When to fill out FAFSA

[jezzen18]

Well I just got into med school today! Yay! I wanted to know if it was ok to fill out and submit the FAFSA before I receive the financial aid packet from the school in the mail. It's just so late in the year, I was hoping to get a head start. Can I do this?

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[Packamylase]

The FAFSA should be submitted already! The deadline was April 1st or March 1st, I think, depending on the school.

 

[PlasticMan]

I don't see why not? Just know whether your school prefers you to put your parents' info or not. For example, NYCOM told us not to include parents' info, but other schools may require it for scholarships.

 

[BayRunner]

Yes, apply ASAP! If you don't have your parent information available, still appy right now, you can always go back and add that in.

 

[Zerosixjt]

Get the FAFSA done as early as possible!!! Each school has individual deadlines, GA-PCOM is June 1st, so don't panic. And get your parents info just in case you need it (call the school and ask, it may not be "required" but you may be eligible for more aid if you include it).

 

[It'sElectric]

The FAFSA should be submitted already! The deadline was April 1st or March 1st, I think, depending on the school.

You still have plenty of time, depending on what school you were accepted to. You're by no means early (January 1st was the first day you could fill it out), and may have missed the priority deadline, but you'll be just fine. Just fill it out now...if you haven't done your taxes, then do those as well. You can fill out the FAFSA and just make guesstimates for the tax information, but obviously you'd need to go back and make corrections once you do complete your taxes. One final thing, if you're still holding out for another school, make sure to include their school code on the FAFSA even if you have no acceptance from them as of yet.

Good luck and congratulations on the acceptance.

 

[jezzen18]

Thanks for the info. I had no idea when I was supposed to apply. I thought I had to wait until I got in somewhere. So I can submit it immediately without my parents' info?

 

[OSUdoc08]

Well I just got into med school today! Yay! I wanted to know if it was ok to fill out and submit the FAFSA before I receive the financial aid packet from the school in the mail. It's just so late in the year, I was hoping to get a head start. Can I do this?

1. Congrats on getting into medical school.
2. FAFSA is independent from medical school. It should be filled in January or February with changes made as your tax returns come in.
3. The FAFSA needs to be filled out prior to recieving a financial aid package. Obviously the financial aid package will be a blank sheet of paper if your FAFSA has not been completed a significant amount of time prior to that then.

In short --> you are already late, so fill it out RIGHT NOW

 

[PlasticMan]

Thanks for the info. I had no idea when I was supposed to apply. I thought I had to wait until I got in somewhere. So I can submit it immediately without my parents' info?

Yes.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Thanks for the info. I had no idea when I was supposed to apply. I thought I had to wait until I got in somewhere. So I can submit it immediately without my parents' info?

You do not need to enter your parental information for federal aid.

If you decide you qualify for and need institutional aid, you can submit this information at a later time.

Send in the FAFSA now with estimates, even if you do not have your tax documents in front of you. You can edit the information at a later time.

 

[jezzen18]

Ok ok. I'm doing this as we speak. I'm new to the financial aid thing. You guys are making me so nervous...hahaha. Thanks for input and the congrats! 🙂

 

[DCDAWG]

Ok ok. I'm doing this as we speak. I'm new to the financial aid thing. You guys are making me so nervous...hahaha. Thanks for input and the congrats! 🙂

Are we supposed to fill out a FAFSA and the school's financial aid forms? How do these relate to each other?

 

[OSUdoc08]

Are we supposed to fill out a FAFSA and the school's financial aid forms? How do these relate to each other?

They are unrelated. You fill out the FAFSA in January-February and send it in. You are then qualified for federal loans. The school's financial aid form will qualify you for private scholarships or grants within the institution. The school's aid will likely be based on a previously submitted FAFSA's results, but unlike for federal aid, the school can consider parental information.

 

[DCDAWG]

They are unrelated. You fill out the FAFSA in January-February and send it in. You are then qualified for federal loans. The school's financial aid form will qualify you for private scholarships or grants within the institution. The school's aid will likely be based on a previously submitted FAFSA's results, but unlike for federal aid, the school can consider parental information.

Im kind of in the same boat as you Jezzen. I guess Im pretty late filing all this.
I always figured Id worry about getting in first, then figure out financial aid. Apparantly, that was a mistake.

 

[DCDAWG]

Im kind of in the same boat as you Jezzen. I guess Im pretty late filing all this.
I always figured Id worry about getting in first, then figure out financial aid. Apparantly, that was a mistake.

So if Im just now doing these loan forms, and I end up not getting as much as I could have because they are late....I could always get private loans from a bank or something, right?

 

[jezzen18]

Yeah I guess I totally misunderstood the process. Oh well...I'll do what I can now...though i really hope it doesn't jeopardize how much I can get too badly. And you can get personal loans...depending on your quality of credit..which, if good, no prob...if not good, you'll need a cosigner.

 

[OSUdoc08]

So if Im just now doing these loan forms, and I end up not getting as much as I could have because they are late....I could always get private loans from a bank or something, right?

Yup, at super high interest rates that will screw you over.

Fortunately it will only be for your first year of medical school.

If I were you, I'd get on my knees before the financial aid office, however.

 

[It'sElectric]

Yup, at super high interest rates that will screw you over.

Fortunately it will only be for your first year of medical school.

If I were you, I'd get on my knees before the financial aid office, however.

You both will be fine. Seriously, don't worry. Plus, you won't have to take out alternative private loans, unless you feel as though you can get a better interest rate than the new Grad Plus Loan. It will have a fixed interest rate of 8.5%, and it can cover up to the cost of your school's attendance (Cost of Attendance - Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Student Loans = Grad Plus Loan). It can also be consolidated with the rest of your educational loans and even deducted when you fill out your taxes. So my point is, don't worry, you'll all be just fine.