As a college solutions specialist for College Funding and Planning in Overland Park, Kansas, Michael Berlau helps college-bound high school students navigate financial-aid application processes. Among other services, Michael Berlau offers strategies for optimizing Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) awards. Completing the FAFSA is a crucial step for students applying to secondary-education institutions, and the earlier and more completely the forms are submitted, the better the chances of receive higher funding amounts.
Despite the application’s vital role in helping students afford college, many students and parents make a number of mistakes when submitting the FAFSA that significantly impact their eligibility for aid. Common errors include waiting too long to complete the application and neglecting to acquire a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID prior to filling out online forms. An FSA ID is required to submit forms electronically, and it can take up to three days for the Social Security Administration to verify information and approve the ID.
Another frequent mistake is providing inaccurate information or not including certain details when filling out the FAFSA. The most common errors range from inputting the wrong household income from tax returns to confusing student information with parent information, while other applicants forget to list other members of their household attending school or the full list of colleges to which they are applying. The names, birth dates, and social security numbers must also match FSA ID records to avoid application-processing delays.
In order to avoid these and other common errors when completing the FAFSA, students and parents should gather the necessary documents and information ahead of time and submit the forms as early as possible. Attending informational sessions and workshops presented by colleges and consultants can also ensure applicants understand the process.
