Detailed info on sections of FAFSA?

Parent Cafe
1

<p>Where can I find in-depth explanations for each question of the FAFSA, including complicated situations, not just the basic sentence or two that tells what they are after? Whether it be a web site or even a book I'd have to buy, I'd like to have an authoritative source I could refer to during this process so I do it correctly. Any favorite books or sites you have used that seemed to be right on the mark?</p>

2

<p>I mentioned this in another post but I think this is one of the best sources.</p>

<p>[FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>http://www.finaid.org/)</p>

3

<p>If you’re asking about the FAFSA for 2009-2010, wait a bit. Congress just passed reforms this week, converting the 7-page form into a 2-page FAFSA-EZ form.</p>

<p>Otherwise, go to [FAFSA</a> - Free Application for Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/]FAFSA”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/) for help.</p>

<p>Here’s the New York Times article about the reforms:
<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/education/01education.html?_r=1&oref=slogin[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/education/01education.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>There is a FAFSA worksheet that can be printed out and completed. If you have “extenuating circumstances” this information might not be able to be put on the FAFSA itself (e.g. job loss, high medical expenses, etc). This would be a special circumstance that would need to be provided to each school…and each school would determine how this would be handled.</p>

5

<p>Finaid is a good source. FAFSA itself has an instruction page
[Completing</a> the FAFSA 08-09/The Application Questions(1-31)](<a href=“http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/2008_2009/ques.html]Completing”>http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/2008_2009/ques.html)</p>

<p>2009-2010 is not up yet</p>

6

<p>FAFSA is released on Jan. 1 for the following academic year. FAFSA 2009-10 will be released Jan. 1, 2009.</p>

7

<p>For complicated questions, try calling the FAFSA helpline at 1-800-4-FED-AID I find the people there to be good at answering questions at different areas of the FAFSA, and individual complicated situations.</p>

<p>It can also be helpful, if you have complicated individual questions, to speak with the financial aid office of any colleges under consideration. This is especially true for colleges using the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA.</p>

8

<p>If you’re asking about the FAFSA for 2009-2010, wait a bit. Congress just passed reforms this week, converting the 7-page form into a 2-page FAFSA-EZ form.</p>

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<p>The changes will not be finalized for five years, so probably not a good idea to wait for them to go into effect. Also, the 2-page EZ form is likely to be only for low income families, according to the wording in the Higher Ed Act of 2008 approved by lawmakers this week.</p>

9

<p>This is all great information, thanks all! I’ve bookmarked it…glad orangepop asked the question!</p>

10

<p>If you have complicated circumstances you might simply post on this board; we don’t have all the answers, but we may be able to help you clarify your questions.</p>

<p>I have not been impressed when calling FAFSA help about complex things, it feels a lot like calling the IRS where they take no responsibility for their answers and it is tough to get them to understand the complexities. The phone helpers seem to want to find your “box” ASAP and give you the pat answer.</p>

<p>You might have better luck calling some finaid depts and asking for a long term employee not a student and ask them.</p>

<p>This site may also address some special circumstances:</p>

<p>[FinAid</a> | Professional Judgment | Case Studies](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid)</p>

11

<p>All of this has been helpful. Thanks!</p>