FAFSA deadline question?

Question

It's been awhile since I applied for FAFSA, lol. If I want to start school the spring term (January) of 2009, when do I need to submit the FAFSA by?

Answer 1

Because you are expecting to enroll in an off-semester (Spring) there does not have to be any rush to do the FAFSA, but you are free to do it now.  You will file the 2008-09 FAFSA.  You will want to do it soon enough so that the aid office has time to prepare an aid package for you.  Check with your school's aid office for guidance on this.

Most of the state deadlines are likely past, so you will not likely qualify for state aid based on the FAFSA if it requires you to have filed by the deadline.  Each state has its own deadline.  There is no deadline for federal grants or loans, so long as you have time to get your aid in place and loan applications approved you can receive aid at any point in the semester.

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/before003a.htm

This section has the deadlines for both the federal form and the state deadlines.

Answer 2

Fill it out now as soon as your taxes are complete, which I assume they already are.  Becasue the spring semester is considered the upcoming school year (Fall 2008 - Spring 2009), the current FAFSA form is the one you need to complete.  The FAFSA is available beginning January 31st (or around then), and the sooner you complete it and have it processed, the more money the government has to offer students - specifically grant money.  Once all the grant money is gone, its all loans....so the sooner you submit it, the more money there is in the pot for you!  Good luck back at school!