So confused by the FAFSA

[joker937]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello, everyone! 🙂 I will be starting dental school in Summer/Fall 2017 like many of you. I am trying to fill out the FAFSA right now - the 2017/2018 one. I spoke with the financial aid office at a particular dental school, and they told me to put in information from the 2015 tax returns from my parents.

I guess I'm confused because there's nowhere on the application when I start it that blatantly says "Use 2015 tax return information). Also, is there an option to use all the information from an old fafsa? For example, when I went to undergrad?

Also, how do I know that filling out the 2017/2018 FAFSA is the one for dental schools since the fafsa website obviously doesn't know that about me?

 

[x0jessmariex3]

Hello, everyone! 🙂 I will be starting dental school in Summer/Fall 2017 like many of you. I am trying to fill out the FAFSA right now - the 2017/2018 one. I spoke with the financial aid office at a particular dental school, and they told me to put in information from the 2015 tax returns from my parents.

I guess I'm confused because there's nowhere on the application when I start it that blatantly says "Use 2015 tax return information). Also, is there an option to use all the information from an old fafsa? For example, when I went to undergrad?

Also, how do I know that filling out the 2017/2018 FAFSA is the one for dental schools since the fafsa website obviously doesn't know that about me?

You are right. There is no section that says "use 2015 tax information." There should be questions that ask for line whatever on the tax return file (exemptions, adjustable gross income). I don't remember exactly what info they ask for since I did it 2 months ago. I don't think there is any option to use info from a previous FAFSA. There should be a question about the level of education you have completed and type of degree you will be pursuing. I believe the option they give says graduate/professional.

 

[Toothout]

You fill it with 2015 info cuz no one has filed taxes for 2016 yet. Fafsa asks you your academic year (1st year grad student) and your school(s) (the dental schools you are considering to attend).
Fafsa sends it to those schools and they'll (the schools) find the program you were accepted to. The school will know you are an incoming D1.
They'll offer you the aid.

Hope that helps!

P.S: put your parents info, even if you are independent. Usually schools only give you certain type of aid if you provide your parents info

 

[joker937]

Thank you guys, SO MUCH! I honestly don't get it - it's like I was able to get into dental school, but the FAFSA and understanding how loans work are so confusing sometimes. Best of luck to you! 🙂 @CallMeDoct @x0jessmariex3

 

[Carbohydrates]

FAFSA changed a few things this year.
First, it's open on October 1st instead of Jan 1st, which means you can fill out your FAFSA now for academic year 2017-2018.

Second, it asked for the tax of the year before, which means you already filed it and had it ready, so you dont have to estimate your tax return and correct it later like previous years. Also, it will make it easier for you to file since you can link it with the IRS and your tax information will be transfer automatically and save you the hassel.

File your FAFSA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Finaid mostly gives base on first come first serve, so the early bird gets the worm.

Congratualtion on getting accepted 🙂

 

[whaleofatale]

Hello, everyone! 🙂 I will be starting dental school in Summer/Fall 2017 like many of you. I am trying to fill out the FAFSA right now - the 2017/2018 one. I spoke with the financial aid office at a particular dental school, and they told me to put in information from the 2015 tax returns from my parents.

I guess I'm confused because there's nowhere on the application when I start it that blatantly says "Use 2015 tax return information). Also, is there an option to use all the information from an old fafsa? For example, when I went to undergrad?

Also, how do I know that filling out the 2017/2018 FAFSA is the one for dental schools since the fafsa website obviously doesn't know that about me?

Yes, it does tell you to use your 2015 return. When you get to the section that says "Student Tax Information," it says "Attention! You must provide financial information from your 2015 tax return on the following pages." There is also guidance on this under the "Help and Hints" sidebar.

This is the first year that FAFSA is looking at prior-prior year income. You will always be looking two years back when completing the FAFSA from now on.

 

[joker937]

Yes, it does tell you to use your 2015 return. When you get to the section that says "Student Tax Information," it says "Attention! You must provide financial information from your 2015 tax return on the following pages." There is also guidance on this under the "Help and Hints" sidebar.

This is the first year that FAFSA is looking at prior-prior year income. You will always be looking two years back when completing the FAFSA from now on.

Thanks 🙂 I finished it yesterday, felt so good to have that over with. Thanks a bunch!!

 

[jaymaster7]

Yes, it does tell you to use your 2015 return. When you get to the section that says "Student Tax Information," it says "Attention! You must provide financial information from your 2015 tax return on the following pages." There is also guidance on this under the "Help and Hints" sidebar.

This is the first year that FAFSA is looking at prior-prior year income. You will always be looking two years back when completing the FAFSA from now on.

so is FAFSA updated with new information after we file taxes next year or the loans will be based on 2015 taxes if we submit FAFSA right now?

 

[Toothout]

so is FAFSA updated with new information after we file taxes next year or the loans will be based on 2015 taxes if we submit FAFSA right now?

No need to update starting academic year 2016-2017.
You needed to update before. Not anymore.

 

[whaleofatale]

so is FAFSA updated with new information after we file taxes next year or the loans will be based on 2015 taxes if we submit FAFSA right now?

No. Do not update with 2016 tax information. You are only using 2015.