<p>My son is applying to a mix of in-state public colleges and out-of-state institutions. A couple of the out of state colleges are his first choices, but he doesn’t know whether he will be accepted by those.</p>
<p>We just learned that if my son does not list a New Jersey college or university first on the FAFSA, there would be a big delay in the determination of his eligibility for state financial aid. I called the State of NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority and they said if he does decide to attend a NJ college, we should correct the first-choice college on the FAFSA at that time. That would not be until April, after he receives all his acceptances/rejections, however!</p>
<p>We never realized that it mattered which college you put first on the FAFSA. I should think my son needs to put his true first choice first. If he did not, would that send an undesirable “signal” to the college he most wants to attend??</p>
<p>I work in financial aid. I can see the other school codes on a certain screen on the computer, but I have way too much work to do to bother checking that out! There may be some schools that look, but I doubt it’s an issue. Personally, I would suggest listing a NJ school first so you don’t have any problems with the state aid.</p>
<p>When our kids applied, we listed the schools in ABC order. But if NJ says to list them first…then do that. If it matters to them that is what matters. Most schools look at the data…the order isn’t important to many other places.</p>
<p>This makes absolutely no sense to me and is about as stupid as a government institution can be. Off of my soapbox, now.</p>
<p>NJMom: the way to play their own game is to file fafsa and only list that one college. Bingo, they are first and they are last. Wait a couple of days and resubmit fafsa to the rest of the colleges on the list.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for all of your responses. I think maybe this stipulation is to save the state agency the work of sending out Student Eligibility Notices to students who are unlikely to attend an in-state school. </p>
<p>I never heard about listing the state school first until the NJ student assistance authority sent my son a notice of eligibility for a $1000 “distinguished scholars” award…“dependent on fiscal year 2010 State appropriations and receipt of other student assistance.” The fact sheet included with their letter mentioned this first-choice college thing.</p>