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Is there an easy way to fill out the FAFSA or is it always guaranteed to be a headache?

Topic: Financial Aid | Asked by: Anonymous | almost 2 years ago
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The FAFSA forms are actually much easier if you do them online. They used to be a lot harder than they are now too. Before, you would have to wait a day or two to receive your electronic pin and now they will email you one instantly. Also, in the past you had to wait for any sort of response as to how much your EFC (expected family contribution) would be but now they will send you that information almost instantly as well. For some reason they don't ask as much information from you as they used to either which has also cut the time down from about an hour to about 20 minutes or so.

Answered by: Jen B. | almost 2 years ago
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The FASFA will always be a headache. However, the reward of filling it out properly is always worth it. Just keep your mind on the reward. You can save thousands if it is done correctly. If you are confused, seek help from a professional.

Answered by: Average Joe V. | almost 2 years ago
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The FAFSA forms are actually much easier if you do them online. They used to be a lot harder than they are now too. Before, you would have to wait a day or two to receive your electronic pin and now they will email you one instantly. Also, in the past you had to wait for any sort of response as to how much your EFC (expected family contribution) would be but now they will send you that information almost instantly as well. For some reason they don't ask as much information from you as they used to either which has also cut the time down from about an hour to about 20 minutes or so.

Answered by: Jen B. | almost 2 years ago
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The FAFSA forms are actually much easier if you do them online. They used to be a lot harder than they are now too. Before, you would have to wait a day or two to receive your electronic pin and now they will email you one instantly. Also, in the past you had to wait for any sort of response as to how much your EFC (expected family contribution) would be but now they will send you that information almost instantly as well. For some reason they don't ask as much information from you as they used to either which has also cut the time down from about an hour to about 20 minutes or so.

Answered by: Jen B. | almost 2 years ago
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Filling out the FAFSA is a headache, but a little ache or a huge migraine can depend on your preparation. It is only one of the first forms you will see like this so now is the time to learn to prepare for them. Pull out the FAFSA form and a sheet of paper. Read the sections and at each one where it asks for information write down what it asked for. Now get out a folder and start collecting the information and stack it in order first to last in the folder. It may take you time to gather all you need, tax returns, SSN, school codes...ect. Now that you have it all in one place it is just a matter of entering the data. Place to folder in a secure area ready to be updated and used again for the next form or next year.

Answered by: J Rae P. | almost 2 years ago
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It is alway guaranteed to be a headache. But it is a headache worth having. After it is finished the money one will save will make your head spin. So if it gets boring, just think of the reward. You may consider hiring a counselor.

Answered by: Average Joe V. | almost 2 years ago
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FAFSA will not always guarantee you a headache. You can get help for FAFSA through the school you're going to. Easiest way I can see it, is to just get help. Therefore, once you're doing it and if you are confused there is someone with experience to help answer your questions furthermore.

Answered by: Phrisch Later A. | almost 2 years ago
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It is not too difficult to fill out the FAFSA form if you have the materials to help you prepare it. Gather your recent tax returns, and bank statements. When you fill out the FAFSA once, it will be saved online. The next year, you can go back online and you will only have to make minor changes to your FAFSA profile. The government will issue you a FAFSA pin number through the mail, and you can use that to access your FAFSA form and check on its status at any time. You can also save the FAFSA while completing it, so you can take breaks and not have to complete the whole form at once.

Answered by: Sarahsparks T. | almost 2 years ago
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The easiest way I've found to fill out the FAFSA is online! The website walks you through every step of filling out the forms. Be sure to have everything gathered together before you start (previous year's tax filing, driver's license, etc). The website can even locate school codes for you so you don't have to track down each individual code if you're considering multiple schools.

Answered by: Online Learning Chick B. | almost 2 years ago
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There is no easy way to fill out the FAFSA (and if there is- send it my way!). However, the FAFSA only needs to be filled out once a year. So until the program changes, looks like we'll have to suffer that yearly headache together.

Answered by: Christie18 L. | almost 2 years ago
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In order to fill out the FAFSA fast and without a headache (or at least only a little headache) you should first complete all the prerquisites and make sure you have any information you need only an arm's length away. First, have you and your parent make your pins and wait for them to be verified. Then, gather the tax returns and other documents you need (you can view what you'll need before you start at the FAFSA website). Then, make sure you are with your parents so you can ask them any questions that the FAFSA requires of them. Do all this and it should only take about a half hour with little or no headache. Another thing you can do is go to the FAFSA website and print out the example FAFSA. It is the same as the FAFSA and has the same questions. Take your time filling this out and then just go online and input all the answers on the electronic one. This way you'd already have it done and if you started early, you would have plenty of time to do it over the weeks bit by bit. Also, a good tip is not to worry about small things as the FAFSA can be changed and corrected provided you submitted at least one copy by the deadline your school gave.

