<p>I talked to my guidance counselor who was an admissions officer for vanderbilt university and she said that you should wait until the tax stuff comes in? According to her, the colleges dont even download the submitted fafsa forms until february 1 b/c they know that everything submitted before that date are only estimates. What are some of your opinions on this? Does it matter when u submit the fafsa as long as it is before 02/01/07?</p>
<p>Thank You</p>
<p>Just meet the deadline for the colleges you're applying to. Don't wait on taxes-- estimate to meet deadlines, and correct it later.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>she said that you should wait until the tax stuff comes in>></p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>With all due respect, I would not agree with this. Do the FAFSA and get it submitted WITH ESTIMATES using "will file" as your status. Then as soon as possible after February 1, complete your taxes and amend the FAFSA to reflect your completed tax return and change your status to "completed tax return". The mandate is to receive your W-2 forms and 1099 forms BY January 31. To wait, would mean that you would need to complete your taxes AND your FAFSA sometime during the workday on January 31. Certainly you "could" do that, but it makes just as much sense to estimate, get your application in the queue (so to speak) and then update ASAP.</p>
<p>The other problem with this option is if you need to send the FAFSA to more than 6 schools. Once you submit it to 6 schools, you need to wait until you get your SAR back before you can submit it to the rest. That can take 3-7 days. So you have to get your FAFSA in for the first 6 by mid-January, and then to the remainder. Very tough to get your taxes done by then; employers aren't even required to give you your W-2s by then.</p>
<p>The one thing that every financial aid officer that I've spoken to has said is "DO NOT MISS the deadlines. Even a day late could mean that you get less aid." I'd listen to them.</p>