At Harvard, where FAFSA forms are used only by first-time applicants, the mistake should hardly be noticed.
Harvard's DeGreeff said he expected the DOE to remedy the problem before Harvard applicants have to submit their FAFSA forms to the DOE on Feb. 1.
To ensure they receive the correct forms, DOE officials said they have put a different return post office box on the new FAFSA forms. The faulty forms, when they arrive at the old post office box, will be specially processed.
Even if a student submits an old form, it is unlikely that the errors will prevent successful processing of the form, DOE officials said.
"We know the FAFSA now is correct because we tested it on our customers--student interns rounded up here at SFA HQ yesterday," a statement released Tuesday by the SFA read.
"They were given sample info, completed the form, and gave it a thumbs up."
The on-line FAFSA application is not yet available, and will not be affected by the error in the paper version.