a Stafford Loan etc, but will have nothing to do with the Institutional Grants that a college will give from their own funds.<br>
My point being that it is their money & how much & who they give it to is up to them. </p>
<p>Probably calling FAFSA is like calling the IRS! You don't know if the individual on the other end of the phone even knows what they are talking about!</p>
<p>it is the school that awards any federal aid to your son as part of the whole financial aid package. FAFSA is just a form that produces the EFC (and SAR) which is then accessed by the schools you have listed. They use that EFC to determine the federal aid (and institutional aid if they do not require CSS or other forms) that will be awarded. So yes they will take Federal aid awarded, including Stafford loans etc, into account because they are the ones awarding it as part of a single financial aid award.</p>
<p>SLUMOM--well, I explained to the advisor that I knew - factually - that the fed aid & school aid were two different things (!) -- but that my understanding was that schools might consider/evaluate fed aid in making a determination as to their own $ offers to students. She seemed to think I needed a remedial reminder of the essential differences between the two, and didn't even want to go into the issues as to whether one impacted the other.</p>
<p>The first time I called FAFSA, they asked that I participate in an 'evaluation of service survey.' Too bad I didn't get that this time! At least, they are motivated to try and improve customer service. </p>
<p>I'm going to add those additional schools right now! Thanks again.</p>