Can I wait to submit my FAFSA until after college acceptance letters arrive?

Fill it out NOW! Don't wait! Many schools have priority financial aid deadlines that are WAY earlier than their acceptance notification dates. Schools often distribute aid on a first-come, first-served basis, so waiting until after acceptance can literally cost you thousands of dollars in potential aid. Some schools even have FAFSA priority deadlines as early as January or February for the following fall semester, but won't send acceptance letters until March or April.

I work in a college financial aid office, so here's the official answer: FAFSA and college applications are two separate processes, but you should submit your FAFSA as early as possible after it opens (October 1 for the following academic year). Your mom's approach could significantly reduce your aid opportunities. Here's why: 1. Priority deadlines: As mentioned, many schools have early financial aid deadlines to qualify for their institutional scholarships and grants. Missing these can mean missing out on the best aid packages. 2. State grants: Many states have early FAFSA deadlines for state-based aid programs. Some states distribute funds until they're depleted, so later applicants might get nothing. 3. Federal aid: While Pell Grants don't run out, work-study funds and some supplemental grants are limited. You can list up to 10 schools on your FAFSA, and they'll receive your information whether you're accepted or not. If you don't end up attending a school, there's no harm in having sent them your FAFSA data.

depends on the school tbh. i waited till after i got accepted and still got decent financial aid. but yea i probably missed some deadlines i didnt even know about lol

The system is RIDICULOUS! They expect you to submit all this financial information before you even know if you're accepted?? And then different schools have different "priority deadlines" that they barely advertise! I missed out on SO MUCH aid for my first year because nobody explained this system to me. The whole FAFSA process is designed to confuse people and prevent them from getting the money they deserve. And don't get me started on trying to CALL them if you have questions! I spent DAYS trying to get through to an actual person at Federal Student Aid last year when our tax info wasn't transferring correctly.

I'm going to disagree slightly with some comments here. Yes, filing early is generally best practice, but the severity depends on your specific colleges. For my daughter's schools (she's currently a sophomore), we researched each college's specific financial aid deadlines. Some had strict priority deadlines in February, while others considered all FAFSA applications submitted before May 1 equally. What I recommend: 1. Check each college's financial aid website for their specific FAFSA priority deadline 2. If you can't find it, call their financial aid office directly 3. Create a spreadsheet with each school's deadline 4. Submit before the earliest deadline for any school you're seriously considering Don't panic if you're a bit late for some schools - just submit ASAP. And remember that your SAI score will be the same regardless of when you submit (as long as your financial situation remains the same).

my sister waited till after acceptance and got almost nothing even with our family being pretty low income. dont risk it, just fill it out now it only takes like an hour

Something else to consider: some colleges actually look at your FAFSA information as part of their admissions decision process! It's not supposed to affect your chances of admission, but it can indicate your level of interest in the school. Plus, some schools want to make sure they can provide adequate financial aid before accepting students who might not be able to afford to attend.

UPDATE: Thank you all for the advice! I checked my schools' financial aid websites and found that 3 of them have priority deadlines in February. I sat down with my parents this weekend and we submitted my FAFSA. It actually wasn't as complicated as we feared (the IRS data transfer tool made the tax part super easy). I'm so glad I asked here instead of just listening to my mom about waiting! Will update again when I start getting aid packages.