I'm a college student who went through a similar situation when I was 17 - lost my mom and had an absent father. Just wanted to share that while the FAFSA process can feel really overwhelming (especially during grief), getting it right is so worth it. The independent status opened up way more financial aid for me than I ever expected. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple folder with copies of all my documents - death certificate, any court papers, letters from counselors, etc. I ended up needing these same documents for multiple schools and scholarship applications, not just FAFSA. Also, don't be surprised if different colleges handle her situation slightly differently. Some were more proactive about reaching out to help, while others required me to initiate contact. The key is being persistent and not being afraid to ask questions. Your niece is so lucky to have you helping her through this. Having someone who cares enough to research and ask the right questions makes all the difference. She's going to do great!

I'm new to this community but wanted to chime in as someone who works with students in transitional situations. Your niece's case is actually more common than people realize, and it sounds like you're handling it exactly right by selecting "None of the above" for the orphan/ward question. One additional resource I'd suggest looking into is the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) website - they have great explanations of dependency status rules that can help you understand exactly why certain answers are required. It might give you both more confidence in your FAFSA responses. Also, many states have "former foster youth" or "homeless/unaccompanied youth" liaisons in their education departments who can provide guidance even for students who don't fit those exact categories but are in similar transitional situations. These folks often know about additional funding sources and support programs. You're doing an incredible job advocating for your niece during such a difficult time. The thoroughness you're showing in getting this right will pay off when she starts receiving aid packages.

Hey Asher! I totally get the anxiety - I was in the exact same boat last year when applying for my Grad PLUS loan for my MBA program. Like you, I had good payment history but a relatively short credit history (about 4 years). I was approved within 5 days with no issues at all. One thing that really helped me was reading the official eligibility criteria on studentaid.gov. They're specifically looking for adverse credit history like defaults, bankruptcies, foreclosures, or accounts 90+ days past due within the last 5 years. Since you don't have any of those red flags, you're in great shape! Also, pro tip: once you get approved, make sure to accept the loan promptly in your student portal. I delayed accepting mine by a few days and it caused a slight delay in disbursement. With your August start date, you should have plenty of time, but it's one less thing to worry about. You've got this!

Hey Asher! I can totally relate to your anxiety about this - I went through the same worry spiral when I applied for my Grad PLUS loan last fall. Based on everything you've described, you're actually in an excellent position for approval. The fact that you've maintained perfect payment history on your undergrad loans and credit cards is exactly what they want to see. I had an even shorter credit history than you (only about 2 years) and was approved within 4 days. The key thing to remember is that Grad PLUS loans use what's called "adverse credit history" screening rather than traditional credit scoring. They're literally just checking a box list of bad things - and you don't have any of them! One thing that might help while you wait: log into your FSA account periodically to check your loan status, but don't stress if it doesn't update immediately. Sometimes the system is slow to reflect changes. Also, definitely reach out to your school's financial aid office now to let them know you're expecting this loan - it'll speed up the certification process once you're approved. You're going to be fine! Try to focus on getting excited about your master's program instead of worrying about the loan. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My FAFSA was submitted in early January and I just got the missing signature notification yesterday. Reading through these responses is really helpful - it sounds like the 10-14 day wait for the corrections portal is pretty standard this year. I had no idea about the SAI replacing the EFC either, so thanks to everyone sharing that info. Going to contact my college's financial aid office first thing Monday morning to let them know about the delay. This whole process has been so much more stressful than I expected!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Got my missing signature notification 3 days ago after submitting in early January. Reading through everyone's experiences here is actually making me feel a lot better - at least I know what timeline to expect now. Planning to email my school's financial aid office tomorrow to give them a heads up about the delay. Has anyone here had success getting their school to extend priority deadlines because of these FAFSA processing issues? My deadline is coming up in about 3 weeks and I'm hoping that's enough time for everything to get sorted out.

This thread has been absolutely amazing! As another parent with a junior, I wanted to add something that really helped us get organized early - I created a simple Google Sheet with tabs for each potential college my daughter is considering, and for each school I'm tracking: regular admission deadline, early decision/action deadlines, FAFSA priority deadline, CSS Profile requirement (yes/no), CSS Profile deadline, merit scholarship deadlines, and any other school-specific requirements. I'm updating it as we research schools, and it's already saved us from missing some early scholarship deadlines that we discovered during college visits. Some schools have merit scholarships with December deadlines that don't require financial need - totally separate from FAFSA - but you have to know to look for them! Also, one thing I learned from talking to other parents is to take a "financial aid photo" of any bank statements and tax documents as you receive them throughout the year. That way if you need to reference something from earlier in 2024 when you're filling out the 2025-2026 FAFSA next October, you'll have it easily accessible on your phone rather than digging through files. Thank you to everyone who shared such practical, real-world advice - this is exactly the kind of information that makes the difference between being stressed and being prepared!

This entire thread has been such a goldmine of information! As a parent of a junior who was feeling completely overwhelmed about FAFSA timing, I can't express how grateful I am for all the practical advice shared here. One thing I wanted to add that our financial planner mentioned recently - if you're planning any major financial moves (like paying off debt, making large purchases, or moving money between accounts), try to complete them well before you need to report assets on FAFSA. The snapshot date matters, and you don't want to accidentally inflate your reported assets because of timing. Also, I just started a "FAFSA countdown" calendar on my phone with monthly reminders starting now through senior year - things like "gather 2024 tax docs" in January, "create FSA IDs" in August, "review college aid deadlines" in September, etc. Breaking it down into monthly tasks makes it feel so much less overwhelming than thinking about it as one giant process. Thank you again to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread should be required reading for all junior parents! I'm sharing it with our school's parent Facebook group because I know so many other families are just as confused as I was.

I'm so sorry for your cousin's loss - what a difficult situation to navigate while she's still processing her grief. Everyone has given you excellent advice about selecting "None of the above" for that specific dependency question. I just wanted to emphasize something that might provide additional peace of mind: her independent status is actually established through multiple pathways on the FAFSA, not just that one confusing question. Even if she selects "None of the above" there, the application will still recognize her as independent based on her overall circumstances. One practical tip that hasn't been mentioned yet: when you're helping her complete the FAFSA, make sure to print or save a copy of every screen before submitting. The confirmation pages can be really helpful if any questions come up later with financial aid offices. Also, write down the FAFSA submission summary number - you'll need it for any follow-up communications. Your cousin is incredibly fortunate to have someone like you advocating for her during this challenging time. The process feels overwhelming now, but once you get through the initial documentation hurdles, she should be in a much better position financially for college than many dependent students. Her $0 SAI will likely qualify her for maximum federal aid, which can make a huge difference in college affordability.

I'm so sorry for your cousin's loss. This is an incredibly difficult situation to navigate while dealing with grief, and I want to echo what everyone has said - you're being an amazing advocate for her. Just to reinforce what the financial aid professionals have shared: definitely select "None of the above" for that dependency question. Her independent status is rock solid given her circumstances (both parents deceased/absent), and that specific question is really designed for different situations. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that she might want to reach out to her high school's college counselor or social worker, even if she's already graduated. They often have experience helping students in similar situations and can provide that third-party verification letter that schools typically request. Plus, they might know about local scholarships specifically for students who have experienced family hardships. Also, when she's ready to submit her FAFSA, try to do it during off-peak hours if possible (early morning or late evening). The system can get overwhelmed during busy periods, and the last thing you want is technical issues when you're already dealing with such a complex situation. Your cousin is going to get through this, and her college education will likely be very affordable given her independent status and likely $0 SAI. You're both handling an incredibly tough situation with remarkable strength.