This thread has been incredibly eye-opening and frankly terrifying as someone just starting to navigate this process. I had no idea about the removal of the sibling discount or how brutally the new SAI formula hits middle-class families. For those dealing with the stock sale issue - I'm wondering if there's any benefit to timing when you submit corrections or appeals? Like, should you wait until after schools release their initial aid packages to see which ones might be more receptive to professional judgment reviews? Also, has anyone had success with state-based aid programs that might not rely on the federal SAI calculation? I'm starting to think we need to completely rethink our college strategy and maybe focus on schools where our kids would be in the top 25% of applicants for merit aid rather than trying to chase need-based aid that apparently doesn't exist for families like ours anymore. The fact that people are getting SAI numbers higher than their actual income is just mind-boggling. It really does feel like the system is designed to force middle-class families into massive debt or price them out entirely.

As someone who just went through this nightmare last year, I feel your pain completely! The new SAI formula is absolutely brutal for middle-class families. A few things that helped us navigate this disaster: 1. Document EVERYTHING for your professional judgment appeal - not just the stock sale receipts, but also proof it was for necessary home repairs, your normal income history, and anything showing this was a one-time event. 2. Apply to a mix of schools including some where your son's stats put him in the top 25-30% of admitted students. These schools are more likely to offer merit aid to attract him. 3. Look into your state's grant programs - many have different formulas than federal aid and might be more generous. 4. Consider starting at community college for gen eds if the four-year costs are truly unaffordable. I know that's not what you planned, but the savings can be massive. The removal of the sibling discount is absolutely devastating for families like ours. It's like they designed this system specifically to hurt responsible middle-class families who saved for retirement and own homes. Don't give up on the appeals though - even a partial reduction could save you thousands. Good luck!

Hi everyone! I'm brand new to this community and just wanted to express how grateful I am for this incredibly detailed and helpful thread. I submitted my FAFSA about 10 days ago and have been checking the status obsessively - it's been showing "In Process" and I was starting to panic that I might have done something wrong. Reading through Collins' entire journey from initial worry through to successful resolution has been such a relief! The combination of real student experiences with professional insights from Misterclamation Skyblue and the clear timeline breakdown from Vince Eh has completely changed my understanding of the process. It's amazing to see how supportive and welcoming this community is to newcomers who are navigating this stressful process for the first time. I feel so much more confident now knowing that 10 days is still very early in the timeline and that there are clear steps to take if needed later on. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such an informative and supportive space - I'm looking forward to being part of this community and hopefully helping others once I get through my own FAFSA journey!

Hi everyone! I'm completely new to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been. I submitted my FAFSA about 8 days ago and it's been showing "In Process" status - I was already starting to get worried that maybe I made an error somewhere. But reading through Collins' detailed journey from being stuck in "In Process" to getting it successfully resolved, plus all the expert advice from Misterclamation Skyblue about how the system actually works, has been such a relief! The timeline breakdown from Vince Eh is exactly what I needed to understand that 8 days is still very early in the process. It's amazing to see how welcoming and supportive this community is to newcomers who are navigating the FAFSA maze for the first time. I feel so much more confident now knowing that there are clear steps to take if I need them later, and resources like Claimyr if calling becomes necessary. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such an informative space - I'm looking forward to being part of this community and hopefully helping other first-time applicants once I get through my own FAFSA journey!

I went through this exact same situation last year with my daughter! The confusion is totally understandable - having different parents for FAFSA vs tax purposes makes everything more complicated. Just to reinforce what others have said: you're in the clear as far as YOUR taxes go. The scholarships and Pell Grants don't get reported on your return at all, regardless of who claims her as a dependent. One thing that really helped me was sitting down with my daughter to go through her 1098-T form together when it arrived from her college. It shows exactly what was paid for tuition/fees vs what went toward room and board. The tuition portion is tax-free, but if any scholarship money went toward living expenses, that portion might be taxable income for her (though as others mentioned, most students still don't owe taxes because their total income is usually below the standard deduction). Your ex is actually right that you don't need to do anything on your end - he just doesn't understand that it's because of how scholarship taxation works, not because he claims her! Keep doing what you're doing with the FAFSA as the custodial parent.

