<p>If you’re an ED applicant who got in and already received a financial aid estimate, will filling out your FAFSA early benefit you in any way?</p>
<p>It should, yes. Most schools will assign some grants and such by how early the FAFSA was submitted. If they go by that, then when a particular program’s grant money runs out for the year, then it runs out. And of course, when you complete the FAFSA, it gives an estimated family contribution number…which is used in computation of eligibility for various financial aid programs.</p>
<p>If you can get it done, do it. Even if your parents have not completed their taxes yet, you can indicate that their information is an estimate and that they will be filing…just try to give information that is relatively close (maybe use their last years info, and make some adjustments in whichever direction). Then, when they have done their taxes, you can submit an updated one.</p>
<p>spacecadet is right about the fact that some schools run out of grant money and the sooner you submit your FAFSA, the better as you will be first in line for limited funds. However, Duke IS NOT one of those schools. They do not give preferential packaging to those that submit their FAFSA early, or even for those with better stats. Their endowment fully funds guaranteeing to meet the full need of all accepted students and your financial aid package will be the same whether you are an ED or RD student, and regardless of when you submit your FAFSA - as long as it is submitted on time. The aid you get, and the packaging of % of loans, work study and grants will be solely based on the EFC that they compute for you. Not on the timing of submission.</p>
<p>Thanks dukedad…I wasn’t for sure if the FAFSA did anything for Duke students, didn’t think it did, but wasn’t for sure. :)</p>
<p>@dukedad How do you know? Is it on Duke’s finaid website or something?</p>
<p>^^I know this through my direct experience with the financial aid office, which includes discussions on process with the Director of Financial Aid.</p>
<p>As for the website, here is a reference that confirms the OP’s question about filing the FAFSA early as an ED student:</p>
<p>"If your financial aid application is late, your financial aid eligibility will not change. "</p>
<p>“NOTE: The FAFSA application will not be uploaded to the applicant access account until the end of February.”</p>
<p>[Duke</a> Financial Aid: Early Decision](<a href=“http://www.finaid.duke.edu/undergraduate/prospectives/apply/early.html]Duke”>http://www.finaid.duke.edu/undergraduate/prospectives/apply/early.html)</p>
<p>So, if you are an ED applicant, you can file the FAFSA now, but Duke will not be accessing it until the end of February, when they will evaluate/confirm the tentative award that was given to the ED student upon acceptance.</p>
<p>^Thank you so much! I was worrying when my dad told me we can’t fill it out for another month or two.</p>