<p>Hi,</p>
<p>Should a returning student file for FAFSA as soon as possible, too?</p>
<p>Last year, during the application process, we did everything as soon as possible. We filed CSS profile first thing in October and filed FAFSA first thing in January.</p>
<p>Now D is a freshman at a college. The college website says that the financial aid deadline for the returning students is May. Our appointment with CPA is February 1st.</p>
<p>Should I file FAFSA now and correct later or should I wait until our tax is filed?
I don't know if the "file FAFSA as soon as possible!!!" thing is true for the returning students also.</p>
<p>I will appreciate some advise.</p>
<p>It depends on what kind of aid you qualify for. Work-study, SEOG, Perkins loan funds are limited at each school. If you got any of those this year you would want to file early with estimates. Pell is guaranteed. Institutional funds based on FAFSA will vary by school as to whether they are limited.</p>
<p>Email FA office and ask. I know some schools have priority deadlines even for returning students (though it’s usually much later than January… Usually like April) which would suggest time is still of some importance, but I don’t think it’s necessary to submit this early.</p>
<p>When incoming first-year students submit FAFSA info in January, it’s based on year-old tax info (for the most part) and just used to make an estimate. In the case of returning students, the FA office already has that info since updated tax info was submitted later.</p>
<p>Thank you for your responses.
I guess I shall e-mail and ask for their suggestion.
Thanks again!</p>