As someone who just completed this exact process last year, I want to echo the excellent advice already shared here and add a few practical tips that really helped us. First, the timing advice is absolutely crucial - we finalized our legal separation about 4 months before my daughter filed her FAFSA, which gave us plenty of buffer time for any documentation issues. One thing I'd emphasize is to start conversations with financial aid offices early, even before you have all your ducks in a row. I called several schools in the spring before senior year to ask hypothetical questions about separated parent scenarios, and most were incredibly helpful in explaining their specific processes. Some schools even have dedicated counselors for complex family situations. Regarding the verification process that several people mentioned - yes, it can be thorough, but we found it was much more straightforward when we had organized documentation from day one. I kept copies of everything in both physical and digital formats: separation agreement, utility bills showing separate addresses, bank statements, lease agreements, even grocery receipts showing we maintained separate households. The financial impact was indeed significant for us - our expected family contribution dropped by about $12,000, which opened up substantial grant opportunities. But what surprised me most was how understanding and professional everyone was throughout the process. The financial aid offices genuinely wanted to help us navigate the system correctly. For anyone considering this path: start planning now, keep meticulous records, and don't be afraid to ask questions. This community and financial aid professionals are there to help you succeed!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! As someone new to this community who's been separated for about 8 months and facing these exact FAFSA decisions, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing such detailed experiences and practical advice. The real-world impact numbers really opened my eyes - potentially reducing expected family contribution from $15K+ to under $3K could completely transform my daughter's college options. I had no idea the timing of legal separation vs. tax filing status made such a difference, or about complications like CSS Profile requirements at private schools. I'm definitely starting that "FAFSA folder" concept immediately and will be calling a family law attorney this week to understand my state's separation timeline. The advice about working backwards from FAFSA deadlines to create an action plan is brilliant - it makes this whole overwhelming process feel much more manageable when broken into specific steps. What strikes me most is how professional and understanding the financial aid offices seem to be when families communicate openly about their situations. That's really reassuring since I was worried about seeming like I was trying to game the system. For other parents reading this who might be in similar situations: the consensus seems clear that early planning, meticulous documentation, and proactive communication with schools are key to success. This community has shown that while the process is complex, it's absolutely navigable with proper preparation. Thank you all for being so generous with your time and expertise - you've given me hope and a clear path forward during a really challenging time!

As someone new to this community and currently navigating this exact situation, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing such detailed and practical experiences! My son is a high school senior with similar stats (3.8 GPA, 1470 SAT) and we're in that frustrating middle-income zone where we make too much for need-based aid but still need help with the $60-70k annual costs. I came into this thread thinking the FAFSA would be a waste of time for our family, but after reading all these real-world examples, I'm completely convinced it's essential. The stories about merit scholarships requiring FAFSA completion - even when they're not need-based - really opened my eyes. The idea of losing out on thousands in aid because of a bureaucratic requirement I didn't know about is terrifying! What's been most helpful is learning about all the "hidden" benefits: the unsubsidized loans with better terms than private options, the flexibility for professional judgment if circumstances change, and how schools sometimes use FAFSA data strategically for merit aid calculations. The tip about completing it early due to "first come, first served" institutional aid is crucial information I never would have known otherwise. I'm definitely tackling this over the weekend with all your practical tips in mind - documents ready, off-peak hours, and that callback service bookmarked just in case. Better to spend an hour now than regret missing opportunities later!

As someone completely new to this community and the college financial aid process, I want to thank everyone for such an incredibly informative discussion! My daughter is a high school senior with similar stats (3.9 GPA, 1480 SAT) and we're in that exact same income bracket where we assumed FAFSA would be pointless. This thread has been a total game-changer for my understanding! The real-world examples everyone shared - especially the Boston College story about losing $20k in merit aid and the parent whose award was increased after FAFSA review - really drove home how this isn't just about federal grants but about keeping ALL funding doors open. What's been most eye-opening is learning that FAFSA functions almost like a universal application that's required for so many different types of aid: institutional merit scholarships, state programs, work-study opportunities, external scholarships, and even better loan terms. I had no idea it was such a critical piece of the puzzle regardless of income level. The technical issues sound frustrating, but everyone's practical tips (off-peak hours, documents ready in advance, that callback service for phone support) make it seem very manageable. And frankly, spending 30-60 minutes to potentially save thousands over four years seems like the easiest decision ever. I'm definitely completing it this weekend with all your advice in mind. Thanks to this amazing community for turning what seemed like optional paperwork into an obviously essential step!

