<p>Does anyone else find this process totally overwhelming and confusing??</p>
<p>Yes, I did. The entire process - applications, taxes, financial aid, then we will be running around in April visiting schools because she is not sure where she wants to go. I think future years and children will be easier, but this first time was overwhelming.</p>
<p>This is my first time and I have never dealt with anything like this. I don't even understand most of it. I don't know the difference between a 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ, I don't know what tax-deferred whatever accounts are. I don't know how to answer most of the questions. I'm totally lost. I have heard that there are services that do it for you but are they a scam? Do they have professionals that understand this that can help you through it?</p>
<p>Can one of your parents assist you with forms? Perhaps a counselor at your school? My daughter and I, together, completed our first FAFSA and I had assistance from her counselor completing the CSS Profile. It can be overwhelming, especially when one has not ever filed their own tax returns.</p>
<p>My mom tries to help but she doesn't really understand any of it either. She never went to college and the most money she had ever made in a year was around 20K to 21k until she was laid off. So last year by the time she found a new job she only made 2K for 2007. Plus when she was laid off she went through a bad depression and she wasn't much help at all then.</p>
<p>Stressed-- yes, the process is awful, and I have filed my own taxes all my working life! FAFSA, CSS, are mind-numbing. I think you need help maybe from your GC at school. Getting help from other adults can definitely be a tricky business, as most of this stuff is meant to be private. There are professionals out there, but some are scams, so you have to be diligent. I would check with your GC and at least ask him/her for how to get advice.</p>
<p>stressed - My parent's went to their accountant for help. If your GC doesn't offer much help, maybe you should call around some accountants in your area?</p>
<p>FTB- most accountants do not understand finaid stuff- oh, I am sure they can help you find the lines on the 1040 to report, but they think tax minimization, not aid maximization.</p>
<p>Stressed- print out a FAFSA worksheet and read all the little explanations on each question- for the most part the form asks for specifuc #s from certain lines on your tax return, that is pretty straight forward, though you need to read carefully and make sure you are answering the right question. I have done this for years and just this year I put my Ds income in twice by not reading carefully and missing that they were asking about her spouse. So, answer carefully.</p>
<p>On the asset parts and other income parts- gather your banking documents, get a balance for everything on the date of filing and answer EXACTLY what they ask. I find it is helpful to read and reread the additional info they provide, then just approach it very very simplistically- answer each question, one at a time, literally, don't try to over think it, and you should be fine</p>
<p>Actually my accountant had some "tips" to get more aid. I guess it depends on the accountant. </p>
<p>Good luck with the process though! :)</p>
<p>Stressed - I can't even begin to imagine how a student manages to fill the form out. It is confusing for adults. This link provides a little more information explaining each question in detail
Completing</a> the FAFSA 08-09/The Application Questions(1-31)</p>
<p>I have read some of your other posts where you are quite stressed about being verified. Don't be. It is very common and does not mean you have done anything wrong. If the financial aid officers at your school still have questions you can sit down with them and they will probably help you understand it all. We found our daughters financial aid department very helpful. Don't be afraid to ask them.</p>
<p>Stressed, I am an adult but I still don't understand a lot of the questions asked. It's related to the fact that our family, like yours, has very simple finances. We have no investments, retirement accounts, real estate other than the house we live in. When there are questions about 401Ks, UTMA, deferred something-or-others... I know for a fact that if I don't even know what it is, we don't have it. It makes it a bit easier to fill out the forms. Don't expect to know (or your mother to know) a lot of esoteric financial lingo that you've never had any experience with. There's no reason you'd know what it means, but your answer to those questions will almost certainly be ZERO. Like swimcatsmom advises, just read carefully what they want to make sure. But honestly, I don't have a clue what most of the income/asset questions are referring to if they are anything beyond wage income, unemployment benefits, or our mortgage payments.</p>
<p>I am a mom, and I am absolutely finding this whole process amazingly stressful. I have twins that will both be starting college this year. Between them, they are applying to a total of 15 schools! That's a lot of FA paperwork!! On top of that, I am divorced, and trying to get my knucklehead ex-husband to get all his paperwork in on time has been very trying. He hasn't even filed his taxes yet, and the deadline for submitting all his tax returns and W2's is March 1. I am completely freaking out!</p>
<p>stressed - This financial aid stuff can be very complex. CC is an excellent forum to obtain answers. But you might consider tapping into your social circle for support. Parents in your neighborhood with children in college have been through the process already. I'm sure many remember the stress and will be happy to assist you. Good luck!</p>
<p>We own a small business (farm) and the first year we did the FAFSA/PROFILE, it was brutal.</p>
<p>I agree with NewHope. It would help if you can find someone in your community/school to help you understand what it is they are asking for. Most of the information on the FAFSA is taken from the 1040(A/EZ) form.</p>
<p>It does get easier (this is our third year doing it!).</p>
<p>actually, im a student and i dont find it that bad, just very time consuming. but ive been doing my parents taxes for years. the hardest thing is sending all the forms to IDOC and non-IDOC schools, imo</p>