<p>To those that have filled it out: how do you guys do it?</p>
<li>Its so freaking long</li>
<li>Do we use 2003 or 2004 numbers? My parents 2004 tax isnt even out yet and wont be until March. The deadline for the Cmu financial aid form is feb. 15!</li>
</ol>
<p>help</p>
<p>Use FAFSA numbers. 2003 tax year unless 2004 has seen a marked and dramatic change from previous years. Submit update when and if numbers are dramatically different. Remember any financial aid will go to those who has filed the forms, who need it most, who the schools deem to make their enrollment goalsl (ie girls may be favored over boys in the technical schools), and to be competitive with another school for that particular student. In that order. </p>
<p>No filing=no money. Part of the game. Learn the game. Ignoranace will make you lose the game and you won't even know it.</p>
<p>You use the 2003 numbers since they are the most recent available. However, make adjustments on things that you know are going to have to be adjusted. For instance, if a parent quit working midway through 2004, you know his/her income will not be what it was in 2003. If your family received a major payment in 2004, add it in there. When the actual 2004 return is available, you have to make the changes, and your aid is adjusted accordingly, and many times the school wants a copy of that return. It won't be as bad in the later years as the forms are not due for returning students until much later, and the chances are that you will have the actual returns needed. The first year is a pain because they want the form before you have the information, but you want the award before they can calculate it if they wait until you have the information. They have until April 1 to come up with your numbers so that you can send in your decision and deposit by May 1.</p>
<p>I thought it says on the form to not use 2003 tax forms.</p>
<p>You don't have much choice. You can probably use your parents best estimate-they should really be filing out the form. Most of the time, the difference between years is pretty minor and probably not affect your status by much. Hate to be wishy washy about it, but in the 3 years that I have filing out the form for our kid- the FA has never gone smoothly, and we only use the FA (PLUS and Staffords ) as a way to even out the cash flow and manage debt-investments. </p>
<p>Call - email the HUB and I believe they will tell you the same. If not please RSVP this board so that I may apologize. </p>
<p>BTW- Hope you find this as a learning experience in finances. If schools would teach the ins and outs of personal finance instead of theoretical einstein thread theory, every one would be better off. Learn the First Law of Money!</p>
<p>at other schools I've applied, you turn in your 2003 forms so they can make a good estimate, but before they confirm anything they must have your 2004 forms. So you turn in your 2003 forms until others are available. Then you turn in the new ones</p>