Mismatch in first name spelling FAFSA vs app?

Applying to College
1

<p>Does anybody know if a slight spelling difference in the FIRST NAME between the FAFSA and the Common App will be a problem?</p>

<p>My daughter's actual first name is Lee Anne, per her birth certificate, and all other official documents...except her social security card, which spells it Leeanne. We filled out and submitted her applications using the actual spelling, but just recently learned that the spelling of the first name on the FAFSA must exactly match the spelling on the SS card or it will be rejected.</p>

<p>So...the schools have already received an app from "Lee Anne," while it appears that we must complete the FAFSA using "Leeanne." All other information (middle initial, last name, address, school, etc) will be identical, so I'm hoping someone can tell me that this minor first name difference won't matter.</p>

<p>And yes, I know I should have worked on the FAFSA earlier, but health issues have prevented me from doing this until now.</p>

2

<p>It may cause a little delay for the institution receiving the FAFSA, but it shouldn’t be too big an issue. At the university where I work, we receive FAFSAs from students who transpose their first and last names, or enter their SSN as their first name, or all sorts of either discrepancies. In our system, it suggests possible matches and allows us to match them if other data, such as SSN and date of birth and address are consistent. </p>

<p>You can check with the school(s) you are applying to, or send a note to the Financial Aid office in advance if you are concerned.</p>