<p>I just read on another thread that the fafsa aid that one receives is on a first come first served basis? is this true?</p>
<p>my son is a freshman this year in college but I have to submit this years fafsa. We had a company do it last year, but it was very expensive and we thought we'd do it ourselves this year. </p>
<p>For this years, do I only have to update any changes from last years? It's all so confusing.
thanks so much in advance for any help :)</p>
<p>when you go in to do this years it will ask you if you want to import last years data (not sure if that will work if you paid someone???)</p>
<p>It's not hard to do if your taxes are straightforward. My tax prep software prints a page with data that I put on the fafsa. Took me about 15 minutes to put everything in (haven't submitted yet - waiting for W-2's from my son's jobs (all 4 of them this year))</p>
<p>My taxes are ready to be submitted. I went online to all my banking sites and got my interest paid for 2008 (surprise it was alot less than 2007)</p>
<p>There is no reason to pay anyone to submit FAFSA for you. You have to provide the same info eithr way so why pay someone to submit it for you. it is called the Free Application fo Federal Student Aid for a reason.</p>
<p>When you start the 2009-2010 FAFSA yo will be asked some very basic info (student name, SSN etc). Then a message should appear saying that you have filed FAFSA before and do you want your personal information to be automatically entered. You will need your FAFSA student PIN to do this. (I assume this is all still possible when you had someone else do the FAFSA for you - don't know if it adds a complication at all).</p>
<p>The first come first serve thing - it is more a case of getting your application in before any limited funding aid you are eligible for is gone. For instance the SEOG grant, Work Study, and Perkins loan have very limited funding (each school is given $xxx and once they have awarded it they have no more). So the sooner you file the more likely you are to get these awards, if you are eligible for them. </p>
<p>Having said that, a lot probably depends on how the school processes their FAFSAs. My daughter's first year we filed in January. We were verified and we also had a special circumstances adjustment. By the time everything was processed it was March and the school web site showed her FAFSA as being completed in late March. I don't think she missed out on anything. We still always file early. We are always verified which means that, until our tax returns are filed so we can send them with the verification forms, our FA is not processed. Doesn't seem to have hurt. But we still follow the 'file early' mantra - just in case.</p>
<p>I'm in the same situation as guitars101 having had the docs done by a service (big mistake).
I still have the pin numbers from last year, both mine and my D's. Do we use those or are we required to have new ones? If we "import" last year's data, can certain changes be made regarding assets etc? Is there a benefit to doing the FAFSA now with last year's 2007 figures and then making changes when 2008 tax returns are complete, rather than waiting till later and just completing the final one?
I read on a thread that the "first come, first served" does not really have an effect until the finals are done.
Thanks for any info.</p>
<p>PS cross posted with swimcatsmom....thanks for additional info</p>
<p>you will have the same Pin numbers.</p>
<p>It does not import the income/asset info. Just the personal info - adresses etc. You have to re input the financial info.</p>
<p>Most schools have a priority date. It will be found on the financial aid website. If you file before the priority date, you have the best chance of getting the most aid (not that you are guaranteed anything beyond loans if that's all you are eligible for ... but it's still your "best chance"). Often there is a priority date for applicants and another for returning students. Just check the website or call the school.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your reply and help :)</p>