Do we need to submit FAFSA again for winter semester after fall enrollment?

No, you don't need to complete another FAFSA for winter semester. The FAFSA you submitted covers the entire academic year (fall, winter/spring). The financial aid office should automatically apply his remaining aid eligibility to the winter term. You can confirm this by checking his student account online - it should show pending financial aid for winter term.

Same situation last yr with my daughter. The FAFSA is good for the whole yr but make sure u check the student portal bc sometimes they split the aid differently between semesters. We thought she was getting equal amounts but they frontloaded more in fall!!

Just to clarify some important details: The FAFSA you submitted covers the entire 2024-2025 academic year. However, there are a few things to be aware of: 1. Some schools have disbursement requirements you need to meet each semester (minimum credits, GPA requirements, etc.) 2. Check if your son's school has a separate Winter term (quarter system) or if they use Fall/Spring semesters 3. If your financial situation has drastically changed since you filed, you may need to contact financial aid for a special circumstances review But to directly answer your question - no, you don't need to submit another FAFSA for Winter if it's part of the same academic year.

The FAFSA you filled out covers the whole academic year, but you DO need to submit a new FAFSA for the 2025-2026 academic year. The application just opened October 1st, so mark your calendar to complete it soon if you haven't already! The earlier you submit, the better chance at maximum aid.

UGHHH the financial aid office phone lines are THE WORST. I spent 3 hours on hold last month trying to fix my son's verification issue and got disconnected twice. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to hold my place in line - they called me back when an agent was available. Saved me hours of frustration! They have a video demo if you're curious: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

My daughter's school actually required us to confirm enrollment for each semester before they'd disperse the financial aid. Not a full FAFSA, just a quick form through the school portal. You might wanna double check your son's school doesn't have something similar.

everyone here is right u dont need another fafsa but make sure ur son is passing all his classes!!!! my kid got put on SAP warning when he failed 2 classes and almost lost his aid for spring semester. they check academic progress between terms

btw when u do the new FAFSA for next yr its totally different system now with the FASFA Simplification Act. The SAI calculation replaced EFC and theres all these new questions. Started mine last week and got so frustrated I had to take a break lol

As a parent who went through this exact same confusion last year, I can confirm what others have said - you're all set for winter semester! The FAFSA covers the full academic year. However, I'd recommend logging into his student portal soon to verify the aid disbursement schedule. Some schools do split aid unevenly between semesters, and it's good to know what to expect on that tuition bill. Also, since you mentioned having trouble reaching financial aid by phone, most schools have email options or online chat that can be less frustrating than waiting on hold. Good luck with his freshman year!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who works in higher ed financial aid - you're absolutely right that one FAFSA covers the entire academic year! But here's a pro tip: even though you don't need to resubmit, I'd recommend checking your son's student account regularly throughout the year. Sometimes there are hold-ups with disbursements due to missing paperwork (like loan entrance counseling for first-time borrowers) or enrollment verification. Also, if your son drops below full-time status at any point, it could affect his aid amounts. The good news is most schools have gotten much better about automated notifications when there are issues, so keep an eye on both his student email and your parent email for any financial aid updates!

As a parent who just went through this process with my daughter last year, I can echo what everyone else has said - you're all good for winter semester! One thing I'd add is to double-check if your son's school has any specific winter break enrollment requirements. Some schools require students to confirm they're continuing for spring semester before winter break, especially if they have a January interim term. Also, if he's planning to take any winter intercession courses, those might have separate billing dates. The student portal should show all upcoming disbursements, but don't hesitate to email the financial aid office directly if you can't find clear information - they're usually much more responsive via email than phone!

I went through this exact situation with my twins last year! You definitely don't need to submit a new FAFSA for winter semester - the one you filed in January covers the entire 2024-25 academic year. But here's what I learned the hard way: make sure to check his student portal about 2-3 weeks before winter tuition is due. Sometimes there are small delays in aid disbursement if the school needs updated enrollment verification or if there are any holds on his account. Also, if your son is considering changing his course load for winter semester (like dropping from 15 to 12 credits), that could potentially affect his aid amounts, so plan any schedule changes carefully. The financial aid office at our school was much more responsive through their online portal messaging system than by phone - might be worth trying that route if you have specific questions!

As someone new to navigating the FAFSA process, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in a similar situation with my daughter who's a sophomore, and I was panicking thinking I missed some deadline for spring semester. It's such a relief to know that one FAFSA covers the whole academic year. I love all the practical tips everyone shared about checking the student portal regularly and being aware of disbursement timing. The advice about academic progress requirements is especially valuable - I had no idea that grades could affect financial aid eligibility between semesters. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing for first-time college parents like me!