As I hobbled down the streets and sidewalks of Seattle, I realized I had worn the wrong shoes. It was our son’s graduation day and I wanted to dress nicely for the occasion. I didn’t think ahead and take into consideration that we would need to park a mile and a half away and walk to the stadium.

About ten minutes into the trek I knew I was in trouble as my dress shoes were creating blisters the size of Cleveland on my poor feet. I had not prepared properly so consequently, I was miserable.

What does this have to do with mistakes people make when thinking about the FAFSA? 

I want you to think ahead, know the facts, and make the right decisions. Regret is not a pretty thing, my friends.

In short, I want you to prepare properly.

Here are the top 3 mistakes people make when thinking about the FAFSA and how to avoid them:

Mistake Number 1

I often hear, “We aren’t going to fill out the FAFSA because we make too much money to qualify for need-based aid.” I can understand that logic, however, what if your financial picture changes during the year? If you don’t have the FAFSA already on file, you won’t be able to take advantage of any financial offerings that would benefit your student.

Always file the FAFSA.

Mistake Number 2

Parents don’t realize that if their student receives a random grant during the year from an independent source, oftentimes, they require your FAFSA information for their paperwork in order to process the grant. What a shame it would be if your student were disqualified because of a technicality.

Always file the FAFSA.

Mistake Number 3

Please don’t think that filing the FAFSA is a one-time deal. It’s not. The FAFSA has to be filed each year your student is in school! Set a reminder on your calendar so you don’t forget. If you are a student reading this, make filing a priority. You don’t want to miss the deadline that would result in the loss of a scholarship.

Always file the FAFSA.

File each year.

It’s free.

It’s easy! Have questions? Check out this link.

Feeling a little college application stress? I’ve got you covered. Check out my Stress Buster Tools.