First-time FAFSA applicant - when should I start preparing for Fall 2025?

Welcome to the group! You're smart to start thinking about this early. For the 2025-2026 school year, the FAFSA application will open on October 1, 2024. You'll want to submit it as close to that date as possible since some aid is first-come, first-served. Your SAI (Student Aid Index) is basically a number that determines your eligibility for federal student aid - lower numbers mean more aid. It's calculated based on your family's financial information. Documents you'll need to gather: - Your Social Security number - Your parents' Social Security numbers (if you're a dependent student) - Federal income tax returns, W-2s, and other records of money earned for 2023 - Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable) - Records of untaxed income (if applicable) Honestly, the earlier you gather these docs, the less stressful it will be when application time comes around.

START EARLY!!!! I waited till November last year and regretted it SO MUCH. Some of my friends got way better packages because they submitted in October. The system gets super glitchy later in the season too...I got randomly selected for verification which was a NIGHTMARE

i did my first fafsa last year. its not as scary as people make it seem. took me like 30 min tops. just make sure u have ur ssn and tax stuff handy

Hi there! To answer your question about divorced parents - you'll need information from the parent you lived with most during the past 12 months. If you split time equally, then it's the parent who provided more financial support. If that parent has remarried, you'll also need your stepparent's information. And yes, for the 2025-2026 FAFSA, you'll use the 2023 tax information. They call this "prior-prior year" - it's two years before the start of the school year. It seems weird, but it's so families have completed tax returns ready when they apply. Verification is when the Department of Education selects applications to double-check the information. About 30% of FAFSA filers get selected. It's not necessarily because you did anything wrong, but you'll need to provide additional documentation to your school.

One thing nobody mentioned yet - create your FSA ID (your FAFSA login) RIGHT NOW, don't wait. Your parent will need one too. Sometimes it takes a day or two to verify, and you don't want that delay when you're ready to submit. Also, SAVE YOUR PASSWORD somewhere secure - a shocking number of delays happen just because people forget their FSA ID login info.

Your mom definitely needs her own separate FSA ID. You cannot share logins - each person (you, your mom, and possibly your stepdad) will need their own FSA ID with their own email address. The system uses these to collect electronic signatures from each person. Also, when you create these accounts, be super careful about entering names EXACTLY as they appear on Social Security cards. Even small discrepancies can cause major headaches later!

Yes, your stepdad will need his own FSA ID as well since he'll need to sign the FAFSA electronically. Remember that the FSA ID is tied to each person's Social Security Number, so everyone involved needs their own. Another tip - don't use a school email address for your FSA ID since you'll need access to this account for years to come (for future FAFSAs, loan management, etc.). Use a personal email you'll keep long-term.

uggghhhh when i did my fafsa last year i got stuck on the phone with fafsa for HOURS trying to fix an issue with my dads tax info. we kept getting disconnected and had to start over. ended up taking a week to resolve and i almost missed my schools priority deadline!! so frustrating

Wow, thanks for all the great advice everyone! I'm starting to feel less overwhelmed. I'm going to create my FSA ID this weekend and help my mom and stepdad set up theirs too. Then I'll start gathering the 2023 tax documents and other financial info so we're ready when October hits. I'll definitely submit as early as possible! One more question - is there anything else I should be doing right now besides getting the FSA ID and gathering documents? Any other pre-work I can do?

Great plan! One more thing you can do now is use the Federal Student Aid Estimator tool (it's on studentaid.gov) to get a rough idea of what your aid package might look like. It doesn't commit you to anything - it's just a planning tool that can help set expectations. Also, check with each college you're applying to about their specific financial aid deadlines and if they require any additional forms beyond FAFSA. Some private colleges also require the CSS Profile (a separate financial aid application with more detailed questions). The CSS Profile opens around the same time as FAFSA but has different requirements. Lastly, start researching and applying for private scholarships now! Unlike FAFSA, many scholarship deadlines happen throughout the year, and that's free money you don't have to pay back.

also dont stress too much first time i filled my fafsa out i made mistakes and was able to go back and fix them later. its not the end of the world if u mess up something

One final piece of advice - don't pay anyone to complete your FAFSA. There are scams out there that charge fees for "guaranteed aid" or "special access" to scholarships. The FAFSA is always free to complete (that's what the first F stands for - Free Application for Federal Student Aid). If you need help, reach out to your high school counselor or the financial aid office at colleges you're applying to - they provide assistance at no cost.