As a grandparent who went through this process last year with my granddaughter, I wanted to add a few practical tips that helped us navigate everything smoothly: 1. Consider creating a shared Google doc or folder with your grandson and his parents where you can all track deadlines, required documents, and school-specific aid requirements. Each college can have different deadlines for their own aid forms beyond just the FAFSA. 2. If your grandson is applying to multiple schools, help him create a spreadsheet to compare aid packages when they come in. The "net price" (total cost minus all grants and scholarships) is what really matters, not just the sticker price. 3. Don't forget about state aid programs! Many states have their own grant programs with earlier deadlines than federal aid. In our state, we almost missed out on $2,000 in state grants because we didn't know about the separate deadline. 4. If you want to help but are worried about affecting his aid eligibility, you could also consider paying for things like textbooks, laptop, or dorm supplies directly to the vendors rather than giving cash. The whole process seemed overwhelming at first, but breaking it down into smaller steps really helped. Your grandson is lucky to have such a supportive grandparent looking out for him!

As someone who just went through this process with my own grandchild, I want to echo what others have said about starting early and staying organized. One thing that really helped us was attending a financial aid workshop at the local high school - many schools offer these for families in the spring. The counselor explained everything in plain English and even helped us understand the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Also, don't be afraid to call the financial aid offices at the colleges your grandson is considering! I was intimidated at first, but the staff were actually very helpful in explaining their specific policies and deadlines. Some schools even have grandparent information sessions. One mistake we made was assuming we understood everything from online research. Having that face-to-face conversation with a real person made all the difference. Your grandson is so fortunate to have you advocating for him - that support means more than you know!

I went through FAFSA verification just this past January and can confirm what most people here are saying - they did NOT require bank statements! I was selected for V1 verification (which is the most common type) and only had to submit my IRS tax transcript, W-2 forms, and a verification worksheet confirming my household size and number of family members in college. The whole process took about 2 weeks from start to finish, and my aid package didn't change at all since I had reported everything accurately on my original FAFSA. Your friend might have been dealing with additional institutional requirements from their specific school, or possibly got confused about documentation needed for a different type of financial aid. My biggest advice: don't panic about those "weird transactions" because the verification process isn't about reviewing your spending habits or transaction history. They're literally just confirming that the income and asset information you reported on your FAFSA matches your official tax documents. As long as you reported your account balances accurately as of the day you filed your FAFSA, you should be completely fine. Wait for your official verification letter from your school's financial aid office - it will tell you exactly which verification group you're in and list the specific documents they need. In my experience, the reality was much less stressful than all the horror stories online made it seem!

Just wanted to add my recent experience to help put your mind at ease! I completed FAFSA verification last month and it was honestly much simpler than I expected. I was selected for V1 verification and only needed to provide my IRS tax transcript, W-2 forms, and a basic verification worksheet about my household size - no bank statements whatsoever. I think what might be happening with your friend is that different schools sometimes have their own additional verification requirements beyond the standard federal process, especially for institutional aid. But the core federal FAFSA verification really just focuses on confirming your reported income and family information matches your tax documents. The thing that helped me most was remembering that verification isn't about judging your financial decisions or scrutinizing every transaction - it's literally just about making sure the numbers you put on your FAFSA were accurate. Since you're worried about those transactions, I'm guessing you reported your account balances honestly on the application date, which means you should be totally fine. My advice: wait for your school's official verification packet so you know exactly what documents they need for your specific situation. Don't let anxiety about your spending history keep you stressed when that's probably not even part of the process. You've got this!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to add my voice to this incredibly helpful thread! I'm currently experiencing the exact same heart-stopping panic with my daughter's FAFSA showing that awful "No loans or grants available" message. Like so many others here, I was completely convinced this meant we were getting zero financial aid and started having sleepless nights about how we'd possibly afford college tuition. Reading through everyone's shared experiences has been such an enormous relief - it's amazing to discover that this confusing and vague message is actually a very common occurrence that typically just indicates processing delays rather than actual aid rejection. The unanimous advice about calling the school's financial aid office directly instead of trying to decode those cryptic FAFSA portal messages is exactly the guidance I needed. It's clear this community has some wonderfully knowledgeable and experienced members who genuinely care about helping families navigate this incredibly stressful and overwhelming process. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their real-world stories and practical advice - I'm definitely calling my daughter's school tomorrow morning with so much more confidence and understanding now!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been for someone like me who's completely new to the FAFSA process! I'm currently dealing with my first child heading to college and seeing that same terrifying "No loans or grants available" message on our FAFSA portal. Like so many others here, I was absolutely panicking thinking we'd been completely denied any financial aid and had no idea how we'd manage the college costs. Reading through everyone's real experiences and advice has been such a huge relief - it's amazing to learn that this confusing message is actually very common and typically just means the school hasn't processed the aid package yet, not that we're getting nothing. The consistent advice about calling the school's financial aid office directly instead of trying to interpret those vague FAFSA portal messages makes perfect sense and is exactly what I needed to hear. It's clear this community has some genuinely knowledgeable and experienced members who care about helping families navigate this overwhelming process. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories - I'm definitely calling our school tomorrow with much more confidence now!

