FAFSA

[langfam]

How soon will you be applying for 2009-2010 school year? Are there any good websites out there which offers good advice other than the official website?
TIA

[Alyce]

and you need all your current tax info so we'll probably apply the end of January since my husband doesn't get his W-2 until then

[Gwen in VA]

Apply as soon as you can after January 1. Some colleges offer aid on a first-come-first-served basis.

[mcconnellboys]

Ditto that. This comports with what our conselors just told us last night.

[Karen in CO]

And it is a long and horrible form and you have to do it every year. ;)

[mcconnellboys]

Gee, thanks, Karen (I think)!

[Karen in CO]

Gee, thanks, Karen (I think)!
:D

i'm sorry.

It is really the worst form I have every had to fill out. It asked information in a weird order. It asked for the same information more than once. It asked weirdly worded questions. I do my own taxes. I am applying for a security clearance at work. I have filled out tons of forms in my life, but that one annoyed me the most, so far - the security clearance form may win out by the time it is through

My advice is get your taxes, your bank statements, your 401k statements, any college investments you have, get your child to log in and make him fill out the form with your supervision. It is a good experience, and it is for him. Oh, and do it early (and often ;) )

Oh and check the fafsa site sometime in late December, they will allow you to get your electronic pin for 2009 before they allow you to fill out the form. The pin speeds the processing of the form.

I'm sure by the time he graduates, I will come to love the fafsa. :lol:

[Gwen in VA]

The weirdest thing is that we have to fill it out even though my kids only receive merit aid from the college. For whatever reason, if we don't fill out the FAFSA, they don't get the aid. ?????

And other imponderables.....

[Nan in Mass]

Great. Just great. And I'm going to be doing this for how many years? At least 8? Sigh.

[langfam]

Ditto Nan.

What kinds of things are considered as assets? I haven't look at any of the forms yet. Trying to get myself psychologically prepared.:tongue_smilie:

[Nan in Mass]

I don't know. We are a bit unusual, financially, so this sort of form usually requires extra research on our part. Sigh. Our family doesn't fit will into those little rectangular form boxes.

[MBH]

What is FAFSA? and where can I find their website?

[dragons in the flower bed]

Gee, thanks, Karen (I think)!

It's true! I always know when it's FAFSA time because College Kid calls much more than usual, three times in a day sometimes, and the conversations go like this:

Me: Hello?
College Kid: :::deep sigh::: Is my dad there?
Me: He's at the flea market.
College Kid: Do you know if his blood type was tested before 1981?
Me: Yes, and it's O positive.
College Kid: Oh. I think it only matters if it was tested in NY.
Me: He was tested in Pennsylvania.
College Kid: Okay.
Click.

Me: Hello?
College Kid: :::deep sigh::: Is my dad there?
Me: He's at an auction.
College Kid: Do you know whether he has any investments in companies with shareholders from Khazakstan?
Me: Mm-hm, one in jelly beans that was liquidated last January.
College Kid: Okay.
Click.

Me: Hello?
College Kid: :::deep sigh::: Is my dad there?
Me: He's at the post office.
College Kid: Okay... um... those jelly beans... did Dad sell that before or after January... 17th?
Me: Before.
College Kid: Okay.
Click.

College Kid's Wife: Hello?
Me: Hi. Is College Kid around?
College Kid's Wife: He's in class.
Me: Just tell him the jelly bean stock went for $296.64.
College Kid's Wife: Oh! He forgot that!
Me: I know.
College Kid's Wife: It's FAFSA time again.
Me: I know.

[Karen in CO]

:rofl::rofl:
That is the best. We have only done it once so far, and it is already my least favorite.

[Sharon in MD]

The weirdest thing is that we have to fill it out even though my kids only receive merit aid from the college. For whatever reason, if we don't fill out the FAFSA, they don't get the aid. ?????

And other imponderables.....

I think the schools want to be sure there ISN'T any federal free aid for the student out there before they tap into their own assets. Good or bad, that is the monster we all have to deal with.....I won't even begin to go into my husband's rant about "depleting" the federal mamillary gland dry first.....

I'm dreading it....cause I know we won't qualify for diddly squat, but we have to jump through the stupid hoop anyway.

It is so annoying....you can even ask a college about merit aid without the darned form.....sigh.