Smart decision, Emma! You've got a solid plan. One more tip since you mentioned refinancing - shop around with multiple lenders (SoFi, Earnest, CommonBond, etc.) as they all have different qualification criteria and rates. Some will give you rate quotes without a hard credit pull initially. Also, make sure to apply for refinancing soon after you start your new job - lenders like to see stable employment history. Good luck with your new career and tackling those loans!

Another thing to consider while you're tackling those Sallie Mae loans - look into whether you can make bi-weekly payments instead of monthly. If you pay half your monthly payment every two weeks, you'll end up making 26 payments per year (equivalent to 13 monthly payments) instead of 12. This can shave years off your repayment timeline and save thousands in interest, especially with that 9.8% rate. I did this with my private loans and it made a huge difference. Just make sure there are no prepayment penalties first!

Just wanted to add my experience here - I was in the exact same boat last year! I panicked thinking the CSS Profile would hurt my chances because it shows so much more detail about our finances. But honestly, it ended up helping me get MORE aid at my private colleges. The key thing everyone's saying is right - you NEED both forms. FAFSA gets you federal aid (which is huge - Pell Grants, subsidized loans, etc.) and CSS Profile helps private schools give you their institutional money. Don't worry about being "too transparent" - financial aid offices want to help students who need aid. The extra info in CSS Profile can actually work in your favor if you have special circumstances. I got much better packages from schools that used CSS Profile than from ones that only used FAFSA. Get that FAFSA done ASAP though! You're missing out on potentially thousands in federal aid without it.

Don't stress too much about being "too transparent" with your finances! I was in a similar situation and worried that the CSS Profile would hurt my aid chances because it digs so deep into family assets. But here's what I learned: many private schools have MUCH better aid packages than you'd expect, and they use that detailed CSS info to actually help students in unique situations. The bottom line everyone's hitting on is absolutely correct - you need BOTH forms. FAFSA is non-negotiable for federal aid (Pell Grants alone can be worth thousands), and CSS Profile unlocks institutional aid at private colleges that often have huge endowments to help students. I'd recommend getting your FAFSA submitted immediately since you're already behind on that. The CSS Profile work you've done isn't wasted at all - it's going to open doors to aid you wouldn't get otherwise. You didn't make a mistake by being thorough with your financial info!

UPDATE: I was able to coordinate with my daughter and she logged in during her lunch break. The SAI was indeed only visible on her account (under the Student Aid Report section). She set me up as an authorized user but that still didn't give me access to see the SAI directly - she had to download the report and send it to me. For anyone else looking: The SAI appears as a number on the Student Aid Report (SAR). In our case, it was much lower than I expected based on our income, which is actually good news for aid purposes! Thanks everyone for your help.

Great to see you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add for future reference - the SAI can actually change if there are any corrections made to the FAFSA, so it's worth having your daughter check it periodically, especially if any of your financial information changes. Also, keep that SAR document safe - some schools might ask for a copy of it during their financial aid verification process. The lower SAI is definitely good news for potential aid eligibility!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for this incredibly thorough and enlightening discussion! I'm currently helping a family friend whose situation is almost identical - her 17-year-old son lives with her (she receives disability benefits and doesn't file taxes), but his older brother claimed him as a dependent for tax purposes. I was completely lost about which financial information to use for his FAFSA until reading through all these responses. The key insight that physical living situation determines FAFSA parentage (not who gets the tax benefit) has been absolutely crucial to understand. I'm particularly grateful for the detailed verification preparation strategies everyone has shared - we're already starting to collect school enrollment records, benefit documentation, and preparing for the non-filing verification process. It's both frustrating and reassuring to see how widespread these complex family dynamics are - frustrating that the official FAFSA materials don't address them clearly enough, but reassuring that there are established solutions and such a knowledgeable community willing to share practical guidance. This thread should honestly be required reading for anyone dealing with non-traditional family situations and FAFSA applications!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have found this incredibly detailed and helpful discussion! I'm currently working with a student who's in a very similar situation - she's 18, lives with her aunt who receives Social Security benefits and doesn't file taxes, but her older sister claimed her as a dependent on her tax return. Before reading this thread, I was completely confused about whose financial information we needed to use for her FAFSA. The clear explanation that FAFSA dependency is based on actual living arrangements and support (not who claims tax benefits) has been absolutely eye-opening. I'm particularly thankful for all the practical verification preparation advice shared throughout this discussion - we're already starting to gather school enrollment records showing her aunt's address, Social Security benefit documentation, and preparing for the non-filing verification process. It's both concerning and comforting to see how widespread these non-traditional family situations are - concerning that the official FAFSA guidance doesn't adequately address these common scenarios, but comforting that there are established processes and such a knowledgeable community to help navigate them. This entire conversation has given me the confidence and roadmap needed to help this student move forward successfully with her FAFSA application. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences and creating such an invaluable resource!

One additional thing to consider - if your son's university does close, make sure to document the closure date and circumstances. The Department of Education requires specific documentation for closed school discharge eligibility, and schools sometimes try to frame closures as "mergers" or "consolidations" which can affect your discharge options. Also, keep records of any tuition refunds or partial refunds you receive from the current school, as this can impact your financial aid eligibility at transfer schools. The timing of when you apply for aid at potential transfer schools versus when the current school officially closes can make a difference in your aid calculations.

As someone who works in higher education finance, I want to emphasize something that hasn't been fully addressed - look into your state's tuition recovery fund if one exists. Many states have these funds specifically to protect students when private institutions close unexpectedly. Also, if your son is in a specialized program, reach out to professional associations in that field - they sometimes maintain lists of schools with strong programs and can provide guidance on credit transfer policies specific to the major. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) website also has resources for students dealing with school closures that might be helpful as you navigate this situation.