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Just to add - merit aid can be weird because some schools have specific allocations for different departments or programs too. What major did your son select? Sometimes certain programs have more scholarship money than others.
He applied for Computer Science. I hadn't even considered that could be a factor! Their website doesn't mention different merit amounts by department, but maybe there's some internal formula they use. I'll definitely ask about that during our appeal.
As someone new to navigating financial aid, this thread is both eye-opening and concerning! I had no idea that schools could be so inconsistent with their published merit criteria. Joshua, your situation really highlights how confusing the whole process can be - we're also dealing with a 529 plan and worried about how it might affect our daughter's aid packages. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like the key takeaway is to not take the initial offer as final and to be prepared to advocate strongly for what the published criteria suggest you should receive. The fact that multiple people have had success with appeals at Western State gives me hope that persistence really does pay off. Good luck with your appeal process - please keep us updated on how it goes! Your experience could help other families in similar situations.
Thank you for summarizing this so well, Zoe! As another newcomer to this process, I'm finding this conversation incredibly valuable. It's frustrating to learn that "merit aid" isn't always as straightforward as the name implies. I'm also sitting here with a 529 plan wondering if we should have done things differently, but it sounds like the real issue isn't the 529 itself but rather schools not being transparent about their actual criteria. Joshua's case with Western State seems like a perfect example of why families need to be prepared to advocate for themselves. I'll definitely be bookmarking this thread for reference when we go through this process next year!
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As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this thread has been! I'm in almost the exact same situation - household income around $98k with one child heading to college next year. Like many others here, I was told by our school's guidance counselor that we shouldn't bother with the FAFSA because we "make too much money." Reading everyone's real experiences has completely changed my perspective. I had no idea that there wasn't an actual income cutoff, or that the FAFSA was required for merit scholarships at many schools. The examples of families making $110k, $120k, and even higher still receiving various forms of aid really opened my eyes. I'm particularly grateful for the practical advice about timing (submitting early after October 1st), the explanation of SAI vs EFC changes, and the reminder that federal student loans through FAFSA have better terms than private alternatives. It's shocking how much misinformation is being spread by school counselors who should know better. Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences and correct these harmful misconceptions. I'll definitely be filling out the FAFSA and encouraging other parents in my situation to do the same!
Welcome to the community, Ravi! Your situation sounds very similar to what many of us have experienced. It's honestly mind-boggling how widespread this misinformation is among school counselors - you'd think they'd be the most informed about financial aid processes, but apparently not! One thing I'd add to all the great advice already shared: don't forget to also research your state's specific financial aid programs. Many states have their own grant programs with different income thresholds and criteria than federal aid. Some states are much more generous than others, and these programs often require the FAFSA as a prerequisite even though they're state-funded. Also, when you're looking at colleges, pay attention to their "net price calculators" on their websites. These can give you a rough estimate of what your actual costs might be after aid, and many of them will show you potential aid even at higher income levels. It's a good way to get a realistic picture before you even apply. Best of luck with the process - you're definitely making the right choice by filing the FAFSA regardless of what that counselor said!
As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful I found this thread! I'm dealing with the exact same situation - our family income is around $88k and my daughter's school counselor told us the same thing about "making too much" for financial aid. I was actually ready to give up on the FAFSA until I read all these responses. It's really reassuring to see so many real examples of families with similar or even higher incomes still receiving aid. I had no idea about work-study programs, the better loan terms, or that merit scholarships often require FAFSA completion. The point about state aid programs having different thresholds is something I never considered either. I'm definitely going to fill out the FAFSA now, and I'm also going to share this information with other parents I know who might be in the same boat. It's concerning how many families are probably missing out on legitimate aid opportunities because of this widespread misinformation from school counselors. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and setting the record straight!
Welcome to the community, Alexander! I'm so glad you found this thread before making the decision not to file. Your income level at $88k is definitely not too high to potentially qualify for aid - you're actually in a really good position compared to some of the higher income examples shared here. One additional tip I'd suggest: when you do fill out the FAFSA, make sure you have your tax returns completed first rather than estimating. While you can submit estimates and update later, having accurate numbers from the start can sometimes make a difference in aid calculations, especially for borderline cases. Also, don't just focus on the big state schools - sometimes smaller colleges have more institutional aid available and can be surprisingly generous even at middle-class income levels. The net price calculators mentioned earlier are really helpful for comparing actual costs across different schools. It's so frustrating that counselors continue to spread this misinformation! I hope more parents see threads like this and realize they shouldn't give up on financial aid opportunities based on outdated or incorrect advice.
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Hey Sean! I totally get your frustration - I went through this exact same thing when I was applying for financial aid. That "no school selected" error is so misleading because you KNOW your school is in there! What helped me was understanding that there are actually two different systems at play here. Your FAFSA gets submitted to the federal government first, but then each individual school has to pull that data into their own financial aid system and create your specific aid package. Until your school does that second part and officially offers you loans, the promissory note system has nothing to work with - hence the confusing error message. Since your FAFSA is still showing "processing" status, you're definitely in the waiting phase. Once that changes to "processed," your school should receive the data pretty quickly, but then they still need time to review everything and determine what aid to offer you. Hang in there - I know the waiting is stressful when you're trying to plan your finances, but this is just how the system works unfortunately. You haven't done anything wrong!
