{"id":636,"date":"2025-02-18T14:37:05","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T14:37:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/?p=636"},"modified":"2026-08-31T17:52:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T01:52:13","slug":"how-to-avoid-common-fafsa-mistakes-that-cost-you-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/scholarships-and-financial-aid\/how-to-avoid-common-fafsa-mistakes-that-cost-you-money\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Avoid Common FAFSA Mistakes That Cost You Money"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Applying for scholarships and colleges is stressful enough. Filing the <strong>Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)<\/strong> is crucial for securing financial aid for college. However, simple mistakes can lead to delays, reduced aid, or even disqualification. Avoid these common FAFSA errors to maximize your financial aid opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/common-fafsa-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-893\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/common-fafsa-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/common-fafsa-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/common-fafsa-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/common-fafsa.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Missing the FAFSA Deadline<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>FAFSA has both <strong>federal and state deadlines<\/strong>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/scholarships-and-financial-aid\/state-grants-college-financial-aid-programs\/\" style=\"text-decoration:underline\">missing them can cost you<\/a> thousands in aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The federal deadline is <strong>June 30<\/strong>, but many states and colleges have earlier deadlines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some aid is distributed on a <strong>first-come, first-served basis<\/strong>\u2014apply early!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use the <strong>FAFSA website (https:\/\/studentaid.gov\/)<\/strong> to check specific deadlines for your state.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"ci-auto-cta\" style=\"background:#F3D08A;color:#082033;border-radius:14px;padding:16px 22px;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:16px;flex-wrap:wrap;margin:22px 0;font-family:inherit\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" fill=\"#082033\" style=\"flex:0 0 28px\"><path d=\"M12 2a10 10 0 1 0 0 20 10 10 0 0 0 0-20zm.9 15.4v1.2h-1.6v-1.2c-1.5-.2-2.5-1-2.7-2.4h1.7c.1.7.7 1.1 1.8 1.1 1 0 1.6-.4 1.6-1s-.4-.9-1.9-1.2c-1.8-.4-2.9-1-2.9-2.5 0-1.2.9-2.1 2.4-2.3V6.4h1.6v1.4c1.3.2 2.2 1 2.4 2.2h-1.7c-.1-.6-.6-1-1.5-1s-1.5.4-1.5 1c0 .5.5.8 1.9 1.1 1.9.4 2.9 1 2.9 2.6 0 1.3-.9 2.2-2.4 2.3z\"\/><\/svg><div style=\"flex:1;min-width:220px\"><div style=\"font-size:19px;font-weight:800;line-height:1.2;margin:0 0 3px\">Find Scholarships That Fit You<\/div><div style=\"font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.45;color:#5a4212\">Discover free money for college and start reducing what you&#8217;ll owe.<\/div><\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/scholarships\/search\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" style=\"text-decoration:underline;background:#0A3D5C;color:#fff;font-weight:800;font-size:14.5px;border-radius:999px;padding:11px 24px;text-decoration:none;white-space:nowrap\">Find Scholarships<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide horizontal-cta-main has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-fa8ec582a6e16b463425a4b854dab34b\" style=\"border-radius:8px;background:linear-gradient(144deg,rgb(0,148,211) 0%,rgb(20,112,151) 100%);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70)\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group horizontal-cta-content is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Maximize Your Financial Aid<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons horizontal-cta-1 is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/scholarships\/search\/\" style=\"text-decoration:underline;background-color:#edae39\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><strong>Search Scholarships<\/strong><\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Entering Incorrect Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Errors on your FAFSA can lead to <strong>delays and processing issues<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Double-check your <strong>Social Security Number (SSN)<\/strong> and <strong>legal name<\/strong> as they appear on official documents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure your <strong>tax information<\/strong> matches what\u2019s on your IRS records.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use the <strong>IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)<\/strong> to automatically import tax information and reduce errors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"ci-auto-cta\" style=\"background:#1E90C9;color:#fff;border-radius:14px;padding:16px 22px;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:16px;flex-wrap:wrap;margin:22px 0;font-family:inherit\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" fill=\"#F5C563\" style=\"flex:0 0 28px\"><path d=\"M4 5h5l2 2h9a1 1 0 0 1 1 1v10a1 1 0 0 1-1 1H4a1 1 0 0 1-1-1V6a1 1 0 0 1 1-1z\"\/><\/svg><div style=\"flex:1;min-width:220px\"><div style=\"font-size:19px;font-weight:800;line-height:1.2;margin:0 0 3px\">Showcase Everything You&#8217;ve Achieved<\/div><div style=\"font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.45;color:#e8f5fd\">Scholarship committees want the whole you \u2014 build a profile that shows your achievements, activities, and story.