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!

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!