How to add more schools to FAFSA after submitting - do schools get notified automatically?

Yes, you can definitely add more schools! Log into studentaid.gov using your daughter's FSA ID, then go to the FAFSA form and select "Make FAFSA Corrections." From there, you can add more schools to receive her information. As for notifications, schools will automatically receive her FAFSA information if they're listed on her form. You don't need to contact them separately about the FAFSA submission. However, some schools might have additional financial aid forms beyond FAFSA (like the CSS Profile) with different deadlines, so double-check each school's financial aid website for complete requirements.

my kid had same issue last yr. you can add like 10 schools total i think. just go back in and edit the form its easy.

You can add up to 10 schools total on your FAFSA at one time. If your daughter is applying to more than 10 schools, you'll need to use a strategy: 1. Submit with the first 10 schools 2. Wait until the FAFSA processes (1-3 days) 3. Go back in and edit to remove some schools and add the additional ones Important: The order of schools DOES matter for state aid in some states, so if you're counting on state financial aid, make sure to list any in-state public schools first. This doesn't affect federal aid amounts. And yes, schools automatically get notified when they're added to your FAFSA - you don't need to contact them separately about this. They'll receive your daughter's SAI score and all the FAFSA data electronically.

Everyone here is giving good advice but nobody's mentioned the most important thing - make sure your daughter's ACTUAL school choices are included FIRST! My son's counselor told us that many schools give priority to students who list them in their top choices (even though they claim they don't). So put her favorite/reach schools first, then the safeties.

When I tried adding more schools to my FAFSA last month, the website kept timing out every time I clicked submit!!! I had to try like 5 times and then finally ended up calling FSA but was on hold FOREVER and eventually gave up. The phone system is TERRIBLE - I spent 45 minutes listening to the same messages over and over! Did anyone else have technical issues adding schools?

Couple of technical things to be aware of when adding schools after initial submission: 1. Adding schools is considered a correction to your FAFSA, which means it will be reprocessed 2. The reprocessing typically takes 3-5 business days 3. Your original submission date is still maintained for priority aid purposes 4. Schools can see when they were added to your FAFSA, but this typically doesn't affect aid decisions Also, make sure your daughter's SAI (Student Aid Index, formerly EFC) has been calculated before making changes. If you make corrections before the initial processing is complete, it can sometimes cause delays.

idk why everyone makes this so complicated lol. just go back to fafsa website, log in with her FSA ID (not your parent one), click on 2025-2026 FAFSA, hit "make correction" and add more schools. takes like 5 min tops

Update: I logged in today and her application is fully processed with an SAI score now! I was able to add the additional schools without any problems. Thanks everyone for your help! One last question - since I added these schools a week after the initial submission, will they be at any disadvantage for financial aid compared to the first batch of schools?

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation last year! My daughter also forgot to add all her schools initially. The process is pretty straightforward once you know what to do, but I remember feeling panicked at first. One tip I didn't see mentioned - keep a spreadsheet of all the schools she's applying to with their specific financial aid deadlines. Some schools have earlier priority deadlines for institutional aid that are separate from federal aid deadlines. Also, if she ends up applying to any additional schools after you add these, you can always go back and add more later in the process. The good news is that missing a few days on the FAFSA submission won't hurt her chances for federal aid, and most schools are understanding that families are learning this process. You're doing great advocating for her!

As someone who works in college financial aid, I can confirm that adding schools after your initial FAFSA submission is completely normal and won't hurt your daughter's aid eligibility! We see this happen all the time, especially with families going through the process for the first time. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - when you do make the correction to add schools, double-check that all the information is still accurate (income, tax info, etc.) since you'll be reviewing the entire form again. Sometimes families catch errors they missed the first time around, which is actually a blessing in disguise. Also, don't stress too much about the timing. Schools understand that students are often still finalizing their college lists even after submitting FAFSA. What matters most is meeting each individual school's financial aid priority deadline, not the exact day you added them to your FAFSA form.

Just went through this same exact situation with my son's FAFSA two weeks ago! Don't panic - you're definitely not alone in this. The process to add schools is really straightforward once you know where to look. One thing I learned that might help: if your daughter is applying to more than 10 schools total, prioritize adding the ones with the earliest financial aid deadlines first. Some schools have priority deadlines as early as February 1st for institutional aid, while others are more flexible into March or April. Also, I'd recommend taking screenshots of the confirmation page after you successfully add the schools - it gives you peace of mind to have proof that the schools were added and when. The system will send your daughter an email confirmation too, but having your own record is helpful. You're being a great advocate for your daughter by staying on top of this! The learning curve is steep for first-time FAFSA families, but you're handling it well.

As someone who just went through this process with my twin daughters last month, I totally feel your stress! We made the exact same mistake - only added their top 3 schools initially and then panicked when we realized they needed to apply to 8 schools total. The good news is that the process really is as simple as everyone described. What helped me was making a checklist: 1) Wait for initial processing to complete (sounds like yours is done!), 2) Log into studentaid.gov with her FSA ID, 3) Select "Make FAFSA Corrections", 4) Add the additional schools, 5) Submit and save confirmation. One thing that gave me peace of mind was calling a couple of the schools directly to confirm they received the FAFSA data after I added them. Most schools have their financial aid offices check their system right while you're on the phone, so you get immediate confirmation. Not necessary, but it helped my anxiety! You're doing everything right by staying organized and asking questions. This process is genuinely confusing for first-time families, and you're being a wonderful advocate for your daughter!