<\/div><\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" style=\"text-decoration:underline;background:#EDAE39;color:#072A40;font-weight:800;font-size:14.5px;border-radius:999px;padding:11px 24px;text-decoration:none;white-space:nowrap\">Start My Profile<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Not Listing the Right Schools<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>FAFSA allows you to list up to <strong>20 colleges<\/strong>, but failing to include all potential schools can limit your options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>List all schools you\u2019re considering, even if you haven\u2019t applied yet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Schools use your FAFSA data to determine aid eligibility\u2014<strong>if they\u2019re not listed, you won\u2019t receive aid from them<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some states require schools to be listed in a particular order for state aid consideration, so check your state\u2019s guidelines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Underestimating or Overestimating Income<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Incorrect income reporting can <strong>reduce or eliminate aid eligibility<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do not guess\u2014use tax returns and W-2 forms for accurate income reporting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Report <strong>untaxed income<\/strong>, such as child support, but <strong>do not include<\/strong> assets like retirement savings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Be honest about your <strong>dependency status<\/strong>\u2014misreporting can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/college-applications-and-admissions\/college-appeal-guide-student\/\" style=\"text-decoration:underline\">result in application rejection<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Failing to Sign and Submit the FAFSA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An incomplete application <strong>won\u2019t be processed<\/strong>, causing unnecessary delays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Both students and parents (if dependent) must sign using their <strong>FSA IDs<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Submitting without a signature can cause delays\u2014<strong>always confirm submission<\/strong> via email.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>After submission, regularly <strong>check your FAFSA status<\/strong> to ensure everything is processed correctly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Avoiding these common FAFSA mistakes can help you <strong>maximize your financial aid<\/strong> and avoid unnecessary stress. By submitting early, entering accurate information, and reviewing your application thoroughly, you can secure the funding you need for college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more expert FAFSA and scholarship tips, visit<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\" style=\"text-decoration:underline\"> <strong>Cirkled In<\/strong><\/a> today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-e8c2beb1cb08f3c72d003520351bcd13 is-vertical is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-radius:8px;background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(220,233,241) 0%,rgb(166,215,230) 100%);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group vertical-cta-content is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Build a Scholarship-Winning Profile<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Showcase your achievements and discover scholarships that match your academic, leadership, and extracurricular strengths.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons horizontal-cta-1 is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-2 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\" style=\"text-decoration:underline;background-color:#2795d0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Build My Profile<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"ci-auto-cta\" style=\"background:#EDAE39;color:#082033;border-radius:14px;padding:16px 22px;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:16px;flex-wrap:wrap;margin:22px 0;font-family:inherit\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"28\" height=\"28\" fill=\"#082033\" style=\"flex:0 0 28px\"><path d=\"M18 4h2a1 1 0 0 1 1 1v2a4 4 0 0 1-4 4h-.4A6 6 0 0 1 13 14.9V17h3v2H8v-2h3v-2.1A6 6 0 0 1 7.4 11H7a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V5a1 1 0 0 1 1-1h2V3h12v1zM6 6H5v1a2 2 0 0 0 1 1.7V6zm13 0v2.7A2 2 0 0 0 20 7V6h-1z\"\/><\/svg><div style=\"flex:1;min-width:220px\"><div style=\"font-size:19px;font-weight:800;line-height:1.2;margin:0 0 3px\">$2,500 No-Sweat Scholarship<\/div><div style=\"font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.45;color:#5a3a10\">Real students win our $2,500 scholarship every quarter \u2014 yours could be next.