Wow, reading through this entire thread has been such a learning experience! As someone who's about to start this process with my oldest next year, I was initially terrified that I'd make a similar mistake. But seeing how the community came together to help @Alicia Stern, and then watching the confusion get sorted out when everyone realized the tax year was actually correct - it's both reassuring and educational. The prior-prior year rule really is one of those things that makes perfect sense once you understand the reasoning (they need time to process and verify tax information), but it's so confusing when you first encounter it. I love @Sarah Jones' comprehensive breakdown of the correction process - that's going into my college prep folder immediately! This thread is also a great reminder of why it's so important to slow down and double-check everything before panicking. Sometimes what looks like a major error is actually correct, and having a supportive community to help sort through the confusion makes all the difference. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge here - it's going to help so many families navigate this process more confidently!

As someone who's completely new to the CSS Profile process, this entire thread has been incredibly helpful and reassuring! I was initially stressed reading about the potential tax year confusion, but seeing how it all worked out and how supportive this community is makes me feel much more confident about tackling this process myself. The prior-prior year rule is definitely one of those things that sounds simple once explained but is so counterintuitive at first glance. I can totally understand why @Alicia Stern initially thought there was an error - when most financial forms use current year information, using 2023 taxes for a 2025-2026 academic year feels backwards! I'm definitely bookmarking this discussion, especially @Sarah Jones' detailed breakdown of the correction process. Even though it wasn't needed in this case, having that step-by-step guide for actual corrections will be invaluable. It's also comforting to know that financial aid offices are generally understanding about genuine mistakes. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences here - this kind of community support makes the whole college application journey feel much less overwhelming for those of us just starting out!

That's amazing news, Bethany! You're so lucky to have found a school that meets full need with institutional grants. Just a heads up - make sure to ask them about their aid renewal requirements. Some schools require you to maintain a certain GPA or complete a minimum number of credit hours each semester to keep your institutional grants. Also, if your family's financial situation changes significantly (like a parent gets a new job or loses one), your aid could be recalculated, so it's worth understanding their appeal process too. Congratulations on getting such great aid!

Your -1500 SAI is excellent! As a newcomer here, I just wanted to add that you should also look into state-specific grants in addition to the Pell Grant. Many states have their own need-based aid programs that stack on top of federal aid, and with your SAI you'd likely qualify for maximum amounts. Also, don't forget to check if any of your target schools participate in programs like the Yellow Ribbon Program (if you have military connections) or have special first-generation college student support programs that might offer additional funding or resources. It sounds like you're already on the right track by calling schools directly - that personal contact can make a huge difference in understanding your full aid picture!

I'm dealing with a similar trust situation and wanted to share what I learned after consulting with both a financial aid advisor and an estate planning attorney. The key distinction that helped clarify things for me was understanding the difference between "available" vs "accessible" assets on the FAFSA. In your case, since the trust specifically allows withdrawals for "qualified educational expenses" (even with trustee approval), it's considered an available asset that must be reported. The fact that your mom has discretionary control doesn't change this - the FAFSA looks at whether the funds CAN be used for education, not whether they WILL be. However, I'd strongly recommend getting a written opinion from the attorney who created the trust about its FAFSA treatment before making any decisions. Some trusts have specific language that might affect reporting requirements, and you want to be absolutely certain. Also, definitely don't try to hide it - the potential consequences of misreporting far outweigh any short-term aid benefit. One thing that might help: if your family's income qualifies for simplified asset reporting under the new FAFSA rules, the impact might be less than you think. Worth checking those thresholds!

I'm a financial aid officer at a state university and want to clarify a few points that might help with your decision. Based on your description, the trust would likely need to be reported as your asset since it can be accessed for educational expenses, even with trustee approval required. However, there are a couple of important considerations that haven't been fully addressed: 1. **Timing matters**: If you're applying for the 2025-2026 academic year, you have until you submit your FAFSA to make any legal changes to the trust structure. But given the complexity, I'd recommend acting quickly if you're considering modifications. 2. **Professional Judgment**: Many financial aid offices can exercise "professional judgment" for unusual circumstances like restricted trusts. Even if the trust counts as an asset initially, you can appeal to your school's financial aid office with documentation about the trust's restrictions. We've adjusted aid packages in similar situations. 3. **Verification considerations**: During verification (which about 1/3 of FAFSA filers go through), we often request trust documents. Having clear documentation from your attorney about the trust's terms and FAFSA treatment will be crucial. My advice: Report it accurately on your FAFSA, but prepare a detailed explanation with supporting documentation for financial aid offices at schools where you're applying. Many of us understand these situations and have flexibility to help.

This thread is absolutely incredible and shows exactly why communities like this are so valuable! @Dyllan, I'm thrilled to hear your meeting went perfectly and you got the official confirmation and documentation you needed. What strikes me most is how you went from complete panic about potentially owing thousands of dollars to walking into that financial aid office fully prepared and confident. The combination of real student experiences, professional insights from financial aid counselors, and specific regulatory information created such a comprehensive knowledge base. Your situation is probably more common than most students realize - life happens, family emergencies occur, and sometimes we need to pause our education temporarily. But the fear of financial consequences can make an already stressful situation so much worse. Having this detailed thread with specific experiences and expert guidance will be such a resource for future students. The Leave of Absence form and written documentation your school provided sounds like they have good support systems in place for students in these situations. It's also great that you followed everyone's advice about getting everything in writing! Take this time to focus on your family without worrying about your education - everything will be there waiting for you when you're ready to return. And when you do get into that nursing program, you'll have even more life experience and maturity to draw from. Best of luck with everything! 🌟

What an amazing outcome! 🎉 I've been following this thread from the beginning and it's so wonderful to see how it evolved from your initial panic to this successful resolution. This is exactly why I love this community - the way everyone jumped in with their real experiences, professional expertise, and genuine support created such a comprehensive resource. Your experience really highlights something important: financial aid rules can seem scary and overwhelming, but when you approach them systematically and get proper guidance, they're usually much more manageable than we fear. The fact that you went from worrying about owing thousands to walking out with official documentation and peace of mind is just fantastic. I also want to echo what others have said about this thread becoming such a valuable resource for future students. The combination of personal experiences, professional insights from actual financial aid counselors, specific federal regulations, and practical tips about documentation creates an incredibly thorough guide for anyone facing similar situations. Your approach of finishing your current semester, researching thoroughly, asking the right questions, and getting everything in writing is exactly the right way to handle these situations. Future nursing programs are going to be lucky to have someone with your level of responsibility and problem-solving skills! Take care during your break and don't hesitate to come back to the community when you're ready to tackle the nursing program applications. We'll be here to help! 💙

Do they send by email or mail? I'm waiting too. My brother got his in like 5 days but I'm over two weeks now. This is so confusing.

UPDATE: I finally got through to an FSA agent this morning! Turns out there was a problem with my school codes. Even though they SHOWED correctly in my account, there was some kind of transmission error. The agent resent my FAFSA to all my schools while I was on the phone, and she said they should receive it within 3-5 business days. She also sent me an email confirmation of our call that I can forward to my financial aid office for the priority deadline extension. Thanks everyone for your help!