I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare! As someone who's been helping families navigate FAFSA issues for years, I can tell you that the "student vs parent" mix-up is unfortunately one of the most complicated errors to fix because it fundamentally changes how the system calculates aid eligibility. Here's what I'd recommend doing immediately: 1. When you call tomorrow, ask to be transferred directly to the "FAFSA Corrections Department" - don't let them keep you in general customer service 2. Use the phrase "systematic error requiring manual intervention" - this often gets you to a higher level agent 3. If they say it's processed with the error, demand they put a HOLD on the application until it's corrected Also, many people don't know this but you can actually file a complaint with the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman if regular channels aren't working. They have more authority to expedite corrections: https://studentaid.gov/feedback-ombudsman The good news is that with all the extended deadlines this year, you likely have more time than you think. Just make sure to keep documenting everything and don't give up - I've seen cases like this resolved in as little as 3-5 days once you get to the right person.

This whole situation sounds incredibly stressful! I'm dealing with FAFSA issues too (though not as complicated as yours) and it's amazing how difficult it is to get real help from the system. One thing that helped me was keeping a detailed log of every interaction - not just dates and times, but also the specific representative's name/ID if they give it, what they promised to do, and any case numbers. When I finally got to someone who could actually help, having that documentation made a huge difference in showing the pattern of delays. Also, if your daughter's schools use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA, that might be worth completing as a backup since it's a completely separate system. Some schools can work with that data while waiting for FAFSA corrections. Really hoping you get this resolved soon - the redesigned FAFSA has been such a disaster this year for so many families!

As someone new to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this thread has been! My family is facing a similar situation - my son's high school had students create FSA IDs during a college fair last fall and we had no idea until we tried to start his FAFSA application. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has been a lifesaver. I'm going to start with the school IT department approach that several people mentioned worked well, then try having him search through all his email accounts systematically. It's reassuring to know this is such a widespread issue and that there are multiple paths to resolution. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and advice - this community is amazing for helping stressed parents navigate these frustrating situations!

I'm new to this community but wow, reading through this thread is like looking at my own life right now! My twin sons both had FSA IDs created during some college prep event at their school last year and of course neither of them remembers ANY of the details. Double the frustration! What's really helpful from all your experiences is learning that the school IT department route seems to be the fastest solution. I'm definitely going to start there Monday morning instead of continuing to battle the FSA phone system. It's both comforting and infuriating to see how widespread this problem is - schools really need to do better at communicating with parents about these account creations. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - this thread is going to save my sanity (and hopefully my sons' financial aid deadlines)!

As a newcomer to both this community and the FAFSA world, this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! I submitted my FAFSA about a week ago to 7 schools and was already starting to stress about the lack of communication. Reading everyone's experiences here has taught me more about the actual process than any official guide I've found. The biggest revelation for me is learning that "processed" on studentaid.gov is basically meaningless in terms of confirming schools have my data - that seems like such a major flaw in how they communicate status to students! I also had no clue about the FAFSA vs ISIR distinction or that some schools require you to link/accept the data in their portals even after receiving it. I'm definitely going to start making my rounds of phone calls this week, armed with all the great advice shared here: asking specifically about "received AND processed" status, calling mid-morning when possible, requesting callbacks instead of endless holds, and creating a detailed tracking spreadsheet. The tip about having SSN, FSA ID, and any student ID numbers ready is super helpful too. One follow-up question - for those who discovered discrepancies between what FSA showed and what schools could see in their systems, how long did it typically take to resolve those mismatches? I'm wondering if I should build in extra time for potential issues like that. Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your real experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical, honest advice that makes this intimidating process feel more manageable!

As a newcomer to this community and the FAFSA process, I can't express how helpful this entire discussion has been! I submitted my FAFSA two weeks ago to 4 schools and have been quietly panicking about not hearing anything back. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a relief - it's clear that no news doesn't necessarily mean bad news, and that the whole system is just frustratingly inconsistent. The most eye-opening takeaway for me is that "processed" on studentaid.gov is essentially just step one, not confirmation that schools actually have my information. I would have continued assuming everything was fine based on that status alone! The advice about calling each school directly to ask if they've "received AND processed" my FAFSA is exactly what I needed to hear. I'm planning to start making those calls tomorrow, armed with my SSN, FSA ID, and a new tracking spreadsheet. The tips about mid-morning timing and requesting callbacks instead of waiting on hold will definitely save my sanity. It's also good to know that 2-3 weeks seems to be within normal range, so I'm not behind schedule yet. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences and practical advice - this kind of honest, detailed guidance is what makes navigating this stressful process actually manageable. I'll report back once I've contacted my schools!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm a parent helping my daughter with her FAFSA and we made the exact same mistake. We accidentally listed her backup school first instead of her dream school that she got accepted to early action. I was about to panic and think we'd have to withdraw and resubmit everything. The step-by-step instructions from Miguel Harvey are super clear - we're going to try the remove/re-add method tonight. It's such a relief to know this won't affect her federal aid eligibility and that we don't need to start over. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! This community is a lifesaver for stressed parents like me who are navigating this process for the first time.

As someone who went through this exact same stress last year, I want to reassure everyone that this is such a common mistake! The FAFSA interface really doesn't make it clear that you can't just drag and drop to reorder schools. I remember frantically googling at 2am thinking I'd ruined my financial aid chances. The remove/re-add method that everyone's mentioned really is the way to go - it's counterintuitive but it works perfectly. One small tip I'd add: after you remove all the schools, take a screenshot of your correction confirmation page before you log out. It gave me peace of mind to have that proof that I'd successfully submitted the change. The whole process stressed me out way more than it needed to, so don't let it consume you like I did! Your financial aid will be fine.

Hi Emma! As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share something that really helped me when I was in a similar situation last year. One thing I learned is that it's worth checking if your daughter's schools participate in the Common Application's CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. Some schools use CSS Profile data to award their own institutional grants, and with your improved financial situation, you might qualify for additional school-specific aid that goes beyond federal grants. Also, I'd suggest keeping a simple checklist for each school that includes: 1) FAFSA submitted date, 2) Award letter received date, 3) Acceptance deadline, 4) Special circumstances appeal filed (if applicable), and 5) Aid package accepted date. This helped me stay organized across multiple schools and made sure I didn't miss any important steps. The community here has given you excellent advice - you're definitely on the right track by asking these questions early in the process!

Hi Emma! Welcome to the community and congratulations on potentially qualifying for grants - that's such a relief when you've only dealt with loans before! I'm relatively new here too and just went through this process with my son. One thing I discovered that hasn't been mentioned yet is to pay attention to enrollment status requirements for grants. Most federal grants require at least half-time enrollment (usually 6+ credit hours), and the grant amount can be prorated based on whether your daughter is enrolled full-time vs part-time. Also, if she's planning to study abroad or do any summer coursework, make sure to ask each school how that affects grant disbursement timing. Some schools handle summer aid separately. The advice everyone's given about keeping organized and following up is spot-on - I created a shared Google doc with my son so we could both track deadlines and requirements. You're asking all the right questions and being proactive, which puts you way ahead of where we were at this stage! Best of luck with the process!