Comments on: College Money Tip #7: Do Your Own FAFSA http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/01/30/college-money-tip-7-do-your-own-fafsa/ Money issues for college students and 20-somethings, without being boring. Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:02:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Money http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/01/30/college-money-tip-7-do-your-own-fafsa/#comment-71093 Money Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:48:12 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/01/30/college-money-tip-7-do-your-own-fafsa/#comment-71093 I highly recommend you get your FAFSA done at the first chance you get, even before your taxes are done. As they say. The early bird gets the worm, or Money in this case. I highly recommend you get your FAFSA done at the first chance you get, even before your taxes are done. As they say. The early bird gets the worm, or Money in this case.

]]> By: Laura http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/01/30/college-money-tip-7-do-your-own-fafsa/#comment-71076 Laura Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:32:32 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/01/30/college-money-tip-7-do-your-own-fafsa/#comment-71076 I just wanted to point out that you *can* fill out your FAFSA before you do your taxes, which is especially important if your state is like mine and has a FAFSA deadline for state aid of February 15. That's cutting it really close because most companies stick as close as possible to the end of January deadline for mailing out tax forms, which along with mail mishaps could make it difficult to get your taxes done by the second week of February. All you have to do is select the option that you will be filing your taxes, but haven't yet, and submit the FAFSA. When your taxes are done, go in and edit this section. Last year I missed out on a state grant that covers a whole semester's tuition because of this, and this year I haven't even done my taxes yet and have already gotten a letter from my state giving me a tentative award amount for that same grant. I just wanted to point out that you *can* fill out your FAFSA before you do your taxes, which is especially important if your state is like mine and has a FAFSA deadline for state aid of February 15. That’s cutting it really close because most companies stick as close as possible to the end of January deadline for mailing out tax forms, which along with mail mishaps could make it difficult to get your taxes done by the second week of February. All you have to do is select the option that you will be filing your taxes, but haven’t yet, and submit the FAFSA. When your taxes are done, go in and edit this section. Last year I missed out on a state grant that covers a whole semester’s tuition because of this, and this year I haven’t even done my taxes yet and have already gotten a letter from my state giving me a tentative award amount for that same grant.

]]> By: Green Panda http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/01/30/college-money-tip-7-do-your-own-fafsa/#comment-70811 Green Panda Sun, 08 Feb 2009 21:49:24 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/01/30/college-money-tip-7-do-your-own-fafsa/#comment-70811 Thanks for including my state link. I lost out on some grant money my freshman year because I didn't know the state guideline. Thanks for including my state link. I lost out on some grant money my freshman year because I didn’t know the state guideline.

]]> By: Maveth http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/01/30/college-money-tip-7-do-your-own-fafsa/#comment-70664 Maveth Sun, 01 Feb 2009 03:02:38 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/01/30/college-money-tip-7-do-your-own-fafsa/#comment-70664 FAFSA used to be my worst enemy, but I depend on it now. I would definately recommend updating early if you can. By the way, for you broke-ass students who like Diet Dr. Pepper, you can get a coupon for a free 2 liter here: http://www.freedietdrpepper.com/ FAFSA used to be my worst enemy, but I depend on it now. I would definately recommend updating early if you can.

By the way, for you broke-ass students who like Diet Dr. Pepper, you can get a coupon for a free 2 liter here:

http://www.freedietdrpepper.com/

]]> By: Sam http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/01/30/college-money-tip-7-do-your-own-fafsa/#comment-70657 Sam Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:52:23 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/01/30/college-money-tip-7-do-your-own-fafsa/#comment-70657 Oh man, I just did my taxes and filled out my FAFSA yesterday. Since I'm an M.S. student, I'm technically independent from my parents, and, combined with my under $10,000 in earnings last year, this results in my expected family contribution being $780. Unfortunately, I only have one quarter left next year. I could've used that kind of EFC as an undergrad! Oh man, I just did my taxes and filled out my FAFSA yesterday. Since I’m an M.S. student, I’m technically independent from my parents, and, combined with my under $10,000 in earnings last year, this results in my expected family contribution being $780. Unfortunately, I only have one quarter left next year. I could’ve used that kind of EFC as an undergrad!

]]> By: Griffin http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/01/30/college-money-tip-7-do-your-own-fafsa/#comment-70655 Griffin Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:09:51 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2009/01/30/college-money-tip-7-do-your-own-fafsa/#comment-70655 You can get what is called a "Dependency Override" - the financial aid office basically files an appeal that says that you should be considered an Independent student. The primary qualification is that you not receive any aid from your parents - you have your own apartment or live with someone else (even if it is another family member). If one (or both) of your parents is abusive or on drugs, you're pretty much a shoe-in. My mother (only living parent) was abusive, on drugs, I was receiving no support from her, and I hadn't even spoken to her in like two years. So after a few weeks I was approved. There's no quota or limit to dependency overrides, so it is worth a try even if you don't think you will get it. You can get what is called a “Dependency Override” – the financial aid office basically files an appeal that says that you should be considered an Independent student.

The primary qualification is that you not receive any aid from your parents – you have your own apartment or live with someone else (even if it is another family member). If one (or both) of your parents is abusive or on drugs, you’re pretty much a shoe-in.

My mother (only living parent) was abusive, on drugs, I was receiving no support from her, and I hadn’t even spoken to her in like two years. So after a few weeks I was approved.

There’s no quota or limit to dependency overrides, so it is worth a try even if you don’t think you will get it.

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