<p>who is more “on your side” so to speak, --the fin aid people at school vs the fafsa people, when it comes to filling out fafsa forms in the most advantageous way (to get max aid that is) ?? (maybe neither?)</p>
<p>Not really sure who you think the ‘fafsa people’ are.</p>
<p>At any rate-- I’d suggest that you educate yourself on how the FAFSA formula works. There are strategies you can use to maximize your financial aid-- but for the most part it isn’t a matter of how you fill out the form (unless you lie, which isn’t recommended). These are strategies that you adopt in the months and years before it’s time to fill out the FAFSA.</p>
<p>So:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Check out the resources in this CC forum. Check out FinAid. Get a book on financial aid strategies-- I like ‘Paying for College without Going Broke’. It will outline all the strategies, and you can learn how the FAFSA and Profile formulas work.</p></li>
<li><p>Implement the strategies.</p></li>
<li><p>Then fill out the FAFSA/Profile.</p></li>
</ol>