<\/div><\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/scholarships\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" style=\"text-decoration:underline;background:#0A3D5C;color:#fff;font-weight:800;font-size:14.5px;border-radius:999px;padding:11px 24px;text-decoration:none;white-space:nowrap\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"ci-related\" style=\"background:#e7f1fb;border-radius:16px;padding:20px 24px;margin:30px 0 16px;font-family:inherit\"><div style=\"color:#2b6f9c;font-size:12px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 4px\">Keep Reading<\/div><div style=\"font-size:20px;font-weight:800;color:#0A3D5C;margin:0 0 10px\">Related Articles<\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/scholarships-and-financial-aid\/css-profile-vs-fafsa-student\/\" style=\"text-decoration:underline;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;padding:8px 2px;text-decoration:none;color:#0A3D5C;font-weight:600;font-size:15px\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"14\" height=\"14\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#2b6f9c\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" style=\"flex:0 0 14px\"><path d=\"M9 6l6 6-6 6\"\/><\/svg><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">FAFSA vs. CSS Profile: Know the Aid Forms &#8211; 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Sample Letter<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/scholarships-and-financial-aid\/negotiate-college-financial-aid-award\/\" style=\"text-decoration:underline;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;padding:8px 2px;text-decoration:none;color:#0A3D5C;font-weight:600;font-size:15px\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"14\" height=\"14\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#2b6f9c\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" style=\"flex:0 0 14px\"><path d=\"M9 6l6 6-6 6\"\/><\/svg><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">Get More College Money: How to Negotiate Financial Aid Like a Pro<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/scholarships-and-financial-aid\/financial-aid-international-students-us-college-guide\/\" style=\"text-decoration:underline;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;padding:8px 2px;text-decoration:none;color:#0A3D5C;font-weight:600;font-size:15px\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"14\" height=\"14\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#2b6f9c\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" style=\"flex:0 0 14px\"><path d=\"M9 6l6 6-6 6\"\/><\/svg><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">The International Student&#8217;s Guide to US Financial Aid &amp;amp; Scholarships<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/scholarships-and-financial-aid\/student-aid-index-sai-explained-fafsa\/\" style=\"text-decoration:underline;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;padding:8px 2px;text-decoration:none;color:#0A3D5C;font-weight:600;font-size:15px\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"14\" height=\"14\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#2b6f9c\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" style=\"flex:0 0 14px\"><path d=\"M9 6l6 6-6 6\"\/><\/svg><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">Understanding Your Student Aid Index (SAI): What It Means &amp;amp; How It Impacts Your Aid<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/library\/scholarships-and-financial-aid\/scholarship-displacement-outside-aid-college-aid\/\" style=\"text-decoration:underline;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;padding:8px 2px;text-decoration:none;color:#0A3D5C;font-weight:600;font-size:15px\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"14\" height=\"14\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#2b6f9c\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" style=\"flex:0 0 14px\"><path d=\"M9 6l6 6-6 6\"\/><\/svg><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">Scholarship Displacement: Will Winning Outside Scholarships Reduce My College Aid?<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"ci-related\" style=\"background:#f1f4f7;border-radius:16px;padding:18px 24px;margin:0 0 16px;font-family:inherit\"><div style=\"color:#6b7a8a;font-size:12px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.2px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 4px\">Good to Know<\/div><div style=\"font-size:19px;font-weight:800;color:#0A3D5C;margin:0 0 8px\">Helpful Resources<\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/studentaid.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:9px;padding:7px 2px;text-decoration:none;color:#33475b;font-weight:600;font-size:14.5px\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"13\" height=\"13\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#5a6b78\" stroke-width=\"2\" style=\"flex:0 0 13px\"><path d=\"M14 5h5v5M19 5l-8 8M11 5H6a1 1 0 0 0-1 1v12a1 1 0 0 0 1 1h12a1 1 0 0 0 1-1v-5\"\/><\/svg><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/collegescorecard.ed.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:9px;padding:7px 2px;text-decoration:none;color:#33475b;font-weight:600;font-size:14.5px\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"13\" height=\"13\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#5a6b78\" stroke-width=\"2\" style=\"flex:0 0 13px\"><path d=\"M14 5h5v5M19 5l-8 8M11 5H6a1 1 0 0 0-1 1v12a1 1 0 0 0 1 1h12a1 1 0 0 0 1-1v-5\"\/><\/svg><span style=\"text-decoration:underline\">College Scorecard<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<style>.ci-why-tiles{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr);gap:11px}.ci-why-tiles .ci-wide{grid-column:span 2}@media(max-width:600px){.ci-why-tiles{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr}}<\/style><div class=\"ci-auto-footer\" style=\"border-radius:16px;padding:26px 26px 24px;margin:16px 0 6px;background:linear-gradient(150deg,#0A3D5C 0%,#0c3350 55%,#072A40 100%);color:#fff;font-family:inherit\"><div style=\"color:#F5C563;font-size:12px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.4px;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 6px\">Why Cirkled In?<\/div><div style=\"font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0 0 9px\">You\u2019re more than a test score \u2014 get discovered.