Thanks Vincent! That explanation about the two different systems really helps me understand what's happening behind the scenes. I was getting so confused because I could see my school listed in my FAFSA but couldn't figure out why the loan system couldn't "see" it. Now it makes sense that the school has to actively pull the data and create their own aid package before anything shows up on the loan side. It's definitely frustrating that the error message is so misleading - they could at least say something like "waiting for school processing" instead of making it sound like we forgot to add our school! But I feel much better knowing this is just the normal waiting game and not something I messed up.
Hey Sean! I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago and I know how stressful it can be when you're trying to plan your finances but can't access the loan information. From reading through all the responses, it sounds like you've gotten some great advice - especially about your FAFSA still showing "processing" status. That's definitely the key bottleneck right now. Once that switches to "processed," things should start moving more quickly. One additional tip that helped me: when you do eventually get access to your loan options, don't feel rushed to complete the Master Promissory Note immediately. You usually have several weeks to accept/decline loans once they're offered, so take some time to review the terms and amounts carefully. I initially accepted more than I actually needed because I was so relieved to finally see the offers! Also, if you're planning for next semester specifically, keep in mind that loan disbursements usually happen right before the semester starts, so even once you complete all the paperwork, you might not see the actual funds until closer to when classes begin. Hang in there - the waiting is definitely the hardest part, but once your school processes everything, the rest goes pretty smoothly!
Thanks NeonNebula! That's really smart advice about not rushing to accept loans once they become available - I hadn't thought about that but you're right that I should take time to carefully review the amounts and terms. I was so focused on just getting access to the options that I didn't consider I might end up accepting more than I actually need! And good point about the disbursement timing too. I was wondering when the money would actually show up, so knowing it typically happens right before the semester starts helps me plan better. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it's made this whole confusing process feel much more manageable!
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Verification is indeed something to address immediately. It's a process where the Department of Education requires your school to confirm certain information on your FAFSA. About 30% of FAFSA filers get selected. You'll need to submit additional documentation - typically tax returns, W-2s, or statements of non-filing. Some schools require their own forms too. This is time-sensitive because your financial aid won't be disbursed until verification is complete. Log into your school's financial aid portal to see exactly what documents they need, or call their office for guidance. Missing verification deadlines is one of the most common reasons students lose their financial aid.
This has been incredibly helpful. I'm going to log into my school's portal today and start working through all of this. Thank you everyone for your advice and support!
Hey Romeo! I went through this exact same confusing process last year as a first-gen student too. One thing that really helped me was making a simple spreadsheet to track everything. I listed each type of aid (grants, loans, work-study) with the amounts and deadlines. Also, don't feel bad about being confused - these letters are intentionally complex! A few quick tips: always accept free money (grants/scholarships) first, be cautious with unsubsidized loans since interest starts right away, and definitely call your financial aid office even if there's a wait. Most schools also have financial literacy workshops specifically for situations like yours. You've got this! The fact that you're asking questions now means you're being smart about it. And remember, you can usually make changes to your aid package later if your situation changes.
Aiden Chen
Hey StarStrider! As someone who just went through this process, I wanted to share that an SAI of 5908 is actually really good news for you. You'll definitely qualify for a substantial Pell Grant - probably around $3,800-$4,000 for the full year based on the current tables. One thing I learned the hard way is to make sure you apply to both schools you're considering and compare the FULL financial aid packages, not just the Pell amount. Some schools have better institutional aid or work-study programs that can make a huge difference in your total cost. Also, don't forget to check if your state has additional grant programs - many have income cutoffs that you'd easily qualify for with your SAI. The verification process can be stressful, but as long as your FAFSA info matches your tax documents exactly, you should be fine. Good luck with your decision!
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Mei Lin
•Thank you so much Aiden! This is exactly the kind of comprehensive info I was hoping for. I really appreciate you mentioning the institutional aid part - I hadn't thought about how different schools might package aid differently even with the same SAI. I'm definitely going to wait to see both full packages before deciding. The state grant tip is gold too - I'll look into California's programs right away. It's reassuring to hear from someone who just went through this process that my SAI is actually good news!
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Axel Bourke
Your SAI of 5908 is actually in a good spot for financial aid! Based on the 2025-2026 Pell tables, you should receive approximately $3,845 in Pell Grant funding for the year (split between semesters). One thing I'd recommend is creating accounts on both schools' financial aid portals if you haven't already - sometimes they show estimated aid packages earlier than they send official letters. Also, don't panic about the verification process if you're selected. Just gather your tax documents, W-2s, and any other requested paperwork and submit them as soon as possible. The sooner you complete verification, the sooner your aid will be finalized. Since you're deciding between two schools, definitely wait to see both complete aid offers before making your choice. Schools often have different amounts of institutional aid available, and some are more generous with work-study or merit scholarships that can supplement your federal aid. Your SAI puts you in a good position for additional need-based aid at many institutions!
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