How to Correct My FAFSA After I've Submitted It

I recently submitted my FAFSA and realized I made a mistake on it. I'm a bit panicked because I know this could affect my financial aid. Has anyone had to correct their FAFSA after submitting it? What's the process like for making changes?

I'd appreciate some guidance on what steps to take to ensure I don't miss out on any potential aid. Do I need to contact any schools directly, or are amendments through the FAFSA website sufficient? Any tips or advice on this would be amazing.

First off, take a deep breath. You're not the first person to need to correct information on the FAFSA, and the Department of Education has a straightforward process to help you handle just this situation.

The good news is that making a correction to your FAFSA is a simple online process.

1. Log in to your FAFSA account at the Federal Student Aid website.

2. On the "My FAFSA" page, select "Make FAFSA Corrections."

3. Enter your FSA ID on the "Login" page.

4. On the "Make Corrections to a Processed FAFSA" page, select the year for the aid you're applying for.

5. Update your information as needed, and then select "Submit" on the "Sign and Submit" page. You'll need to sign the correction with your FSA ID.

Note that for some changes, like correcting the number in college, you might have to contact the financial aid offices of the schools you've applied to since they have the final say in that matter.

The changes are typically processed in 3-5 days and your new Student Aid Index (SAI) - the number determining your eligibility for federal student aid - will be sent in a notification to both you and the colleges listed on your FAFSA. This minimizes the need to contact each school individually about your amended FAFSA.

Remember, it's important to resubmit your FAFSA as soon as you notice the error. Financial aid is often awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and you don't want to risk receiving less aid because of a simple mistake.