<\/div><p style=\"font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;color:#d6e4ef;margin:0 0 18px\">You have a story, and Cirkled In helps you tell it \u2014 shining a light on who you are so the right colleges find you. Find your dream college, gain real experience, and win scholarships, all at one hub.<\/p><div class=\"ci-why-tiles\"><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" style=\"text-decoration:underline;background:#2EA9E0;color:#fff;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 14px;text-decoration:none;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:11px;min-height:58px;font-weight:800;font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.2;box-shadow:0 6px 16px -8px rgba(0,0,0,.5)\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"23\" height=\"23\" fill=\"#F5C563\" style=\"flex:0 0 23px\"><path d=\"M4 5h5l2 2h9a1 1 0 0 1 1 1v10a1 1 0 0 1-1 1H4a1 1 0 0 1-1-1V6a1 1 0 0 1 1-1z\"\/><\/svg>Create My Portfolio<\/a><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/college\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" style=\"text-decoration:underline;background:#147097;color:#fff;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 14px;text-decoration:none;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:11px;min-height:58px;font-weight:800;font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.2;box-shadow:0 6px 16px -8px rgba(0,0,0,.5)\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"23\" height=\"23\" fill=\"#fff\" style=\"flex:0 0 23px\"><path d=\"M12 3 1 8l11 5 9-4.1V15h2V8L12 3z\"\/><path d=\"M5 12.7v3.3c0 1.2 3.1 3 7 3s7-1.8 7-3v-3.3l-7 3.2-7-3.2z\"\/><\/svg>Research 7,000+ Colleges<\/a><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/scholarships\/search\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" style=\"text-decoration:underline;background:#F3D08A;color:#082033;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 14px;text-decoration:none;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:11px;min-height:58px;font-weight:800;font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.2;box-shadow:0 6px 16px -8px rgba(0,0,0,.5)\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"23\" height=\"23\" fill=\"#082033\" style=\"flex:0 0 23px\"><path d=\"M12 2a10 10 0 1 0 0 20 10 10 0 0 0 0-20zm.9 15.4v1.2h-1.6v-1.2c-1.5-.2-2.5-1-2.7-2.4h1.7c.1.7.7 1.1 1.8 1.1 1 0 1.6-.4 1.6-1s-.4-.9-1.9-1.2c-1.8-.4-2.9-1-2.9-2.5 0-1.2.9-2.1 2.4-2.3V6.4h1.6v1.4c1.3.2 2.2 1 2.4 2.2h-1.7c-.1-.6-.6-1-1.5-1s-1.5.4-1.5 1c0 .5.5.8 1.9 1.1 1.9.4 2.9 1 2.9 2.6 0 1.3-.9 2.2-2.4 2.3z\"\/><\/svg>Find 6,500+ Scholarships<\/a><a class=\"ci-wide\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/internship-and-jobs\/search\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" style=\"text-decoration:underline;background:#1F5F8B;color:#fff;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 14px;text-decoration:none;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:11px;min-height:58px;font-weight:800;font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.2;box-shadow:0 6px 16px -8px rgba(0,0,0,.5)\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"23\" height=\"23\" fill=\"#fff\" style=\"flex:0 0 23px\"><rect x=\"10.3\" y=\"2.4\" width=\"3.4\" height=\"2.2\" rx=\"1.1\"\/><rect x=\"5\" y=\"4.6\" width=\"14\" height=\"16.8\" rx=\"2.4\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#fff\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\/><rect x=\"7.4\" y=\"7.4\" width=\"9.2\" height=\"3.4\" rx=\"1\"\/><rect x=\"8\" y=\"13\" width=\"8\" height=\"1.5\"\/><rect x=\"8\" y=\"16\" width=\"8\" height=\"1.5\"\/><rect x=\"8\" y=\"19\" width=\"5\" height=\"1.5\"\/><\/svg>Explore 24,000+ Internships, Jobs &amp; Volunteering<\/a><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cirkledin.com\/scholarships\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" style=\"text-decoration:underline;background:#EDAE39;color:#082033;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 14px;text-decoration:none;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:11px;min-height:58px;font-weight:800;font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.2;box-shadow:0 6px 16px -8px rgba(0,0,0,.5)\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"23\" height=\"23\" fill=\"#082033\" style=\"flex:0 0 23px\"><path d=\"M18 4h2a1 1 0 0 1 1 1v2a4 4 0 0 1-4 4h-.4A6 6 0 0 1 13 14.9V17h3v2H8v-2h3v-2.1A6 6 0 0 1 7.4 11H7a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V5a1 1 0 0 1 1-1h2V3h12v1zM6 6H5v1a2 2 0 0 0 1 1.7V6zm13 0v2.7A2 2 0 0 0 20 7V6h-1z\"\/><\/svg>Win the $2,500 Scholarship<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Applying for scholarships and colleges is stressful enough. Filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is crucial for securing financial aid for college. However, simple mistakes can lead to delays, reduced aid, or even disqualification. Avoid these common FAFSA errors to maximize your financial aid opportunities. 1. Missing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":938,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[60,17,18,19,26,31],"class_list":["post-636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-scholarships-and-financial-aid","tag-college-visit","tag-college-applications","tag-college-admissions","tag-high-school","tag-scholarship","tag-parenting"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Avoid Common FAFSA Mistakes That Cost You Money - Cirkled In<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to avoid common FAFSA mistakes that could cost you money. 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