<p>Basic story: I gave my dad the dates that it had to be done by his request. He never told me nor my mother that she had to fill them out as they're seperated/soon to be divorced (in a month or less). So he just told my mom a few days ago it was her responsibility. Is there anything I can do? I truthfully didn't know the parent I live with fills it out, I thought it was jointly done. My father kind of left us in the dark and now it's late for almost all my schools. I don't know what to do.</p>
<p>Talk to the schools and explain your situation. They've dealt with every kind of complication and if you keep them informed they're more likely to help you.</p>
<p>celebrian - a few thoughts. I'm guessing that you can't be "too" far behind the deadline?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Best idea, imo, is to file the FAFSA <em>very</em> quickly. Even if you/your mother do not have all the information you need. From finaid website of one U:
[quote]
You do not have to wait for your tax returns to be completed before you file. You are allowed to make reasonable estimates.
[/quote]
You/your mom can update later.</p></li>
<li><p>It may vary from college to college, but being late does not necessarily eliminate you from consideration for financial aid. It does reduce your chances to get the best/most.
[quote]
The importance of meeting this deadline cannot be overstated. While there are some types of aid (e.g., Pell Grants and Stafford Loans) for which you may apply after this deadline, it is likely that you will receive substantially less total aid if your application is late. For the past several years, applicants applying after the deadline did not receive any aid awarded by U____.
[/quote]
</p></li>
<li><p>For the future (and for other students reading this) colleges see the responsibility for FAFSA as the student's. I know that this is not how it works in many families. But it will help you and others if you realize that this is how the colleges view responsibility for the deadline. It may mean "nagging" your parents (hmmm, role reversal? ;) ); it may mean going through some financial papers at home and pulling numbers together yourself (say, from previous year's tax returns).
[quote]
It is the University's position that the student applicant is accountable for the accurate and timely submission of the FAFSA/Renewal Application. ....We realize that in most cases a student's parent(s) also participates in completing the form. However, we invest in the student the ultimate responsibility for monitoring the application process.
[/quote]
I'm not posting this last quote to make you feel any worse than you already do; just to help folks understand how the schools look at it.</p></li>
<li><p>Armed with this info of how the schools tend to look at things, do exactly what lefthandofdog recommends. Talk to the schools, maybe emphasizing that your parents' separation made it very difficult to meet the deadline. </p></li>
<li><p>Check now which of your schools, if any, requires the CSS Profile instead of/in addition to the FAFSA. Check those deadlines carefully and make sure you're on top of them.</p></li>
<li><p>Come back here if we can help further.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>If it helps at all, my step gS filed his FAFSA <em>after</em> June 1 last year! Similar situation to yours, plus he was way less on the ball than you are. He still did get some aid, even that late. This year he filed on time and we're hoping he'll do better. So, with a little luck and human kindness on the part of finaid offices, you may do better.</p>
<p>I have had this problem on going with my ex, and it is not necessarily the person you live with that fills it out, it is the person who provides 51% and more of your support. if that is your father, then he must fill it out. by default, in most cases the person you live with does support you most, but in some cases that is not true, as in my case where my ex provides a lot of support via social security disability, ( believe me, I think it's ridiculous too, the guy doesn't deserve disability, but it goes on the bank for my kids). I am also not understanding this thing where the university can dictate when the fafsa has to be done. according to fafsa, the deadline is june, and although you don't want to wait that long, I don't think the universities should be able to override the government. I don't have my kids filed yet, because we haven't done our taxes yet. we have never filed before the end of march and haven't had a problem yet.</p>
<p>The universities are not overriding the government. There are government monies which you may receive when you file FAFSA - such as Pell and subsidized Stafford. As with my gS, you may well receive these even if you file later than the University's deadline.</p>
<p>The Universities/colleges, however, can - and do - also use the FAFSA to give out <em>their own monies.</em> They can set whatever deadline they want for doling out this money and the early bird gets the worm. That's why you <em>may</em> not be too late even if you're past the deadline. But if they've used up all their money by the time you file, it's just not there to give you.</p>