<p>Is there any reason to file it?</p>
<p>Yes, file it. Some schools want it on file even for merit aid. In addition, you need to have it on file in case your family situation changes (e.g., someone loses or changes a job or there is a death or serious illness in the family).</p>
<p>S's school requires the CSS PROFILE and FAFSA for merit aid consideration.</p>
<p>Yes, file it.</p>
<p>I filled it out online prior to the Jan.1st date coming up..but I left all the W-2,etc. forms blank...and I didn't do the electronic signature thing yet...am I still good?</p>
<p>If you didn't use a PIN to sign the FAFSA, it has not been sent to your schools. In addition, if you have completed it prior to completing the 2004 taxes (and that is what everyone is doing right now), you should have indicated your status as "WILL FILE" meaning you will file taxes for 2004. All those blanks you left should be filled in, in the meantime, with the info from your 2003 taxes. Sign, file, send, and then get your 2004 taxes done as soon as possible. After that you will go and amend your FAFSA with the current info based on the 2004 returns.</p>
<p>check with all the schools you are interested in and make sure they don't use it even for merit based if you choose not to... and also be very sure that you won't get anything, in reality, you never know, but i didn't fill it out based on several scenarios put into an online calculator (ie.. even if my parents lost jobs and my brother was also in school, we didn't qualify)</p>