I'm dealing with something very similar right now! My ex claims our daughter on his taxes but I'm the FAFSA parent since she lives with me. Reading through all these responses has been so reassuring - I was worried I was doing something wrong by not reporting her aid on my taxes. One thing I learned from our college's financial aid office is that they actually prefer when the FAFSA parent and tax dependent are different people in divorce situations, because it often results in better aid packages. The FAFSA looks at the custodial parent's income (usually lower if that parent has primary custody) while the other parent still gets the tax benefits. It's one of the few times the system actually works in favor of divorced families! Just wanted to add that perspective since it sounds like your arrangement is actually pretty optimal for financial aid purposes. Your daughter is lucky to have parents who are both looking out for her best interests even while navigating this confusing system.

I'm also new to this community and just experienced this exact same confusion! My son's FAFSA was processed a few days ago and I was getting increasingly worried when I couldn't find any financial aid amounts anywhere on the studentaid.gov site. I kept thinking "What's the point of filling out all this paperwork if it doesn't tell me what we qualify for?" Reading through everyone's explanations here has been such a relief - I finally get that FAFSA is essentially a financial profile that calculates your ability to contribute (the SAI), while each college uses that information to create their own unique aid packages. It's like submitting a job application - your resume gets you in the door, but each employer decides their own salary offer based on their budget and policies. I just found our SAR following Joy's detailed instructions and finally saw our SAI number. The waiting for actual award letters is still stressful, but at least now I know this is how the process is supposed to work rather than thinking something went wrong with our application. This community has been invaluable for understanding what the official website fails to explain clearly. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - you've helped so many confused families like mine!

I'm also a newcomer here and just went through this exact frustration! My daughter's FAFSA showed "processed" yesterday and I spent the entire evening clicking through every possible section of studentaid.gov looking for our financial aid award amount. I was convinced I was either missing something obvious or that our application had some kind of error. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly enlightening - I had no idea that FAFSA only calculates your Student Aid Index and that the actual aid offers come separately from each college. It's like getting your credit score - the score itself doesn't give you money, but lenders use it to decide what they want to offer you individually. I just successfully found our SAR using Joy's step-by-step instructions (thank you!) and finally located our SAI number. While waiting for the college award letters is still anxiety-inducing, at least now I understand this is the normal process rather than thinking something went wrong. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone submitting FAFSA for the first time! The official website really needs a simple explanation of what happens after processing. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you've saved so many families from this same confusion and stress!

Welcome to the community! You're definitely not starting too late - spring of senior year is actually a perfect time to get these details sorted out before making final enrollment decisions. Many families don't even think about these complexities until much later in the process. From my experience helping families navigate these situations, I'd recommend reaching out to the financial aid office at your daughter's school within the next few weeks. Most schools are used to these types of detailed questions during this time of year as students are making their final decisions. When you call, ask specifically to speak with someone who has experience with dual-degree or accelerated programs. Some schools even have dedicated advisors for non-traditional enrollment patterns. Come prepared with the key questions from this thread - particularly about when exactly her status would change, how it affects her specific aid package, and whether they have any special procedures for students in her situation. The independent status for graduate students can indeed work in your favor if your family income is higher, as it removes parental income from the aid calculation. But as you noted, weigh that against losing access to undergraduate grants like Pell. One tip: ask if they can provide a "what if" analysis showing how her aid package might look in both scenarios. Many schools can run these comparisons to help families make informed decisions. Good luck!

As a newcomer to this community and someone just starting to navigate the financial aid maze for my daughter's potential 4+1 program, this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! Reading through everyone's real-world experiences has given me such a clear picture of what we need to prepare for. What really strikes me is how this discussion has evolved into a comprehensive guide that covers not just the basic FAFSA classification question, but all the related implications - from scholarship year limits to tax credits to graduate assistantship opportunities. The collective wisdom here is incredible! I'm particularly grateful for the practical advice about documentation, getting policies in writing, and asking for "what if" analyses. As someone who tends to assume these processes are more straightforward than they actually are, this thread has been a real eye-opener about the importance of institution-specific research and early planning. For any other newcomers reading this: the checklist approach that's emerged from everyone's contributions is pure gold. I'm printing out the key questions and taking them straight to our financial aid meetings. This is exactly why online communities like this are so valuable - you get insights and strategies that you simply can't find in official resources. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and expertise. This thread should be required reading for any family considering accelerated degree programs!