<p>I may have a few questions about FAFSA, as I am filling it out right now (missed the priority deadline...)</p>
<p>My first question:</p>
<p>When it asks for your mother's last name, do you put the married or maiden name? It says it must match the one on her Social Security card, which has both the married and the maiden name. It is in the form: [first name, married name, maiden name]. So which one do I put?</p>
<p>Your social security card can have your maiden name listed as your middle name. Let’s say my maiden name is Rabbit. My married name is Dog.</p>
<p>My SS card would say Thumper Rabbit Dog. DOG is my last name. I happen to use my maiden name as my middle name on my SS card. Is that what your mom did too?</p>
<p>No, it is the other way around. In your case, it would be Thumper Dog Rabbit. So technically the last name (the name that appears last on the Social Security card) would be the maiden name. But on the other hand, since she is married, her last name should be the married name, not the maiden name. This is where the confusion comes from. However, I think I resolved this issue by just putting the married name (since that’s what it says on other official documents) down. This leads to another question:</p>
<p>Is it OK if I make an error unknowingly, or should I just leave answers I don’t know for sure blank?</p>
<p>Is the Academic Competitiveness Grant applicable for high school seniors applying for freshman year? The FAFSA section for eligibility asks for criteria encompassing having received a New York Regents Diploma, having passed 4 years of English, etc. – all things that are only possible for those already in college. </p>
<p>However, I have looked this up and have seen a few instances that imply that a senior can apply, but no direct answer. Should I just say that I received a diploma when I didn’t (although it is anticipated; there are no regents in senior year anyway), that I passed 4 years of English (although I only passed 3.5 years), etc.?</p>
<p>EDIT: I know it says that one must “be a first or second year undergraduate student” to be eligible, but why does my research say otherwise? And why isn’t this section optional, then?</p>