I'm experiencing this exact same issue! Been trying to sign my son's FAFSA for 8 days now and keep getting the "cannot process request" error no matter what I try. It's incredibly frustrating with his priority deadline coming up next week. I've attempted different browsers, cleared cache, tried at various times throughout the day - nothing works! The FSA helpline wait times are absolutely ridiculous too. Reading through all these solutions gives me hope though. I'm definitely going to try the combination approach that worked for several people here: reset my FSA ID password, wait a few hours, then attempt the signature around 5 AM using Edge browser while manually typing everything instead of autofill. The duplicate FSA ID issue Malik mentioned is really interesting too - I think I may have created multiple accounts over the years, so I'll call to check on that. I'm also going to contact my son's financial aid office today to document these technical issues in case we need deadline flexibility. It's such a relief to know this is a widespread problem and not something I'm doing wrong! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and workarounds - this community support is invaluable during such a stressful time.

I'm going through the exact same nightmare! Been trying to sign my daughter's FAFSA for 6 days straight and getting that "cannot process request" error every single time. It's so frustrating because I can see the form, fill everything out completely, but then it just fails at the very last step when I hit submit. I've tried literally everything - Chrome, Firefox, Safari, cleared cache multiple times, tried my phone, my laptop, even used my work computer thinking maybe it was a device issue. Nothing works! Called the FSA helpline yesterday and was on hold for over 90 minutes before finally getting someone who just read me a script about "trying again later" with no real solutions. Reading through all these responses gives me so much hope though! I had no idea this was such a widespread issue affecting so many families. I'm definitely going to try the combination approach that worked for Ava - resetting my FSA ID password, waiting a few hours, then attempting around 5-6 AM using Edge browser while manually typing everything instead of autofill. The duplicate FSA ID insight from Malik is really eye-opening too. I think I might have created multiple accounts over the years when I forgot my login info for my older kids' applications. Going to call the FSA Information Center tomorrow to check if that could be causing database conflicts. Also planning to contact my daughter's financial aid office today to document these technical issues just in case we need deadline flexibility. Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions - it's such a relief to know I'm not alone in this technical disaster!

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm currently in my second year dealing with FAFSA corrections (transferred schools last year so had to go through this twice), and I wish I had found resources like this community earlier. One additional tip I'd share - if you're working with multiple schools during the correction process, create a simple spreadsheet to track which corrections you've made, when you submitted them, and which schools have been notified. It really helps keep everything organized when you're juggling deadlines and following up with different financial aid offices. Also, some schools have online portals where you can submit documentation about pending corrections, which can be faster than email. The FAFSA system definitely has its issues, but seeing how everyone here has found solutions gives me hope that they'll hopefully streamline the process for future years!

As a new member here, I have to say this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm just starting my FAFSA journey for 2025-26 and had no idea the correction process could be so complex. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me such valuable insights - from the one-correction-at-a-time limitation to all the workarounds like contacting financial aid offices directly and using Claimyr to avoid those brutal hold times. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and implement the prevention strategies everyone mentioned (triple-checking before submission, having all documents ready, creating that spreadsheet Eduardo suggested). It's really reassuring to see how this community comes together to help each other navigate these bureaucratic challenges. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you're helping so many people avoid the stress and delays that come with FAFSA mistakes!

As a current college student who's dealt with this exact situation, I'd recommend also checking if your son's school has any "credit banking" or course substitution policies. Some schools will let you apply certain experiences (internships, work study, independent study) toward credit requirements in specific circumstances. This could potentially help bridge the gap if he needs to work more hours but still maintain enrollment status. Also, just a heads up - if he's planning to apply for competitive scholarships or programs in the future, some of them do track whether you maintained full-time status throughout your undergrad years. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's something to consider in the long-term planning. The financial aid landscape is definitely not student-friendly for those trying to work their way through school, but there are usually more options than initially apparent if you dig deep enough with the right offices!

As someone who recently graduated and navigated these exact decisions, I wanted to add one more consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet - the impact on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for the following year's FAFSA. If your son increases his work hours significantly due to taking fewer credits, that additional income could affect his aid eligibility for the next academic year since student income above the protection allowance (around $7,040 for 2024-25) gets assessed at 50% for financial aid calculations. So while dropping to part-time might seem financially beneficial in the short term, it's worth calculating whether the extra work income could reduce his aid package the following year. This is especially important if he's planning to continue this pattern or if he's only a sophomore/junior with multiple years of aid ahead of him. The financial aid office can help you model this scenario too when you're running those "what-if" calculations!