Missed adding a school to my FAFSA - how to add it now?

Deep breath! This happens ALL the time. You just need to log back into your studentaid.gov account, go to your FAFSA application, and select 'Make FAFSA Corrections.' You can add up to 10 schools total, so as long as you haven't maxed that out, you can add Berkeley. The school will receive your information within 3-5 business days after you submit the correction. Make sure you have the school code handy - UC Berkeley's is 001312.

Omg thank you!! I was freaking out thinking I'd blown it completely. Do I need to resubmit all my information or just add the school code?

had the same problem last yr added 2 more schools after i submitted. just go back and edit ur fafsa its super simple

That's such a relief to hear! Did the schools get your info in time for their deadlines?

Adding to what others have said, make sure you also check if UC Berkeley requires the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. Many selective schools require both, and the CSS Profile deadline might be different from their FAFSA deadline. Your SAI from FAFSA will be sent when you add the school, but if they need the CSS Profile too, you'll want to complete that ASAP.

Oh no, I didn't even think about the CSS Profile! Going to check right now if they need that too. This financial aid stuff is so complicated!

IF YOU'RE TRYING TO REACH FEDERAL STUDENT AID BY PHONE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT ADDING SCHOOLS, GOOD LUCK!!!! I spent THREE DAYS trying to get through to them last month and kept getting disconnected after waiting for hours. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that held my place in line and called me when an agent was available. Check out their demo video: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ - totally worth it when you need to actually speak to someone at FSA about time-sensitive issues.

is that service legit? sounds kinda sketch tbh

It's definitely legit. I was skeptical too, but they don't ask for any sensitive info - they just hold your place in line. My friend in the financial aid office at my school actually recommended it.

You're definitely not alone! I've worked in a college financial aid office for years, and I'd estimate about 30% of students need to add schools after their initial submission. Just make sure to submit the correction at least a week before Berkeley's priority deadline to be safe. The FAFSA data does transfer electronically, but sometimes there can be processing delays, especially during peak periods (January-March).

Thank you for the insider perspective! That makes me feel so much better. I'll submit the correction today.

dude i forgot FOUR schools on mine lol. added them later and still got aid from all of them. ur fine

btw make sure u click submit after adding the school!! my roommate thought she added her schools but never hit the final submit button and then missed a scholarship deadline

Omg that would be EXACTLY something I would do! I'll double check for the final submit button, thanks for the warning!

One more thing - after you make the correction, you may want to email UC Berkeley's financial aid office to let them know you just added them to your FAFSA. While not necessary, it can help ensure they pull your info when it arrives. Include your full name and student ID in the email.

That's a really good idea! I'll definitely email them. Should I call too or is email enough?

Email is usually sufficient, but if you're really concerned about timing, a follow-up phone call to confirm they received your FAFSA wouldn't hurt. Just be prepared for potential wait times if you call during peak hours. Make sure you have your SAI number handy when you contact them - they'll use that to verify your FAFSA was properly processed and received.

Just wanted to add - when you log into studentaid.gov to make the correction, you'll see a "Add or Remove Schools" option once you're in the correction process. The system will walk you through it step by step, and you can even see which schools you currently have listed. Also, don't worry about the timing too much - I added a school literally the day before their deadline last year and still got my full aid package. The electronic transfer is pretty fast these days!

Don't stress too much about this! I actually work as a student advisor and see this situation constantly. The correction process is really straightforward - just log into your FSA ID account, find your submitted FAFSA, and click "Make FAFSA Corrections." You'll be able to add UC Berkeley (school code 001312) without having to redo any of your other information. The key thing is to submit the correction ASAP since it takes 3-5 business days for schools to receive the updated data. Also, definitely check if Berkeley requires the CSS Profile too - a lot of UC schools do, and that has its own separate deadline. You've got this!

Hey Charlotte! I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago when I forgot to add UCLA to my FAFSA. I was totally panicking just like you are now, but it really is much easier to fix than you'd think! The correction process on studentaid.gov is super user-friendly - it literally took me like 10 minutes to add the school. One thing I'd suggest is to screenshot or write down your confirmation number after you submit the correction, just so you have proof that you made the change. Also, if you're applying to other UCs, double-check that you have all of them on there since the application deadlines are usually similar. You're going to be fine - this happens to SO many people and the schools are used to getting late FAFSA additions!

Hey Charlotte! I totally get the panic - I literally did the exact same thing last year and thought my college dreams were over! 😅 But seriously, everyone here is giving you great advice. The correction process is honestly super simple once you get into it. Just wanted to add that when you log into studentaid.gov, make sure you have your FSA ID handy and give yourself like 15-20 minutes to do it properly (don't rush like I did the first time and accidentally hit the wrong buttons). Also, Berkeley's financial aid office is actually really helpful if you need to call them - they deal with this situation literally every day during application season. You're definitely not as disorganized as you think - this stuff is genuinely confusing and you're handling it way better than I did! Good luck with everything! 🍀