<p>Does it really matter at all? Because my guidance counselor told me (AFTER I submitted my FAFSA -.-) to make sure to list a first choice instate school as first, so that my state can calculate the maximum financial aid I can get based on that school. Is this true?</p>
<p>If so, how may I change this order? I did not list schools in order of which I like most or anything. I just put them down without that in mind. Did I just ruin my chances at good instate aid?</p>
<p>lol never heard of that before. Your counselor must be on crack or something</p>
<p>The order doesn't matter at all.</p>
<p>I beg to differ on this subject of listing schools on FAFSA . My D listed her favorite private school first and she got a ton of aid ( and we did file it early in the base year ) --- and I noticed in retrospect , when she listed her in - State ones , the most aid was given at #2 choice ( in in- State school ) . The private outdid her State she she went to the private one . I guess it depends on how much the school wants the student . </p>
<p>This apporach , however , would not work for out-of-state students ( for State schools ) .</p>
<p>This same scenario seems to be happening with S's too .</p>
<p>Huh?</p>
<p>You've totally confused me........</p>
<p>Worked in financial aid for years...
Makes no difference which order you list the schools. absolutely, positively no difference.</p>
<p>bus52 - does it make any difference if you list other schools? My D has decided which school she is going to so we were just going to list that on FAFSA. If they see they are the only one we are applying to will they offer less aid? Is it worth listing the other 2 she applied to?</p>
<p>I wouldn't list anywhere that she's not really considering. </p>
<p>The number of schools she send her FAFSA to has no bearing on the amount of $ she receives from individual schools. The college does the actual awarding of the amounts (limited by federal regs) and has no idea what she's getting from any place else.</p>
<p>You can always attempt to negotiate with the financail aid office. If you don't see what you want (Perkins, work study) on the award letter, ask for it or find out why you didn't get it. I'm not saying you'll always get more $$ or that they will listen to you, but in our office, all things being equal, the squeaky wheel got the extra funds if we had them.</p>
<p>When we filed our FAFSA forms, we sent the six colleges with the closest financial aid application deadlines. (There's only room for six at a time, then, for some odd reason, they make you wait a few days before you can send more. Can anyone explain this?) ... I've never heard anything about listing colleges by order of preference on FAFSA. My understanding is that you send the application to the U. S. Department of Education, and the schools that you have listed can then access that information.</p>
<p>A parent came in Thursday for this exact issue (6 schools) and I had to look it up on the counselor help site.</p>
<p>If you have more than 6 schools who need to get your FAFSA:
You list 6 schools, then you give DOE a few days to process the schools you listed. You then go back in to your FAFSA and delete your original schools and add the additional new schools you want to receive the FAFSA. No explanation why it's done like this. My guess is because it's free (unlike Profile, SAT, ACT) there's no benefit ($) to them (only more work) in you sending many copies out. So DOE makes it a hassle to send more than 6.</p>
<p>Just my guess though!</p>
<p>Thank you Bus52. Do the schools even see what other schools are listed? It's interesting to hear the veiw point from the other side of the fence. I suspect we parents worry too much about figuring the system out - especially after perusing these boards for a few too many hours. It is probably more cut and dried than we think.</p>
<p>When we processed Student Aid Reoprts, we had no idea where elsee the kid had applied. I'm assuming it's the same now.</p>
<p>I switched from financial aid into college counseling for high school kids. Different field but my financial aid background has been so helpful. I never thought about how complicated the process was because I did it for so long it seemed easy. Now, with all the kids and parents completely freaked about admissions-financial aid apps, FAFSA and Profile are the last things they want to deal with!</p>
<p>So, I'm okay? Or does it really depend on your state? My GC told me that NJ only calculates the aid they'll give you based on your school listed first. If it is not an NJ school, the aid will probably come out less. Could he be wrong?</p>
<p>Just when I thought I was done with these horrid financial aid forms.. :(</p>
<p>These days college financial aid offices do see the 5 other schools on the same FAFSA as their college. According to all of the college aid talks I've attended at many highschools and colleges, the order or the school on the form makes no difference. Admissions does not see FAFSA, and, typically, fin aid only determines packages after the student is admitted.</p>
<p>However, I remember something very vaguely about some state programs in some or maybe even just one state where it is important that you list that state school first. I cannot place it so I cannot give any more info than that. I would call the fin aid office of the state school in question and ask if any such situation exists and if you can change the order by correcting the FAFSA with the state school first and foremost. Do share the answer with us as I am curious about the circumstance.</p>
