Filing the FAFSA in a calmer year

The last two FAFSA cycles were unusual enough that a lot of families lost the habit of filing early. The fundamentals haven't changed: file as soon as you can, because several state and institutional programs award on a first-come basis.

Have everyone who needs to contribute create their account before you sit down. The consent-and-IRS-transfer step is where most sessions stall out.

File even if you're confident you won't qualify for need-based aid. A large number of merit scholarships and state programs use FAFSA completion as an eligibility gate.