Do you have to be a senior to file a FAFSA?

Question

I'm going to be a junior next year, and I was just wondering.

Answer 1

A junior in high school? A FAFSA needs to be filed every year, the year before the school year that it will be used. So if you will be going to college in 2 years, you need not apply for a FAFSA until senior year. Applying now as a junior will be useless since they look at your parent's annual income every year.

Answer 2

Yes, you should apply for fafsa in Feb/March of your senior year.  If you are anxious... the Dept of Ed created a site: the fafsa 4 caster for juniors in high school. It will give you a good estimate of what you might get.