<p>Hey everyone. I'm just about to finish undergrad in December 2012 and I'm looking to start grad school in the Spring. </p>
<p>I know what financial aid I may be offered for grad school may not be all that great, but I still want to fill out the FAFSA regardless. Hopefully, I might be able to get some scholarships/assistantships/work study because my GPA is fairly decent. </p>
<p>I know it asks if I'll be starting grad school this Fall (2012) which would automatically let me file as an independent, but what if I'm starting in the Spring of 2013? The FAFSA is for this school year so I assume I'm supposed to fill out the 2012-2013 one, right? </p>
<p>My parents have basically told me that they will not support me through graduate school (which they never really did through undergrad, but that's a different story) so I'm gonna have to claim independent regardless. But since I won't be doing grad school till Spring, what am I supposed to put on the FAFSA?</p>
<p>I’d wait to fill it out after you graduate in a few months.</p>
<p>I don’t think that’s a good idea. One of the grad schools I want to apply to is in a state that offers FA on a first come, first serve basis. </p>
<p>Plus, I want to fill it out ASAP.</p>
<p>The only federal aid you’re eligible for is Stafford loans, and potentially work-study funds. Any other aid will come from the institution, and is generally merit-based as opposed to need-driven.</p>
<p>You will have to file as a dependent. Right now, you cannot legally file the FAFSA as an independent because you do not meet the criteria.</p>
<p>It doesn’t really matter anyway because there is no Pell Grant for graduate students, nor are graduate students offered subsidized loans. Therefore, there won’t really be any effect on your aid package.</p>
<p>Frankly, if you want the BEST chance at aid from a university for grad school, you need to be applying for FALL…not spring. Spring applicants don’t usually get much since, as you said, aid is first come, first serve, and the annual budget was given to Fall enrollees.</p>
<p>you won’t get any federal grants for grad school from filling out FAFSA.</p>
<p>Aid from grad schools is based on GPA, GRE, etc. My son never filled out FAFSA when he applied to grad school, yet all the schools awarded him full rides. </p>
<p>I think you’re a bit confused on the first come/first served part for grad school. The grants you’ll be getting would be from the school…and those were likely given to the FALL enrollees. If they have any leftover money for spring admits, those will likely be awarded based on MERIT, no FAFSA (at all!)</p>
<p>As for loans, those don’t “run out”.</p>
<p>The only grad school aid I have seen has been work study (filed the FAFSA in January); teaching or research assistantships. (no FAFSA needed)</p>
<p>File a FAFSA as a grad student now. Only list the schools you plan to attend (not your current school, unless you plan to attend your current school for grad school). You will file as an independent student.</p>
<p>If you filed a FAFSA at your current school for fall as an undergrad, you will have to let the financial aid office know that you plan to apply for aid as a grad student for winter term … otherwise, things will get messed up. If you didn’t apply for aid as an undergrad for fall, but you plan to send the FAFSA to your current school for grad aid, also let them know that you are filing it for winter term. It just makes things easier that way.</p>