The 2021-2022 FAFSA and CSS Profile opened earlier this month. As students and families complete their financial aid applications, Financial Aid Administrators may work with some who need assistance. Below are nine common mistakes on the FAFSA or CSS Profile and how to help students avoid them.
- Applying for the wrong year: Families may be confused thinking they should select the year there are completing the form rather than the following academic year. Similarly using the wrong tax information could also cause confusion for families completing these forms. Communication is key. When communicating with students, make sure to clearly explain which application year and tax information to use for each academic year.
- Entering the wrong social security number for the student: Typos can easily occur and have major impacts. On the FAFSA, if a student’s social security number is incorrect, they will need to create a brand-new FSA ID and FAFSA (or go through a cumbersome process to correct the current FAFSA), making the process longer. Students should report their name and social security number as it appears on legal documents.
- Selecting a graduate school instead of undergraduate school: This may not be a problem for many schools, but if a school has different codes for graduate programs, such as a Law School, the financial aid application could end up in the wrong office. If this applies to your institution, be sure to include the correct FAFSA or Collegeboard code on websites and communication to make it easy for students to choose the right school.
- Entering the wrong number for household size: This happens more often than we may think. It includes leaving off other students in the household or even the student themselves. When the household’s income is supporting more than one student, the federal government will take that into account when calculating the EFC, so it could mean a huge difference for the student’s financial aid award.
- Reporting parents’ information on student questions: This happens most when parents enter their income and assets under the student’s income and asset questions. The FAFSA has made many updates over the years to make it as clear as possible which financial information is being requested, but these may be overlooked when families are completing the process.
- Not reporting both parents’ income if parents have remarried: On the FAFSA, if the custodial parent has remarried, the stepparent’s income is also required. On the CSS Profile, if the student incorrectly reports parent information, the form appears incomplete and can cause a delay. In addition, on the CSS Profile, some colleges require information from both biological parents (custodial parent and noncustodial parent). If your institution requires a noncustodial parent application, it is important to clearly explain this on you website and in communication.
- Leaving questions blank: Students and families should fill out all of the fields on the applications, especially the required fields. If the answer is zero or the question does not apply to the student or family, they should enter a zero. Specifically on the CSS Profile, the special circumstance section is available for families to provide additional insight into family hardships. If students are unclear about a question or are having trouble filling out the application, they should be encouraged to contact the financial aid office or access the additional resources available on the FAFSA or CSS Profile website.
- Forgetting to sign the FAFSA: This is another one that happens more often than we might think. For dependent students, both the student and parent must sign the application in order to submit. They will both need their own FSA ID in order to do so.
- Filing applications too late: Again, communication is key. If there are deadlines or priority dates for the FAFSA or CSS Profile at your institution, don’t assume the student knows them, even if they are on the website. Multiple mediums and touchpoints may be needed to connect with the student and family. Share deadlines on the website, in emails, on social media, and with other offices that may be in contact with students regularly. A joint effort can help increase the number of students who not only complete the financial aid applications, but do so by a deadline or priority date.
The FAFSA and CSS Profile are important applications for students to receive the most financial aid possible. It is our job, as Financial Aid Administrators, to assist students and families in completing these forms accurately. In addition to helping families, we can also offer additional resources, such as the help section of the FAFSA or the FSA hotline and CSS Profile resources.
For more resources, check out ED’s blog: Homeroom (11 Common FAFSA Mistakes and more) and Collegeboard’s additional CSS Profile Resources for Counselors.
Sources:
ED: 11 Common FAFSA® Mistakes
Fastweb: 10 FAFSA Mistakes that Affect Financial Aid
NCAN: 9 Common CSS Profile Mistakes and How To Avoid Them