Getting ready to help students fill out the FAFSA?

The Department of Education released a list this week highlighting the eight steps that need to be followed when filing for federal student aid. And included in the article is an important reminder: Students can — and should — list multiple colleges on their FAFSA.

Many prospective freshmen list only one college when applying for federal aid. But students should include any school they’re considering, even if they haven’t applied or been accepted yet.

“It doesn’t hurt your application to add more schools; colleges can’t see the other schools you’ve added,” department officials note. “In fact, you don’t even have to remove schools if you later decide not to apply or attend. If you don’t end up applying or getting accepted to a school, the school can just disregard your FAFSA form.”

Students can list up to 10 colleges on the FAFSA. Additional schools can be added once the applicant receives their Student Aid Report.

Read the full list of FAFSA tips and check out NACAC’s Financing College webpage.

Admitted writer/editor Mary Stegmeir welcomes additional comments and story ideas at mstegmeir@nacacnet.org.