<p>Though speaking in generalities about admissions offices, it is certainly possible that there are colleges where all of this information is scoured. If a director of admissions at a particular college wanted to get the info, it is possible for him to do so. Particularly with need aware schools and those trying hard to improve their yield. Still the results of financial aid given each year from any number of kids has at this point given most admission specialists the conclusion that order of school does not matter, nor does the fact that the schools can see 5 other entries.</p>
<p>At a presentation at my daughter's high school, we were told to make sure that at least one in-state school (public or private, doesn't matter) appears as one of the first six schools on Fafsa, because this then generates the applications for different types of state aid. </p>
<p>The person who said this is the financial aid officer at a local private college. </p>
<p>In our case it seems to be true, because we did subsequently receive e-mails and snail mail about TAP awards and other state funding sources. (We're New Yorkers.)</p>
<p>Thanks for the info on the schools seeing the names of the other colleges-it has been a few years since I've been on the administrative side reading the SAR.</p>
<p>As far as the state schools and listing them as one of origial first six, the only thing I can think of is the timing issue. Maybe they are saying this because there is the lag time between submitting your first six schools and then waiting to submit the next group. If you didn't submit early, you may miss the trigger for state programs and their deadlines.</p>
<p>We're in NJ and we were told that you should list a NJ school first to get the SEN (forget what it stands for). This will tell you what state aid you get. It doesn't affect your federal aid - which is why those outside of NJ don't know about it. </p>
<p>If your kid isn't applying to a NJ school, don't worry about it - because the aid only applies if you're attending an instate school. If your kid is considering a NJ school, you should contact someone from the state financial aid dept (maybe Guidance can help you find them). My DH thinks you can still get the state aid, it's just is a more complicated process so that's why its recommended you list a NJ school in the first slot.</p>
<p>Did not hear a thing about this for NY schools. Maybe our resident New Yorker financial guru, Sybbie could help us with this. I think that this is something that needs to be brought up with the school guidance counselor, whoever is brought in to talk about fin aid from the highschool, and the colleges themselves. As I said before, I had heard something about this, but it seemed to have a limited enough audience and effect that it did not stick in my brain. </p>
<p>Bus52, from what a friend of mine in admissions told me, they do not see the SAR and do not get info on what was on it. But her school is need blind. There is preferential packaging based on a rating that admissions gives (internal use only) each accepted student. It is relevant only for financial aid packaging as those with higher rating get more of the juicy grants. Though that school guarantees 100% of need provided, the make up of the package can vary widely in terms of self help.</p>
<p>Hi all. I can shed some light on this. We live in PA and my daughter just got notice from the state that she didn't qualify for a grant because the "school she would be attending" was in Maryland. Guess what...we have no idea where she is going, since most of her schools don't weight in until April 1st. Then I read the letter further, and because I had listed Hopkins as #1 on the Fafsa, the state took that to be THE one. BUT, they give me the opportunity to send the form back to them with a revised school choice, one which is NOT in NY, NJ or Maryland. Thats easy, since her four top choices are in other states. Apparently, PA will give you a grant to a school in a different state, as long as that state reciprocates the "favor" and allows their students to get grants if they attend a school in PA. Anyway, yes, all FA offices DO see the other schools listed on the FAFSA. AND, one of the tips for parents I read in a college book recommended to NOT list your kid's first choice at the top, because when the school sees that, they MAY offer less aid, knowing how much the kid wants to go there. So I listed my D's favorites somewhere in the middle of the six. I am sure not every FA office plays that game, but I am sure that some do. Hope all this is helpful....</p>
<p>Nyriki -- I know that in California, the Cal Grant is calculated based on the first school listed, and a higher grant is available for private than public schools -- and Cal Grant money can only go to in-state colleges. So at least in California it is valuable (but not absolutely necessary), to list a private in-state college first. </p>
<p>The reason it is not absolutely necessary is that if the student decides on a different school, the application can be resubmitted for the Cal Grant -- so it won't end up hurting in the long run. Just inconvenient - but all the Calif. schools also know the ins & out of Cal Grant procedures for in-staters who apply, so I am sure the financial aid offices do whatever is needed to expedited the process of a recalculation once a student sends them a deposit in the spring. </p>
<p>I don't know anything about NJ, but it sounds like the same thing.</p>