Just to summarize for anyone else with this question: 1. Only list schools on the FAFSA where your student is applying for the upcoming academic year 2. Complete a new FAFSA when your student is ready to transfer (for that future academic year) 3. Aid packages don't carry over between schools - each school creates its own package 4. The community college will likely have transfer counselors who can help with the process when the time comes

This is such a common question for community college families! I went through this exact same process with my daughter two years ago and made the mistake of listing her "dream schools" on the initial FAFSA even though she was definitely starting at community college. It just created confusion and we ended up getting financial aid award letters from schools she wasn't even attending. Save yourself the headache and just list the community college for now. When she's ready to transfer, you'll do a fresh FAFSA for that year and can focus on getting the best aid package from her actual transfer options at that time.

dude just accept everything they offer u and figure out the details later!!! free $$$

Hey Dylan! Just wanted to add that you should also pay attention to any work-study requirements in your package. Work-study funds aren't automatically deposited like grants - you actually have to find and apply for work-study jobs on campus, then work those hours to earn the money. The amount they offer is the maximum you can earn, not guaranteed income. Many students accept work-study thinking it's free money and then never follow through with actually getting the job. Make sure you understand what each component of your aid package requires from you!

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! Got my contributor email yesterday and the link just loads a blank page. This is so frustrating because I successfully completed my older daughter's FAFSA as a contributor two years ago with no problems, but now with my younger son's application, nothing works. I tried logging into my FSA account thinking I could find the contributor section manually, but like you mentioned, it only shows my old student loan info from the 90s. The whole system seems completely broken for parents who already have existing FSA IDs. Has anyone tried calling the Federal Student Aid helpline? I'm wondering if they can manually add us as contributors or if we're stuck waiting for them to fix these technical issues. My son's school deadline is April 1st and I'm starting to panic!

I'm going through this exact same frustration right now! My contributor link has been broken for over a week, and I keep getting error messages when trying to access the parent section. What's really annoying is that I used the same FSA ID successfully for my older child's FAFSA two years ago, but now it's like the system doesn't recognize that I should have contributor access. I've tried clearing my browser cache, using different browsers, and even incognito mode - nothing works. The link just takes me to a generic StudentAid.gov page with no way to actually input parent financial information. Based on what others have shared here, I think I'm going to try the approach of having my son delete my current invitation and resend it so I can create a brand new FSA ID specifically for contributor purposes. It's frustrating that we have to jump through these hoops, but if that's what it takes to get past these technical issues, I'm willing to try it. Has anyone had success reaching out directly to their school's financial aid office for help navigating these system problems?

one more thing make sure ur ex isnt claiming ur daughter on taxes that really messed up our fafsa one year

I went through this exact situation two years ago when my child support ended. Here's what I learned: definitely start the process NOW, don't wait until December. I made the mistake of waiting and it created unnecessary stress. Most schools have a "Special Circumstances" or "Professional Judgment" form - ask specifically for this, not just general financial aid forms. One thing that really helped my case was creating a simple before/after budget showing exactly how the $14,000 loss would impact our ability to pay college costs. I included things like "Previous monthly income: $X, New monthly income: $Y, Gap: $Z per month." The financial aid counselor told me this made it much easier for them to see the real impact. Also, keep copies of EVERYTHING and follow up regularly. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with financial aid offices. Good luck - this is definitely something they can and should help with!

Just wondering - has your daughter received all her financial aid packages yet? Sometimes schools will offer different amounts, and you can use a better offer to negotiate with your preferred school. My daughter applied to 6 schools and the aid packages varied by more than $8K between schools with similar sticker prices.

I'm in a very similar situation! Got divorced last fall but my son's FAFSA was based on our joint 2023 income. His SAI came back at $12,400 which is way more than I can handle as a single parent. I'm planning to submit a professional judgment appeal as soon as we get his aid package back. From what I've read, divorce is one of the most straightforward reasons for an appeal since it's such a clear change in financial circumstances. The key seems to be having all your documentation ready - divorce decree, current pay stubs, updated tax info, etc. Really hoping it works out for both of us! Keep us posted on how your appeal goes.