I’m currently applying to Sarah Lawrence College through Early Decision II, but I’m stuck on what to do when it comes to my FAFSA and Federal Tax Returns. For my FAFSA, I have already submitted it to SLC about two weeks ago, but in my customized financial aid checklist it still says that they have yet to receive it. So, I was hoping someone could explain to me why this may be so, and explain the process of sending off your FAFSA to a college (for example, is the FAFSA sent and received similarly to your SAT scores, or do colleges set aside a date and collect all of them at once). As for my Federal Tax Returns, SLC ask for my 2015 Tax Returns, but I only have my 2014 Tax Returns, so do I use those? Likewise, the deadline for Early Decision II is January 1st, so it seems as though it makes sense to use my 2014 Tax Returns, but I’m still at a loss. Lastly, since the deadline is January 1st I would be submitting information on my FAFSA and Tax Returns that are both from 2014, yet is that what I’m suppose to do or am I mistaken?
If you applying for Fall 2016 admission, you need want until 1/1/2016 to file your FAFSA
The information you want is on the Sarah Lawrence College website.
I think you got the wrong deadlines. See https://www.sarahlawrence.edu/financial-aid/undergraduate/deadlines.html
Early Decision II
CSS Profile 2/1/2016
FAFSA 2/1/2016
Tax Returns 4/15/2016
You need to submit the 2016-2017 FAFSA as noted above…because you want aid for,the 2016-2017 school year. That will be available on January 1.
You need to complete the 2016-2017 FAFSA using your best estimates for the 2015 tax year in terms of income and taxes paid. You will use a “will file” status, meaning you will file taxes but have not yet done so,
Then ASAP after February 1, you need to complete your taxes, and amend your FAFSA to reflect the actual 2015 tax return numbers…change your status to “taxes completed” and resubmit.
If there has been little or no change in your income from 2014 to 2015, you can use the numbers as a guide. But be aware that the line items on the 2015 taxes might not be the same as 2014…so look carefully and make sure you are providing the right information!
I was in fact mistaken when it came to the dates. Thank you for fixing that! I guess that I was under the impression that the deadline for the application was also the deadline for my financial information as well.
I think the Early Decision II Notification Date is February 15. So Sarah Lawrence College has 15 days to put together scholarship / financial aid package to accepted students
The deadline for receipt of the Profile and FAFSA forms for ED 2 candidates at Sarah Lawrence is February 1. I woild stick with the timeline I outlined in post #4. Do your FAFSA and Profile forms using estimates. Then get your taxes done ASAP…and submit the corrected info.
You should have good estimates based on end of year pay stubs.