Answered by: Mayell U. | almost 2 years ago
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The FAFSA is never a walk in the park, but there are ways to get through it easier. Be sure you have all of your tax info with you before you start. Also have your parent's info around. Keep in mind that it will take time so you don't get as frustrated. In the end, it's all worth the small trouble.

Answered by: Tbowser Y. | almost 2 years ago
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Preparation is key! Get your materials together prior to starting to fill it out. You will need to get your PIN from the FAFSA website, and your parents will need one too if you are a certain age. Once you have this and the tax returns of both you and your parents, you can go to the FAFSA website and start filling out the form. Have your parents either on the phone or there with you so they can answer any questions pertaining to them on the form.

Answered by: Junior Sweet P. | almost 2 years ago
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Even though the FAFSA takes a while to fill out, there's no "easy" way to fill it out. Just try to do it in segments. If you try everything at once, you're not gonna finish without having a headache.

Answered by: Greg I. | almost 2 years ago
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Considering the benefits that the FAFSA might bring, it shouldn't be a headache at all. Try to find a job that can potentially pay you thousands of dollars for a few hours of work! Most scholarships require you to fill out the FAFSA, so take the time and do it. It is worth it!

Answered by: Mentor4you S. | almost 2 years ago
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Yes, there is an easy way to fill out the FAFSA - online. Filling it out online can be done in less than 20 minutes. Go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ to fill out the application. The website will take you page to page where you can type in your information. Additionally, if you've filled out a FAFSA online before, some of the information from the previous year is saved, thus expediting the process.

Answered by: Wx0589 T. | almost 2 years ago
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It's not so much of a headache if you get help from your school's advisors. The senior class councilor helped most of the students at my high school. All you need to do is know your social security number and bring in a tax return form from the previous year. It's not as hard as you think, I ended up having to do mine on my own and it wasn't very confusing.

Answered by: Coolio49 R. | almost 2 years ago
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We are talking about a government form so by definition it is always a headache. The best thing you can do is make sure that you save all information you put in the first time you fill one of these out. This way, in the following years that you do it, you will have all the information at your fingertips and the process will go far smoother. That is pretty much the only way to minimize the headache.

Answered by: College Student123 T. | almost 2 years ago
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Filling out the FAFSA may seem extremely overwhelming, but it's really not that hard once you get the hang of it. If you are unsure how to proceed contact your high school guidance department or the financial aid office at the school you are looking to attend. These people will be there to answer any of your questions and can be an invaluable resource. To complete the FAFSA without any headaches make sure you have all your important documents in order and in front of you. At a minimum you will need a copy of both parent and student tax returns or at the very least W-2 forms, parent and student social security numbers, dob, basic address and contact information, etc. You can go online to FAFSA.ed.gov and fill out your FAFSA online, just follow the on-screen instructions. If you are filling it out online you will need to sign up for a pin number to act as your signature for both parent and student. If you are filling out the FAFSA before you have filed your taxes you can use the estimators on the website by going off of last years data or your W-2 forms. Make sure to list all of the schools you are applying to in the appropriate sections and you are good to go. Taken step-by-step FAFSA may be tedious work, but it doesn't necessarily have to result in a headache!

Answered by: Keepsmiling F. | almost 2 years ago
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FAFSA is a confusing process. If you need assistance, you can call their phone number, your school, another student who has completed it, or ask a parent for help. FAFSA seems to be a tough process for anybody. If you need help do not hesitate asking other parents. Many parents have already gone through the process for their college students, and may have some hints.

Answered by: Allgrowdup O. | almost 2 years ago
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Hey, it is what it is. Luckily, now it's online. In the older days, you had to fill it out by hand, one letter only per box and then mail it in, in addition to looking up the school code in a giant manual at school that was only accessible when the counselor was around. In addition, if you didn't print clearly enough and their was a typo, you'd have to virtually repeat the process.

Answered by: L Platter F. | almost 2 years ago
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If you have all of your information on hand that you need, you shouldn't have a problem. They have changed the way they do things dramatically. You can fill it out online with so much more ease than before. Just register for a pin and have your tax forms in hand and you'll be good to go. It normally takes about 30 minutes or so.

Answered by: Jen B. | almost 2 years ago
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There really is no easier way to fill out the FAFSA, it's guaranteed to be a headache. However, think of the cost of not putting up with a little extra trouble. You could end up not having the funds or loans that you need to attend at all. The extra work filling out the FAFSA is worth the opportunity to go to school.

Answered by: Steve5858 L. | almost 2 years ago
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Many states offer easier alternative forms, but if you read the fine print, they state that the first people to lose awards will be the people that filled out the easy forms. Most people will just have to bear the pain of the FAFSA. It is easier to do if you sit down with at least one parent and fill it out together.

