<p>I started filling out Fafsa.com form. When I got to the end, and they wanted to charge me $79, I realized I was not on the correct site. I looked at the fafsa.ed.gov site, and it looks like the form will not be available until 2012. Does anyone have any experience with fafsa.com? Is it worth the $79 dollars to have them review it? </p>
<p>Secondly, if my son is entering college fall of 2012, is waiting until 1/2012 ok, for getting aide?</p>
<p>FAFSA.com is a rip-off at best and an identity theft risk at worst. For your $79 they do no checking. Total scam. </p>
<p>You have to wait until 1/1/12 to fill out the actual FAFSA which is free. You can’t file before then because you will need 2011 tax returns completed. And the form is not available until then. </p>
<p>Fill the form out on 1/1. Use “will file” status and estimate the numbers. When your tax return is completed sign back into the FAFSA and change your estimates to agree with your filed tax returns and submit. </p>
<p>In the meantime get a FAFSA PIN for yourself and your child now. And read the FAFSA instructions carefully.</p>
<p>Since the FAFSA for 2012-2013 won’t be available until Jan 1st 2012, there isn’t any way that the dot com site would have the right form.
No, it is not worth $79 to use their site.
This site isn’t necessarily updated but it is free.
[FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>http://www.finaid.org/)
If you are in the Pacific Northwest- this is a good site
[NELA</a> Home Page](<a href=“http://www.nela.net/Pages/default.aspx]NELA”>http://www.nela.net/Pages/default.aspx)</p>
<p>Avoid FAFSA.com like the plague. </p>
<p>
You do not have a choice. The FAFSA for the 2012-2013 School year is not available until January. Filling out the 2011-2012 FAFSA (at FAFSA.com or anywhere else) does not mean you have applied for aid nor does it mean you have met any deadlines. The 2011-2012 FAFSA counts for nothing for the 2012-2013 school year.</p>
<p>If the schools he is applying to require CSS profile in addition to FAFSA, that may be due earlier.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. The fafsa.com site, I hate to admit it, did trick me. I didn’t pay tho. They are similar to when applying for a passport, and you come across all the “pay” sites.</p>
<p>what is the advantage of getting a fafsa PIN?</p>
<p>You *have *to have FAFSA PINS in order to be able to submit FAFSA electronically. The student must have a PIN of their own. The parent (just one) must have a PIN of their own. Without a PIN you would have to submit a paper FAFSA.</p>
<p>The advantage of applying for your PINs now rather than waiting is that you will have your PINs already in hand before the busy period starts (which slows things down), and if you run into any snafus you can get them cleared up early and not when you are running up against deadlines (a real pain when a snafu occurs with your PIN application and you are in a time crunch - I speak from experience - I was actually reduced to tears - yes real tears - of frustration dealing with the combination of FAFSA and social security help lines).</p>
<p>OP, you really need to read the FAFSA instructions. All is explained there.</p>
<p>I feel like a complete idiot. I got through a few pages of the fafsa.com thing and realized it was the wrong one. I never got to the payment page, but I did enter information I regret. I called their customer service number and asked them to delete everything. They assured me they did, but who really knows.</p>
<p>I feel your pain. I wouldn’t worry. at least you didn’t pay them. I don’t think they are interested in your stats. So dont’ sweat it.</p>
<p>OP, please heed the advice of swimcatsmom – get your PINs now – and of Iron Maiden – read the instructions now – so that you can hit the ground running in January. Believe me, you don’t want to be figuring this stuff out under a deadline.</p>
<p>I got the PINS after applying in one day. The main thing, is getting taxes done early. BUt have to wait for W-2 to get them done.</p>
<p>^^ You can file an estimated FAFSA as early as January 1, specifying “will file” as Iron Maiden mentioned. Once you’ve filed your taxes, you simply go back in, correct anything that needs correcting per the actual return, changed it to “already filed,” and submit.</p>