I just went through this exact process with my daughter last month and wanted to share what worked for us! The confusion is totally understandable - the new FAFSA system is so different from what we dealt with years ago. Here's the simple version: Your daughter starts EVERYTHING. She creates her FSA ID first, begins her application, and when she gets to the contributor section, she'll invite you by entering your email. Only after you receive that invitation email should you create your FSA ID. One thing I wish someone had told me - don't stress about the "student vs parent" account distinction when creating FSA IDs. The system figures that out automatically based on whether you're starting an application (student) or responding to an invitation (parent). Also, make sure you both use completely different email addresses and try to work on different devices if possible. We ran into some glitches when we were both logged in on the same computer. The process feels overwhelming at first, but once your daughter sends you that invitation and you create your FSA ID through the proper channel, it actually flows pretty smoothly. You've got this!

As a newcomer to this whole FAFSA process, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! My daughter is a high school senior and we've been putting off the FAFSA because it seemed so intimidating, but reading through everyone's experiences has given me the confidence to tackle it. The step-by-step guidance about having her create her FSA ID first, then waiting for the invitation email before I create mine, is exactly what I needed to know. I was definitely going to make the mistake of trying to set up my account ahead of time! I'm also taking notes on all the practical tips like using different devices, having our 2023 tax documents ready, and making sure she lists ALL her schools. It's so reassuring to know that other parents have successfully navigated this new system. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - you've turned what felt like an overwhelming process into something that actually seems doable!

As a newcomer to this community and the FAFSA process, I'm so grateful for all the detailed advice shared here! I'm in a similar situation with my son considering a gap year, and reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful. The consensus is crystal clear - wait until December 2025 to file the 2026-2027 FAFSA when your daughter will actually be enrolling. One thing that really stands out to me from this discussion is how many parents seem to go through this confusion, yet the information isn't easily accessible elsewhere. It's reassuring to see a community where people share real experiences and practical tips. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and follow the advice about setting up FSA IDs early, keeping tax documents organized, and checking with specific schools about their gap year policies. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space for navigating these complex financial aid waters!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful to have found this thread! My daughter is also planning a gap year before college, and I was making the exact same mistake Ashley was worried about - I was about to file the FAFSA now thinking I needed to get it done early. Reading everyone's responses has been such a relief and so educational. The advice to wait until December 2025 for the 2026-2027 FAFSA makes perfect sense now that it's been explained. I especially appreciate the tips about setting up FSA IDs ahead of time and checking with specific schools about their gap year policies. It's amazing how many small details can impact the financial aid process that you don't think about until you're in the middle of it. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for parents navigating these confusing processes!

I'm new to this process but dealing with something similar - my family's income changed significantly due to medical expenses this year. From reading through all these responses, it sounds like the key steps are: 1) Fix any actual errors in your 2023 tax info through the FAFSA correction tool, 2) Contact each school's financial aid office about a Professional Judgment review for your job loss, and 3) Be prepared with tons of documentation. The advice about meeting in person really resonates with me too. Has anyone had experience with how long the Professional Judgment process typically takes? I'm worried about missing deadlines for aid disbursement.

I'm going through something similar right now! Lost my job in November and just submitted my FAFSA correction yesterday. One thing I learned from calling my school's financial aid office is that you should definitely submit the FAFSA correction first (even though it's just fixing the 2023 data) because it shows the school you're being proactive about accuracy. Then when you submit your Professional Judgment request, they can see the timeline of what you've done. My financial aid counselor also told me to include a brief cover letter with my PJ packet explaining exactly what changed and when - apparently it helps them process things faster. Still waiting to hear back but feeling more hopeful after reading everyone's success stories here!

New to this community and currently experiencing this exact same situation with my son's FAFSA! We submitted his application three days ago and when that "no aid information" message appeared, I genuinely thought we had somehow broken the entire system or missed a critical step. I spent hours re-reading the application wondering what we could have possibly done wrong. Finding this thread has been such a tremendous relief - it's amazing to see how many families go through this identical panic moment! The responses here have taught me that this is just the standard message that appears for all first-time applicants while the system calculates the SAI. You're all absolutely right that the FAFSA interface desperately needs clearer messaging - something like "First-time applicant: Your application is processing normally" would save so many families from unnecessary stress and sleepless nights. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines. This community has transformed what felt like a potential disaster into just another normal step in the college financial aid process. It's incredible how much peace of mind comes from knowing you're not alone in navigating these overwhelming college prep challenges!

New community member here and this discussion has been exactly what I needed to find! I'm currently going through this same situation with my daughter's FAFSA application. We submitted it yesterday and when that "no aid information" message popped up this morning, I immediately went into full panic mode thinking we had somehow sabotaged her entire college financial aid future. I must have re-read our application five times looking for what we could have possibly done wrong! Reading through everyone's experiences has been such an enormous relief - it's incredible how this one confusing message seems to terrorize every single first-time FAFSA family. You're all absolutely spot-on that the system desperately needs better communication. Something as simple as "Standard message for new applicants - SAI calculation in progress" would prevent so much unnecessary anxiety. Thank you to everyone who shared their timelines and outcomes - this community has completely transformed what felt like a catastrophic error into just a normal part of the college prep process. It's amazing how much stress can be relieved just by knowing you're not the only one who experienced this exact same panic!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I went back and found the investment section and included our 529 value there. It's such a relief to know I'm doing this correctly now. I was worried because we've been saving for so long, and I didn't want a mistake to affect my daughter's aid eligibility. I appreciate all the insights about how 529s are treated in the formula too - that 5.64% assessment rate is much better than I feared!

Great to hear you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add one more tip for anyone else reading this - if you have multiple 529 accounts (like one you own and maybe another from grandparents), make sure you ONLY report the ones where YOU are the account owner. I made this mistake initially and reported everything, which would have inflated our assets unnecessarily. The key is looking at who's name is on the account ownership, not who the beneficiary is. Also, don't forget to update this value if the market changes significantly between when you file and when schools request verification!