Answered by: Crystal Can Do That I. | almost 2 years ago
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The FAFSA is actually pretty easy and simple to fill out. The benefits can also be tremendous. How many jobs can you find that pay thousands of dollars for a few hours worth of work?

Answered by: Mentor4you S. | almost 2 years ago
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The FAFSA is a very easy application. Now they have a special link for people who have completed it before, and it fills in the previous information, so all you have to do is go back through and make sure it is still the same. The whole process is under an hour. The hardest parts are the parts for parents to fill out because there is a bunch of tax information. The student's part is a breeze though.

Answered by: Molae06 Q. | almost 2 years ago
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Sorry, but there don't seem to be any shortcuts to filling out your FAFSA. The best way is to do it online and just suffer through it. If you get money out of it, it's worth it.

Answered by: Ralloh X. | almost 2 years ago
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The first time you ever fill it out, yes it's a huge headache. But make sure you have your parents' tax returns and yours handy as the FAFSA form references lines to look at on each document. However, after the first time, the forms will pre-fill for you and you only have to update certain information each year.

Answered by: Hawks2010 L. | almost 2 years ago
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The more you know about the FAFSA before starting to fill it out the easier it will be. Be sure to find FAFSA help sessions or see your guidance counselor for help. Ask plenty of questions and make your parents go too. They have important financial parts to fill out and if they are prepared it will go much more smoothly.

Answered by: Anonymous J. | almost 2 years ago
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If you have all of your information on hand that you need, you shouldn't have a problem. They have changed the way they do things dramatically. You can fill it out online with so much more ease than before. Just register for a pin and have your tax forms in hand and you'll be good to go. It normally takes about 30 minutes or so.

Answered by: Jen B. | almost 2 years ago
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There really is no easier way to fill out the FAFSA, it's guaranteed to be a headache. However, think of the cost of not putting up with a little extra trouble. You could end up not having the funds or loans that you need to attend at all. The extra work filling out the FAFSA is worth the opportunity to go to school.

Answered by: Steve5858 L. | almost 2 years ago
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Many states offer easier alternative forms, but if you read the fine print, they state that the first people to lose awards will be the people that filled out the easy forms. Most people will just have to bear the pain of the FAFSA. It is easier to do if you sit down with at least one parent and fill it out together.

Answered by: Crystal Can Do That I. | almost 2 years ago
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The FAFSA is actually pretty easy and simple to fill out. The benefits can also be tremendous. How many jobs can you find that pay thousands of dollars for a few hours worth of work?

Answered by: Mentor4you S. | almost 2 years ago
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The FAFSA is a very easy application. Now they have a special link for people who have completed it before, and it fills in the previous information, so all you have to do is go back through and make sure it is still the same. The whole process is under an hour. The hardest parts are the parts for parents to fill out because there is a bunch of tax information. The student's part is a breeze though.

Answered by: Molae06 Q. | almost 2 years ago
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Sorry, but there don't seem to be any shortcuts to filling out your FAFSA. The best way is to do it online and just suffer through it. If you get money out of it, it's worth it.

Answered by: Ralloh X. | almost 2 years ago
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The first time you ever fill it out, yes it's a huge headache. But make sure you have your parents' tax returns and yours handy as the FAFSA form references lines to look at on each document. However, after the first time, the forms will pre-fill for you and you only have to update certain information each year.

Answered by: Hawks2010 L. | almost 2 years ago
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The more you know about the FAFSA before starting to fill it out the easier it will be. Be sure to find FAFSA help sessions or see your guidance counselor for help. Ask plenty of questions and make your parents go too. They have important financial parts to fill out and if they are prepared it will go much more smoothly.

Answered by: Anonymous J. | almost 2 years ago
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Filling out FAFSA is a pain in the butt, but you can make it easier if you fill it out online. Once you set up an account, your info should be saved and each year will be faster because you just have to adjust the tax info. The application should walk you through step by step, so you shouldn't have too much trouble. You may need your parent's tax info.

Answered by: The Truth C. | almost 2 years ago
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In my experience, after you fill it out the first time, it takes a lot less time and it is much less of a headache. In general, make sure you have all the documentation needed (tax forms etc). You could find an advisor to help you with the FAFSA but times and availability may vary. Contact the financial aid office they may be able to help as well.

Answered by: Ecupirates08 R. | almost 2 years ago
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If you fill out the FAFSA through the mail, try doing it online. It's really not a headache and doesn't take that long to do. They have everything written on the site, so if you get confused, you can find all the information you need easily. Doing the FAFSA online also takes a lot less time, and it helps you get that out of the way so you have more time to focus on getting into the college of your choice.

Answered by: Tonya S H. | almost 2 years ago
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