One important thing no one has mentioned: if your daughter is using federal loans at an international institution, she must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree program that would be eligible for financial aid if it were offered in the United States. Also, make sure Trinity is on the Federal School Code List (which it is). Finally, remember that disbursement timing can be different internationally - sometimes this causes cash flow issues for families. I suggest setting up a meeting with both Trinity's international student finance office AND a FAFSA advisor to make sure all the paperwork is properly aligned.

Welcome to the Trinity journey! As someone who's currently going through this process with my son (he's finishing his second year at Trinity), I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help: First, definitely apply for the FAFSA early - Trinity's financial aid office processes US federal aid applications, but they have their own internal deadlines that can be earlier than the general FAFSA deadline. Second, consider opening a euro account or getting a credit card with no foreign transaction fees BEFORE she starts. Currency conversion fees add up quickly when paying tuition and living expenses. Third, Trinity has a really active American Student Society that can be incredibly helpful for navigating both the financial and cultural aspects of studying there. They often share scholarship opportunities and tips for managing costs that you won't find anywhere else. Also, don't overlook Trinity's emergency financial assistance programs - they have funds specifically for international students who face unexpected financial hardships during their studies. It's not widely advertised but can be a lifeline if needed. The investment is significant, but the education and experience at Trinity is truly world-class. Feel free to reach out if you have specific questions about the day-to-day financial realities!

UPDATE: We got it fixed!! After following the advice here, my dad did the identity verification on studentaid.gov, then called FSA again. This time he got through to someone who knew exactly what the problem was. They had to merge his accounts and it took about 48 hours to process, but now he can see the parent section and we're finishing the FAFSA today! I also contacted my school's financial aid office and they gave me a deadline extension because of the technical issues. THANK YOU everyone for your help!!

So glad to see this got resolved! As someone who just went through FAFSA hell myself, I wanted to add that if anyone else runs into this issue, it's worth trying the identity verification step FIRST before spending hours on hold with customer service. My mom had the same duplicate account problem and the verification process at studentaid.gov fixed it automatically without needing to call anyone. Seems like the system migration really messed things up for a lot of parents this year, but at least there are workarounds now that people have figured them out!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My grandmother is 79 and we're looking at options for me to help with her finances. After reading through all these responses, I'm definitely leaning toward the power of attorney route. It sounds like that's the safest way to avoid FAFSA complications while still being able to help when needed. Has anyone here actually gone through the POA process? I'm wondering how complicated it is to set up and whether banks are generally cooperative with this arrangement for day-to-day account management.

Just wanted to add my experience here - I went through almost the exact same situation two years ago with my father-in-law. We ended up doing the durable power of attorney route and it's been perfect. The bank was super helpful once we brought in the POA documents, and I've been able to handle all his bills and banking without any FAFSA complications for my kids. One tip: make sure to ask the bank specifically about their POA requirements when you call ahead - some want the documents notarized in a certain way or need specific language included. Also, if your mom is still mentally sharp (which it sounds like she is), having her present when you set everything up makes the whole process smoother. The peace of mind knowing I can help him financially without messing up my kids' college aid has been worth every penny we spent on the lawyer!

This is such a helpful thread! As someone who's just starting to help families navigate FAFSA applications, I had no idea that having multiple FSA IDs with the same SSN could cause verification flags. The advice about contacting FSA directly before the applications get processed is really valuable. I'm curious though - for families who might be in similar situations but haven't caught it yet, is there a way to check if an application has already been flagged for verification? Or do you just have to wait to hear back from the schools?

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful for threads like this! I'm currently helping my younger sibling navigate the FAFSA process, and reading about these potential issues with FSA IDs is so valuable. It's reassuring to see how knowledgeable and helpful everyone is here. The step-by-step advice about contacting FSA directly and the importance of acting quickly really stands out to me. I'm bookmarking this thread for future reference - you never know when you might run into similar technical issues with the FAFSA system. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise!

I'm currently going through my own SAP appeal process and wanted to add something that really helped me - if your school has a financial aid workshop or counseling appointments available, definitely try to schedule one before submitting your appeal. At my school, they had a financial aid counselor review my draft appeal letter and documentation before I officially submitted it. She caught a few things I missed and helped me strengthen my explanation. Some schools also have writing centers that can help with appeal letters if you're not sure how to structure it. Also, since you mentioned you're in nursing school - many nursing programs have their own student success coordinators who are familiar with SAP issues. They might be able to provide a letter of support or connect you with resources specific to nursing students. Your situation sounds very promising given your GPA and proximity to graduation. The fact that you've been successful since returning to the nursing program is exactly what they want to see. Best of luck with your appeal!

I went through a SAP appeal last year and it was approved! One thing that really helped me was creating a timeline showing my academic journey - including the reasons for my major changes and how my grades improved once I found the right program. For your appeal, I'd definitely include: - Your current nursing program GPA (if it's different/higher than your overall GPA) - A letter from your nursing advisor confirming you're in good standing and on track for May graduation - Documentation showing you've been successful since re-entering the nursing program in fall 2023 The fact that you're so close to graduation with a solid GPA works strongly in your favor. Financial aid offices generally want to help students cross the finish line when they can demonstrate they're on the right track. Just be thorough with your documentation and honest about your journey - they've seen it all before and understand that students sometimes need time to find their path. You've got this! Being one semester away with a 3.4 GPA puts you in a much better position than many SAP appeals they review.