Hi, I'm a little bit stressed about paying for college and I know that FAFSA is an important part of securing financial aid. Is it possible to fill out the FAFSA during my junior year of high school, or do I have to wait until senior year? If I can fill it out early, what should I keep in mind? Thanks for any help!
Hello! It's great that you're already thinking ahead about funding your college education. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) cannot be completed during your junior year of high school. Students and parents can begin filing the FAFSA for the upcoming academic year on October 1st of the student's senior year of high school. The information reported on the FAFSA should be based on the 'prior-prior year' tax information; for instance, if you are attending college in the fall of 2024, the FAFSA you'll fill out will require tax information from 2022.
However, while you can't officially fill out the FAFSA until your senior year, you can start preparing for it. Gather financial documents and explore the Federal Student Aid Estimator on the Federal Student Aid website. This tool provides an early estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid. This foresight can help you plan financially for college. Good luck with your preparations!
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