<p>Any suggestions before I fill out the FAFSA reports? How long does it take to fill out? They want it before January 31st. I wont have all my W/2's in by then? just refer to 2006? any advice is appreciated</p>
<p>You can file your FAFSA using estimates (if you think 2007 will be more or less the same as 2006, use 2006 tax return for your numbers). As soon as your taxes are done, make any corrections online. If there is much of a change between your estimates & the real deal, there can be a big change in your aid. But DO file on time, or you risk losing money (there is only so much grant money, and you want to get in on it if possible!).</p>
<p>You need to look at your 2006 return and then make estimates for 2007. It really did not take a long time to complete the FAFSA.</p>
<p>thanks gang!! that relieves some anxiety! :)</p>
<p>FAFSA is relatively easy. The CSS Profile is more time consuming, so if you have to do that one ... don't wait too long!! I used to work in financial aid, and I never knew how much harder the CSS was than FAFSA until I had to do it myself. Some schools ask their own extra questions, and those can be real pains ... I had to answer a bunch of really "intimate" questions about my cars. It was weird!</p>
<p>If you have to submit both FAFSA and CSS Profile, do the CSS Profile first. When you're done there's a button to press which will put all the CSS data you entered into the correct place on the FAFSA form. We learned this the hard way--did it backwards with our son, doing it in the right order with our daughter!</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>When you're done there's a button to press which will put all the CSS data you entered into the correct place on the FAFSA form.>></p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>Wow!!! This must be something relatively new. CSS is private and FAFSA is government. I didn't know there was a button that "merged" the information. Last time I did a Profile was 2 years ago (and I never...I hope) have to do one again. Where exactly IS this button???</p>
<p>I'm trying to find it now! I just registered yesterday and know I came across the link while getting re-overwhelmed with everything we have to do.</p>
<p>I'm looking at the CSS we filed for our son 2 years ago. Okay, after you submit your CSS Profile you get an acknowledgment sheet. On the sheet is the explanation about transferring info to the FAFSA, with a big button called "FAFSA Worksheet." The instructions say "click on the button to the right."</p>
<p>Too bad they didn't say this at the beginning of the process!</p>
<p>Thank you so much for that info!!! I learn something new every day ... and this particular tidbit is great!</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>"FAFSA Worksheet." >></p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>Wow....just so folks know. The information on the FAFSA worksheet has to be transferred onto the actual FAFSA form. But this should be a huge time saver because once the worksheet is done, it's REALLY easy to transfer the infor onto the FAFSA itself.</p>
<p>Now...WHEN is someone going to take MY idea and merge Turbotax with the FAFSA? I've been suggesting that for years, and I do believe it could be a money maker. I know that once I've completed my taxes, I think it would be very nice to have that info "spilled" into the FAFSA..and then I would just add the other "stuff" (asset info) myself.</p>
<p>Come on Turbotax...read this!!!!</p>
<p>Wish I had seen that yesterday as well! I used the same concept, only manually -- did the Profile first, then copied the data onto FAFSA. (Of course I did it all the old fashioned way, with pencil and paper, with my D laughing at me all afternoon)</p>
<p>martharap</p>
<p>Thanks for the heads up. I would have completed the FAFSA first! thanks..BTW..who requires the CSS??</p>
<p>Private colleges usually require the CSS and the FAFSA - and yes, the CSS is definitely much more of a pain than FAFSA, and of course, I didn't know about the button until now! Thanks for the tip, martharap.</p>
<p>i am a student</p>
<p>my mother told me that me and her have to fill out seperate copies of fafsa, is that true?</p>
<p>sorry if the answer is simple, i am so confused.</p>
<p>No, you don't fill out separate copies. But you both need separate PINs in order to sign the FAFSA electronically. Otherwise, you need to print it out, sign it manually, and mail it in.</p>
<p>No you do not do separate copies (assuming your Mom is not also a student and doing one for herself). </p>
<p>The FAFSA form has a section for parent information and one for the student information. You each need a PIN number to sign it electronically. It is the same form.</p>
<p>I already completed and submitted the CSS back in November to meet an ED1 deadline. Can I still find the "button" to transfer the info to the FAFSA worksheet? How do I do that? Thanks!</p>