Can I complete FAFSA before my son submits college applications? Confused parent needs timeline help

Yes, you can absolutely complete the FAFSA before your son submits any college applications! In fact, I recommend doing it as soon as possible after the October 1 opening date. When you fill out the FAFSA, you'll list all the schools he's considering, and the financial aid information will be sent to those schools. Later, if he decides not to apply to some schools or adds new ones, you can easily update your FAFSA by adding or removing school codes.

We did FAFSA b4 my daughter applied anywhere last year. Just make sure u have all the school codes ready when filling it out. U can add up to 10 schools i think?? not sure exactly but there's a limit.

The timing question comes up a lot, so let me clarify: The FAFSA and college applications are completely separate processes. You should complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1, 2024. When completing the FAFSA, you'll need to list at least one college, but you can list up to 10 college codes at a time. If your son is considering more than 10 schools, you'll need to wait until the FAFSA is processed (usually 3-5 days), then go back and edit your FAFSA to replace some school codes with new ones. The colleges won't review your FAFSA information until your son actually applies to those schools. So there's no downside to listing schools he might not apply to, but there's a huge advantage to getting the FAFSA done early since some aid is first-come, first-served.

WAIT is the FAFSA already open for 2025-2026??? I thought it doesn't open until October?? now im freaking out that I already missed something important!!!

Been through this three times with my kids. Definitely do the FAFSA as early as possible in October. The college application deadlines are usually November through January, so you'll be ahead of the game. Just make sure you have your 2023 tax return handy (that's what the 2025-2026 FAFSA will use) and all W-2 forms. The new FAFSA is different from what I used with my older kids - it calculates something called an SAI instead of EFC, and it's generally less complicated but the rollout last year was a MESS with tons of technical problems. Hopefully they've fixed all that by now.

When I tried calling the FAFSA helpline with questions last year, I couldn't get through after trying for DAYS. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got connected to a Federal Student Aid agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Saved me so much frustration especially when I had questions about listing schools and what happens if my daughter changed her mind about where to apply.

SAI stands for Student Aid Index. It replaced the old EFC (Expected Family Contribution) system. It's a number that colleges use to determine your financial need. The lower your SAI, the more aid you'll potentially qualify for. Some common FAFSA mistakes to avoid: - Using the wrong tax year info (use 2023 taxes for the 2025-2026 FAFSA) - Entering incorrect Social Security Numbers - Not using your FSA ID (both you and your son need separate FSA IDs) - Forgetting to list all potential colleges - Missing state deadlines (some states have earlier priority deadlines than federal) - Not including all required contributors (if you're married, both parents' info is needed) And yes, do the FAFSA before applications. Many schools won't even calculate your financial aid package until both your FAFSA and application are received, but having the FAFSA ready speeds up the process.

Thank you all so much for the helpful advice! I feel much better knowing I can go ahead and submit the FAFSA in early October before my son finalizes his applications. I've already created both our FSA IDs and gathered our 2023 tax returns. I'll make sure to list all six schools he's considering, and now I understand I can add more later if needed. It's also good to know about state deadlines potentially being earlier - I'll check our state's requirements right away. You've all been incredibly helpful!

Welcome to the FAFSA journey! It sounds like you're well-prepared now. One quick tip I wish I'd known earlier - when you're gathering those school codes for the FAFSA, double-check them on the Federal School Code Search tool on the FSA website. Some schools have multiple codes depending on the campus or program, and using the wrong one can delay your aid processing. Also, keep a list of which schools you included on your original FAFSA submission - it'll be handy if you need to make changes later. Good luck with the October 1st filing!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who works in financial aid - you're absolutely doing the right thing by planning ahead! One thing I always tell parents is to also check if any of the schools your son is considering require the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. Some private colleges and universities use this for institutional aid, and it often has earlier deadlines than FAFSA. The CSS Profile opens around the same time as FAFSA (October 1st) but some schools want it submitted by November 1st or 15th. It's worth checking each school's financial aid website now so you can plan accordingly. Also, don't stress too much about getting everything perfect on the first try - you can make corrections after submission if needed!