Welcome to the community! As a newcomer here, I wanted to share something that might help with your daughter's transfer situation. When my sister went through a mid-year transfer two years ago, one issue we didn't anticipate was that her current school's financial aid office needed a specific "withdrawal date" even though she was completing the fall semester. This date affects how they report her enrollment status to the National Student Clearinghouse, which the new school checks before finalizing aid packages. I'd recommend asking her current school's financial aid office what withdrawal/transfer date they plan to use in their systems - ideally it should be after her fall semester ends but before spring classes begin. If there's any confusion about this date between the two schools, it can delay aid processing at the new school. Also, since you mentioned this is her dream school, make sure to ask about their appeal process for additional institutional aid. Many schools reserve some aid specifically for situations like compelling transfers, but you often have to request consideration rather than it being automatically awarded. The transfer process can definitely feel overwhelming, but it sounds like you're asking all the right questions and being wonderfully proactive. Wishing your daughter the best as she starts this exciting new chapter!

Welcome to the community! As someone new here dealing with a similar transfer situation, I wanted to share something that helped us when my daughter transferred mid-year. One thing that really caught me off guard was that some schools have specific "transfer student orientation" sessions that include financial aid components - these often happen before regular orientation and can be crucial for getting your aid package finalized quickly. I'd recommend asking the new school if they have any special orientation or information sessions for spring transfer students, particularly focused on financial aid. These sessions often cover transfer-specific policies and deadlines that aren't included in general materials. Also, something I learned the hard way - keep detailed records of every financial aid conversation, including the names and direct phone numbers of staff you speak with. Financial aid offices often have high turnover, and having specific contact information can save you from starting over if your main contact leaves. One more tip: ask both schools about their emergency contact procedures if issues arise during winter break when offices might have limited hours. Having a plan for urgent financial aid questions during the transition period can really reduce stress. Your daughter is so fortunate to be transferring to her dream school! The proactive approach you're taking with all these questions shows you'll navigate this successfully. Best of luck with the process!

As someone completely new to the FAFSA process, I just want to echo what everyone else has said - this thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding SAI! I had been putting off starting my application because I was so confused by all the financial aid terminology, but reading through all these explanations has finally made it click. The breakdown of the formula (COA - SAI = Financial Need) was especially helpful, and I love that people shared their actual experiences with different SAI numbers and aid outcomes. It's really encouraging to know that even if my SAI isn't super low, there are still options and that different schools might offer very different packages. I'm definitely going to use that Federal Student Aid Estimator tool before submitting, and I'll make sure to look into the CSS Profile for any private schools on my list. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here - you've made this whole process feel so much less intimidating for those of us just getting started!

As someone who's just beginning to navigate the FAFSA process, this entire discussion has been absolutely eye-opening! I came here completely overwhelmed by all the financial aid terminology, but everyone's explanations about SAI have made it so much clearer. What really helped me understand was learning that SAI essentially shows how much my family is expected to contribute, and that LOWER numbers mean more aid opportunities. The real-world examples people shared - like how someone with an SAI of 6,000 ended up with a private school being cheaper than public options - really changed my perspective on where I should apply. I'm definitely going to use the Federal Student Aid Estimator tool before submitting my application, and I had no idea about the CSS Profile requirement for private schools. The tip about mentioning special circumstances in the additional information section is something I never would have thought of either. Thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive space for newcomers to learn! This community has made what felt like an impossible process seem much more manageable. Time to tackle that FAFSA application with confidence!