<p>Maybe it was just me, but hearing about FASFA for years, I was prepared for a horrible experience. Although using 2010 tax estimates, it wasn't that bad. Both my dh and I work and my dh also has a pension. What was so terrible? It didn't even take us that long.</p>
<p>On the otherhand, CSS was much more intense and thought that was much worse than FASFA. Did I miss something? What is so terrible with FASFA?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>It was a piece of cake after the CSS. I’m glad I did that one and got it out of the way first. At the end of the FAFSA application I also thought, is that it, I must have missed something?</p>
<p>I think for those with just basic info, it could be easy. Probably very easy if you can have the IRS put in the numbers from a filed return.</p>
<p>It’s probably a pain for those with lots of savings/investment accts, rental properties, etc.</p>
<p>It seems that another thing that has made it easier is that it’s become more skip-logic.</p>
<p>I agree with you OP. The Profile is more difficult and FAFSA isn’t really hard if you do it after your taxes. Maybe it is for business owners.</p>
<p>Neither of these forms is difficult to complete IF you get all of the information together prior to sitting down to complete it.</p>
<p>^ I agree…thought both were simple. Just have tax return in front of you and a few clicks of the mouse to get investment values online.</p>
<p>I agree with above. Both forms were “easy” since we had all the paperwork in front of us when we began but the CSS asked for much more information than FASFA and was a bit more time consuming. Although, like a pp mentioned, it may be easier for my dh and me since we do not have a lot of disposable income and only own one home. Go us LOL</p>
<p>FAFSA has been improved dramatically over the last 10 years, it is so simple now I almost feel like I must have made a mistake!</p>
<p>somemom, I feel exactly the same way. In prior years I had to also fill out the CSS profile and that was much more detailed. I completed the fafsa yesterday and feel like I’ve made a mistake also because it was so simple, not many questions. I still hope I did it right ;)</p>
<p>Well here’s an annoyance. Yesterday received email that fafsa application had been processed, click here to see the SAR. All last night and again today, the message is:</p>
<p>FAFSA on the Web is currently unavailable due to scheduled maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.</p>
<p>As some of you have already submitted fafsa and got the sar, is the SAR number within the ballpark (a couple of thousand up or down) of the collegeboard’s EFC calculator’s number (Federal Methodology’). Thanks!</p>
<p>Although I can tell you all the acronyms on the cruisecritic and disboards, I’m still a novice on here.
Can anyone please tell me what is “SAR”?</p>
<p>Although we completed the FASFA yesterday, I still had to wait for my dd’s PIN number since the first time I requested it, I had a typo in her SS so it didn’t match. I had to request a new number yesterday and once I have, we can complete the form.</p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Student Aid Report, I believe. Basically your (official) EFC $.</p>
<p>In my case, it was the same as the calculators said.</p>
<p>I also thought the FAFSA was fine. I got my taxes mostly done (I am self employed) and used the numbers I had, and when I file they’ll change, but only slightly.</p>
<p>I am SO glad we don’t have any CSS Profile schools. 2 would accept in in lieu of their own FA app, but their apps are actually simpler.</p>
<p>With all the students and parents trying to get FA information into FAFSA for incoming freshmen it’s not a surprise that the site sometimes has issues.</p>