Confused about parent vs student FAFSA account creation - which comes first?

yep its confusing..the student ALWAYS goes first. your daughter needs to make her FSA ID and start the application, then she'll get to a contributor section where she can add u. you'll get an email to create ur own FSA ID to contribute your info.

The FAFSA process can definitely be confusing with the recent changes. Here's the correct order: 1. Your daughter creates her FSA ID first at StudentAid.gov 2. She starts the FAFSA application as the student 3. When she reaches the contributor section, she'll enter your information and email address 4. You'll receive an email invitation to create your FSA ID and complete your portion 5. After creating your FSA ID as a parent contributor, you'll be able to provide your information The system doesn't ask if you're a student or parent when creating the FSA ID - that distinction happens during the application process itself. Each person (student and parent) needs their own unique FSA ID linked to their own email address and phone number.

I tried to do the same thing last month - create my account first before my son sent me the invitation - and it TOTALLY messed things up!! We had to call the Federal Student Aid office and wait on hold FOREVER to get it sorted out. They told me I should have waited for his invitation email first, then created my FSA ID through that link. Definitely have your daughter start the process first!

Also make sure ur using different devices or at least clear cookies between setting up accounts!! My wife and I both tried to help our daughter on the same laptop and it kept getting confused about which account was which!!

Everyone's giving good technical advice, but I want to add - make sure you have all your tax documents ready BEFORE your daughter starts the application. The new FAFSA pulls some tax info directly from the IRS, but you'll still need your latest W-2s, records of untaxed income, and information about your assets (excluding your primary home and retirement). Having everything ready will make the process so much smoother once you get the invitation. Also note that for the 2025-2026 FAFSA, they'll be looking at your 2023 tax information.

To answer your follow-up question: If you're married and filed taxes jointly, typically only one parent needs to provide information and create an FSA ID. However, both parents' income and assets will need to be reported. The parent who creates the FSA ID and completes the form should be the one who contributes more financially to the household (usually determined by who earned more income). And yes, definitely gather all documentation for both you and your spouse including W-2s, records of untaxed income, and current bank/investment statements (except retirement accounts). The new FAFSA still requires asset information, even though they've simplified some parts of the process.

One more thing - make sure your daughter knows she needs to list ALL the schools she's applying to on her FAFSA. My daughter only listed her top choice, thinking she could add others later, and it was a HUGE headache trying to update it after submission. She can list up to 20 schools, so better to include too many than too few!

Anyone know if you can use a password manager for the FAFSA FSA IDs? We've had issues where my daughter forgot her login info and had to reset everything which delayed her SAI calculation by like 3 weeks...

As someone who just went through this process with my oldest child last year, I can confirm that waiting for the student's invitation is crucial! One additional tip: make sure you and your daughter coordinate a time to work on this together. Even though you'll be completing separate sections, there might be questions where she needs information from you or vice versa. We found it helpful to be available to each other during the process rather than trying to do it completely independently. Also, don't panic if the system seems slow or glitchy - the FAFSA site tends to get overwhelmed during peak filing periods. Just be patient and try again later if you run into technical issues.

Just wanted to add another small but important detail - make sure both you and your daughter write down your FSA ID usernames and passwords somewhere safe! The system is pretty strict about login attempts, and if you get locked out it can take a while to regain access. Also, when your daughter is filling out the application and gets to the part about adding contributors, she should double-check that she enters your email address correctly. A typo there means you won't get the invitation email and you'll have to start over. We learned this the hard way when my son accidentally put in my work email instead of my personal email and I was waiting for an invitation that never came!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm in the exact same situation with my daughter applying for 2025-2026. One question I haven't seen addressed - does the timing matter for when she starts her application? I know the FAFSA opened in December, but we're just getting to it now in late March. Will starting later affect her financial aid eligibility, or is it more about meeting individual school deadlines? Also, should we complete and submit the entire FAFSA before she submits her college applications, or can these processes happen simultaneously? I want to make sure we're not inadvertently hurting her chances by doing things in the wrong order.

As a parent who just completed this process with my son a few months ago, I can't stress enough how important it is to follow the correct order! The student absolutely must create their FSA ID and start the application first. When they get to the contributor section, they'll add your information and you'll receive an email to create your own FSA ID. One tip that saved us a lot of headaches - make sure you're both using different browsers or devices when working on your respective sections. We initially tried to help each other on the same computer and the system kept getting confused about which account was logged in. Also, have all your 2023 tax documents, W-2s, and asset information ready before you start, because once you begin the process you'll want to complete it efficiently. The new FAFSA is definitely confusing compared to the old version, but following the student-first approach will save you from a lot of technical issues!

As a parent who went through this exact same confusion last year, I completely understand your frustration! The key thing to remember is that your daughter needs to be the one to initiate everything. Here's what worked for us: 1. My daughter created her FSA ID first at StudentAid.gov 2. She started filling out her FAFSA application 3. When she got to the contributor section, she entered my email and I received an invitation 4. Only then did I create my FSA ID through the link in that email 5. I was able to complete my parent portion after that The biggest mistake I almost made was trying to create my FSA ID ahead of time thinking I was being helpful - but that actually complicates things! Wait for her invitation email. Also make sure you each use different email addresses and ideally different devices/browsers when working on your sections. One last tip: have your 2023 tax documents, W-2s, and bank statements ready before you start so you can move through the process smoothly once it begins. The waiting is the hardest part, but following this order will save you so much hassle!

I just went through this exact process with my daughter last month and wanted to share what worked for us! The confusion is totally understandable - the new FAFSA system is so different from what we dealt with years ago. Here's the simple version: Your daughter starts EVERYTHING. She creates her FSA ID first, begins her application, and when she gets to the contributor section, she'll invite you by entering your email. Only after you receive that invitation email should you create your FSA ID. One thing I wish someone had told me - don't stress about the "student vs parent" account distinction when creating FSA IDs. The system figures that out automatically based on whether you're starting an application (student) or responding to an invitation (parent). Also, make sure you both use completely different email addresses and try to work on different devices if possible. We ran into some glitches when we were both logged in on the same computer. The process feels overwhelming at first, but once your daughter sends you that invitation and you create your FSA ID through the proper channel, it actually flows pretty smoothly. You've got this!

As a newcomer to this whole FAFSA process, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! My daughter is a high school senior and we've been putting off the FAFSA because it seemed so intimidating, but reading through everyone's experiences has given me the confidence to tackle it. The step-by-step guidance about having her create her FSA ID first, then waiting for the invitation email before I create mine, is exactly what I needed to know. I was definitely going to make the mistake of trying to set up my account ahead of time! I'm also taking notes on all the practical tips like using different devices, having our 2023 tax documents ready, and making sure she lists ALL her schools. It's so reassuring to know that other parents have successfully navigated this new system. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - you've turned what felt like an overwhelming process into something that actually seems doable!