FAFSA now or later?

[JulianCrane]

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Are there any advantages to filling out the FAFSA early with estimates and going back later once you have the 2003 info? Since many schools don't send out acceptance info til March, how is the financial aid handled? For schools that I've already been accepted to, should I just go ahead and fill out the FAFSA or wait until late February/early March?

 

[mpp]

Although you should fill it out as early as possible, you can probably wait until you get your W-2's and 1099's at the end of January.

 

[chuck deli]

This is something I have been wondering too. Why are people in such a rush to fill out the FAFSA with "guesses" (utilizing 2002 data)? Don't you have then go back later on and update FAFSA with the exact 2003 numbers (thus delaying your paperwork)? Are you really at that much of a loss if you wait a couple of weeks for your W-2s? All this talk about hurry-hurry-hurry has me concerned. None of the schools have said anything along the lines of "just guess, cause scholarship money is only around for a couple weeks".

mpp, and you other fin. aid gurus....is it worth it to just rush? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to just relax and fill out the FAFSA ASAP when the W-2's arrive?

 

[mpp]

the latter