Most Common FAFSA Mistakes

Filling in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form can be stressful and confusing, especially if you've never done it before. Even small mistakes can delay the processing of your application by up to three weeks. Here are ten tips to help you avoid the most common ones:

1. Don't leave fields blank. If the answer is zero, write down 0. If the question doesn't apply to you, write down 0 or “not applicable”. If you leave a field blank, the processor will assume that you forgot to answer and send the form back to you.

2. When the form asks for your income, use the 1040 federal tax return form, not the W-2. Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is not the same thing as total income. AGI is usually larger.

3. Report all untaxed income, including Social Security and child support.

4. Include yourself in the household size.

5. If you have a step-parent, don't forget to include his or her financial information.

6. Don't use commas or periods in numeric fields. Round up or down to the nearest dollar.

7. Enter your permanent home address, not your campus or summer address.

8. Don't include a copy of your income tax returns unless it's specifically requested. If they need more information, they'll contact you.

9. Don't leave the question about drug-related offenses blank. Having a conviction doesn't necessarily disqualify you from receiving financial aid. Leaving the field blank looks suspicious. If you're unsure about this, find out before you send off the form.

10. Don't forget to sign and date the from. If you're filling it in on paper, sign and date as you normally would. If you're doing it online, you'll have to use your PIN. You can get your pin from www.pin.ed.gov.