FAFSA school list question - add only considering schools or all applications?

You should add ALL schools you're applying to on your FAFSA. Each school you list will receive your FAFSA information and use it to determine your financial aid package. If you don't list a school, they won't automatically receive your information, and you'd have to send it separately later (which can delay your aid package). You can list up to 10 schools on the online FAFSA form.

add all of them!! i only put my top 3 last year and ended up wanting to go to a school i didnt list and had to spend weeks trying to get my fafsa info to them... total nightmare

Definitely include all schools you've applied to. You can list up to 10 schools on your FAFSA. If you need to add more than 10, you'll need to wait until your FAFSA is processed, then remove some schools and add the additional ones. Importantly, the order in which you list schools matters for state aid purposes in some states, but not for federal aid. Some states require you to list an in-state public college first to be considered for state aid. Check your state's requirements for the specific rules. Schools can't see the other institutions you've listed - they only see that they've been selected. The only exception is that state agencies can sometimes see the schools you've listed that are in their state.

i heard from my cousin that if u put too many schools they think ur not serious about any of them and give u less money

Ran into this EXACT issue last year. I only added 3 schools I was SURE about and then ended up wanting to attend a different one!!! Had to spend WEEKS trying to get through to someone at Federal Student Aid to update my application. Their phone lines are ALWAYS busy and I kept getting disconnected. SUPER FRUSTRATING!!!

just be careful with the order u list them for some states!!!! i'm in NY and they require state schools to be first on the list to qualify for the excelsior scholarship and i didn't know and missed out on $$$

To answer your follow-up question: No, schools cannot see your complete list. They only see that you've selected them to receive your FAFSA information. This is an important privacy protection built into the system. One more tip: after you submit your FAFSA, you can still add or remove schools through the studentaid.gov website or by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center. So if you decide to apply to additional schools later, you can add them.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'll definitely add all 8 schools to my FAFSA right away. And I'll check California's requirements about listing order. Really appreciate all the advice!

Great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to add that if you're applying to schools in multiple states, definitely research each state's specific requirements. Some states have unique rules about which schools need to be listed first for state aid eligibility. Also, don't stress too much about the process - you can always make changes after submission if needed. The most important thing is getting that FAFSA submitted on time. Good luck with your applications, Carmella!

As someone who just went through this process last year, I can confirm what everyone is saying - definitely add ALL 8 schools! I made the mistake of only adding my "realistic" choices and then fell in love with a school I had written off. Had to scramble to get my FAFSA info sent over later in the process. One thing I'll add that I wish I had known: make sure you double-check each school's FAFSA code when you're adding them. I accidentally added the wrong code for one school (there were two campuses with similar names) and didn't realize until months later when I wondered why I hadn't gotten a financial aid package from them. Always verify on the school's official website! Also, don't worry about looking "uncommitted" by listing 8 schools - admissions and financial aid offices are used to students applying broadly, especially with how competitive things are now. Better safe than sorry!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm also a first-time FAFSA filler and was stressing about this exact same thing. Reading everyone's experiences has convinced me to list all my schools too. One quick question - when you say we can add/remove schools after submission, is there a deadline for making those changes? Like, do I need to make any updates before a certain date to still be considered for aid at those schools?

This thread has been incredibly helpful as someone navigating FAFSA for the first time! I was actually leaning toward only listing my top 3 choices, but after reading about everyone's experiences with trying to add schools later, I'm definitely going to include all the schools I've applied to. The point about state aid requirements is especially important - I had no idea that the order of schools could affect eligibility for state-specific aid programs. I'll make sure to research my state's requirements before finalizing my list. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and saving the rest of us from potential headaches down the road!

This whole thread has been a lifesaver! I'm also doing FAFSA for the first time and was totally stressed about this exact question. After reading everyone's advice, I'm convinced - definitely adding all schools to avoid the nightmare of trying to update later. One thing I'm wondering about though - if I do need to make changes after submission, is it better to call the Federal Student Aid hotline or try to do it online through studentaid.gov? Has anyone had better luck with one method over the other? I've heard the phone lines can be brutal during peak season!

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! As someone who's also filling out FAFSA for the first time, I was having the exact same dilemma. The consensus here is crystal clear - definitely add ALL 8 schools you've applied to rather than risk the headache later. What really stood out to me from everyone's experiences is how common this mistake seems to be. So many people shared stories about only listing their "sure thing" schools and then scrambling later when plans changed. The peace of mind alone seems worth just including everything upfront. I'm also grateful for all the practical tips shared here - checking state aid requirements for school order, double-checking FAFSA school codes, and knowing that schools can't see your full list. These are the kinds of details that aren't always obvious from the official guides but can make a huge difference in the process. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and helping us newbies avoid these common pitfalls!

This thread has been absolutely amazing! I'm also a FAFSA first-timer and was literally losing sleep over this exact question. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm 100% convinced to add all my schools upfront. The horror stories about trying to update later are enough to convince anyone! One thing I want to emphasize for other newcomers reading this - don't let the fear of "looking uncommitted" stop you from listing all your schools. As several people mentioned, schools can't see your full list anyway, and admissions offices are totally used to students applying broadly in today's competitive landscape. I'm also really grateful for the heads up about state aid requirements and school ordering. I had no clue that could affect eligibility for state programs. Definitely going to research my state's rules before I submit. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences here - this has been way more helpful than any official guide I've read! You've all saved us newbies from some major headaches.