According to the Department Of Education, “The FAFSA is totally FREE to submit. They’re going to claim that if you want help filling it out, there are many free tools available to help you. They also say that the best place to go looking for help filling out your FAFSA is at the college financial aid office.”

But for the majority of you, I have to disagree

If you have already figured out your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and you’ve determined that you’re likely NOT eligible for any “need” based financial support, than by all means go ahead and complete the financial aid forms yourself. There is nothing you could potentially do to screw things up.

But , if you do think you’re eligible, than you many wish to reconsider. It is not the questions are tough to answer,it’s knowing what impact your answers will have on your actual Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and more importantly, eventually what your out-of-pocket college costs will be. You need to know the financial aid formulas going on behind the scenes.

We frequently find parents have cost themselves thousands of dollars, unknowingly and unnecessarily in additional out-of-pocket college expenses, because they just failed to know how to play the “game”. The College Financial Aid process is a game the schools hope that you never learn how to play!

I know what you’re thinking, “but the schools are non-profit”. PLEASE, are you actually that naive!? Going to the schools financial aid office would be the LAST place I’d go to for help! That will be like going to the IRS and having them complete your tax return for you!

If you don’t want to make any mistakes and most likely cost yourself thousands of dollars in additional out of pocket college costs or lost financial aid, you may want to consult with a college advisor or college planner who’s acquainted with the financial aid formulas, and an expert at completing the financial aid forms.

William Lynch is a Writer, Speaker, Coach and leading expert in the College Planning Industry.Do you know the correct way to complete all of the college financial aid forms?