<p>I filled out the FAFSA last night with my mom's information and mine, but now it looks like we did it wrong. My parents never help me with anything. She didn't know anything about adjusted gross income and told me the wrong household size. I have already submitted and am waiting for processing now. Will I be able to correct errors by the time of processing? My deadline is february 1st!</p>
<p>Well, you’ve come to the right place for help; a forum of useless parents! I have to suggest the following. First, go to the FAFSA site yourself and find out how to submit corrections. Second, it’s time to start learning about tax returns, income, and assets for your own benefit and knowledge. If you think your parents are useless, then learn to do things better.</p>
<p>It is normal for first-time FAFSA filers to be baffled by the instructions. That’s why I recommend printing out the formula itself, and then working through it on paper. Doing this will help you and your parents understand how the formula works, and will show you exactly the kind of information that you need to have on hand. <a href=“http://www.ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/082511EFCFormulaGuide1213.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/082511EFCFormulaGuide1213.pdf</a></p>
<p>As for the AGI, if your mom isn’t the one who normally takes charge of the tax returns, I can see how she’d be confused. The AGI comes right off your parents’ income tax return. They probably haven’t filed yet for 2011, but they should have the one from 2010 around somewhere. If their income didn’t change much in 2011, you can use the 2010 information for the preliminary FAFSA. If income did change in 2011, your parents should be able to estimate what their AGI will be for 2011 by gathering up their last pay stubs, bank statements, etc. and then working through the 2011 federal tax return. Everything you and your parents need to know about the federal tax returns is right at [Internal</a> Revenue Service](<a href=“http://www.irs.gov%5DInternal”>http://www.irs.gov)</p>
<p>This is the most useful source of detailed question by question instructions for completing FAFSA.
[Completing</a> the FAFSA 2012-2013/The Application Questions](<a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/2012_2013/ques.html]Completing”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/2012_2013/ques.html)</p>
<p>If you need additional help, people here are usually willing to help. FWIW, the majority of us on this particular forum with knowledge of FAFSA are parents, so referring to your Mom in such derogatory terms is probably counterproductive. If you are within the time limit I would suggest going back and editing your post.</p>