Parents: Is Your Teen College Ready?

How Do You Fill Out the 2027-28 FAFSA? What Changed and 7 Mistakes to Avoid

Episode Summary

To fill out the 2027-28 FAFSA, create a StudentAid.gov account for your student and each parent contributor, gather your 2025 tax return, and submit at studentaid.gov before your state and college deadlines. The form opened September 23, 2026 and takes most families about 15 minutes. College admissions expert Shellee Howard of College Ready walks parents through what changed this year (new Parent PLUS loan limits, new Pell Grant rules, small business and family farm exclusions) and the 7 FAFSA mistakes she sees families make most. Take the free 2-minute Right Path Assessment: https://collegereadyplan.com/?utm_source=twpp_podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=oct2026&utm_content=show_notes

Episode Notes

Chapters:
0:00 The short answer: how to fill out the 2027-28 FAFSA
1:15 Why filing in October pays off
3:30 What changed on the 2027-28 FAFSA
8:10 What you need before you start
11:05 Step by step: filling out the form
13:35 The 7 FAFSA mistakes to avoid
19:00 After you submit: your Student Aid Index and aid offers
19:40 Your next step