Filling out FAFSA - Parent First or Student First?

Paying for College
1

Hi, about to do the FAFSA.

Wondering if I as the parent can fill out the FAFSA and “pass it” to my D?

Or should my D fill out it and “pass it” to me to digitally sign it?

I read some article online suggesting that while you could do it either way, it was better for the student to fill it out and have the parent digitally sign.

But my D is so busy doing applications, I want to get this FAFSA thing done.

Any insight on which way is better Parent or Student filling it out?

…or does it even matter??

2

The student info gets the form to open. Open it with her email/FSA ID. Her part to fill in is easy and mostly info you’d know (name, address, SSN, etc)

Honestly, I always did the FAFSA for both kids. They were away at school, I had all the tax info and all the bank info (I’m co-owner on all their bank accounts since they’ve had them since babyhood). I tried to involve them at the beginning but one year it got all screwed up so I just took over. I’d tell them I was doing it and ask if there was anything else I needed to know.

3

Thanks twoinanddone! Its holding me up waiting for her.

Did you fill it out just by logging in under her ID? Or did you “pass it” to your ID from hers?

I haven’t started on this yet, but I did get FAFSA IDs for both of us setup last week.

4

I just opened it and the student stuff comes up, I filled it in (whatever wasn’t pre-populated) and then filled in the parent section. You do not need to open it in another computer or under a different email. I had all the passwords and clues as I kept them in a file. At the end of the first kid it asked if there is a sibling and I’d say yes and then it would bring me to the second kid and I’d do it again. After 5 years of doing them, I can’t remember each one but just answered what they asked.

5

Thanks!

6

If it’s a new FAFSA, you can sign in under “I am the parent” for the student and provide all info, at the end you and student sign with your FSA IDs.

Make sure the student and one parent get the FSA ID ahead of filing FAFSA because they have to be cross-checked with the SSA.

I will do the renewal FAFSA when my kids come home some weekend in the fall.

7

Thanks @mommdc! I started it tonight with my D. Did it in her account first, then picked it up from my login. Worked great.

8

I think many parents end up filling out the entire FAFSA. Exceptions seem to be mostly cases where English isn’t the parents’ first language. Not 100% of course, but that’s what we often see

9

My kids never even looked at their forms. I even got their PINs for them.