Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in college admissions - we see this parent portal issue constantly during FAFSA season! One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is to make sure you're not trying to access the portal too soon after your student sends the invitation. Sometimes there's a 24-48 hour delay before the parent contribution section actually becomes available, even though you get the email notification right away. Also, if you're still having trouble after trying all these great suggestions, don't panic about the deadline! Most colleges are understanding about FAFSA technical issues this year given all the system changes. You can always call the financial aid office directly and explain the situation - they may be able to extend your priority deadline or work with a partially completed application while you sort out the technical problems. The new FAFSA system has been a real challenge for everyone, but these troubleshooting tips from this thread are spot on!

This entire thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm going through this exact same situation with my son's FAFSA right now and was getting so frustrated. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has given me a clear action plan to follow. I especially appreciate the tips about checking the notification center to accept the invitation, trying different browsers, and disabling VPN/ad blockers. It's honestly reassuring to know that so many other parents are dealing with these same technical issues - I was starting to think I was just completely incompetent with technology! The fact that even college admissions counselors are seeing this problem regularly makes me feel better about the situation. Going to try the Chrome browser switch and notification acceptance steps tonight. Fingers crossed it works as smoothly as it did for Ava!

One final note that might be helpful: if you're concerned about reporting accuracy, you can always call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 to get clarification on specific situations like your refinanced rental property. They should be able to give you an official answer. Alternatively, most colleges have financial aid advisors who can help with FAFSA questions even before you've been accepted. They often provide more practical guidance than the federal helpline. Just remember that the FAFSA is looking for a snapshot of your current financial situation, not a comprehensive history of all your financial decisions.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation last year! The advice about retirement accounts being excluded is spot on - that was such a relief when I found out. For your rental property situation, since you mentioned refinancing and using some funds for other purposes, definitely go with the conservative approach and only subtract the mortgage amount that was actually used for the property itself. One thing that helped me was keeping all my refinancing paperwork handy in case of verification. The closing disclosure will show exactly how the loan proceeds were used. Also, don't stress too much about getting it perfect - if you're selected for verification and need to make corrections, the financial aid office will work with you. The key is showing good faith effort to be accurate. Your daughter is lucky to have a parent who cares enough to get this right!

You all have been SO helpful! I'm going to: 1. Complete the FAFSA with our current information 2. Have my son request a reduced schedule at his current job if possible 3. File for Professional Judgment reviews at each school 4. Use that Claimyr service to speak with someone directly about our options It's still frustrating that the system doesn't automatically account for these situations, but at least there's a path forward. Thank you everyone!

As someone who just went through this process with my own child, I want to add that timing is really important with the Professional Judgment appeals. Don't wait until the last minute to submit them! Some schools have deadlines for these requests, and processing can take several weeks. Also, be prepared to provide documentation like a resignation letter, last pay stub, and a statement explaining the circumstances. The more thorough your documentation, the better your chances of getting the adjustment approved. Your son is lucky to have such a supportive parent advocating for him!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I'm currently dealing with the exact same situation - we just received our FAFSA results with a $37,000 SAI and I had that same initial panic of "how are we supposed to pay this much?!" Reading through everyone's real experiences has been such a relief. The examples from @Andre Moreau (paying $28k with a $45k SAI) and @Sasha Ivanov (only $18k at one of the more expensive schools) really help put things in perspective. It's clear that the SAI is just one piece of the puzzle, not the final answer. I'm particularly grateful for the practical advice about: - Waiting for actual financial aid packages before panicking - Looking beyond just the sticker price when choosing schools - Understanding the difference between gift aid and loans - The importance of applying to a diverse mix of schools @QuantumQuester, your explanation of the demonstrated need calculation was especially helpful - knowing that colleges will try to meet at least some of that $16,000+ gap gives me hope that we'll have options. We're now in the waiting period for financial aid packages to arrive, and while it's still nerve-wracking, I feel much more prepared for what to expect thanks to this community. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly - it means the world to stressed parents like me!

As someone new to this community and the college financial aid process, I can't express how valuable this discussion has been! My family is just starting to research colleges for my junior daughter, and honestly, I was terrified about the financial aspect until I found this thread. The real-world examples everyone has shared are incredibly reassuring - especially hearing that actual out-of-pocket costs can be significantly lower than the SAI. @Andre Moreau's experience of paying $28k with a $45k SAI and @Sasha Ivanov's story about the $18k cost at a more expensive school really help illustrate that we shouldn't judge affordability by sticker price alone. I'm taking notes on all the practical advice here: applying to a diverse mix of schools, focusing on gift aid vs. loans, looking into merit scholarships early, and being prepared to appeal if needed. @QuantumQuester's explanation of the demonstrated need calculation was particularly enlightening. For families just starting this journey like mine, this thread is proof that while the process is stressful, there are real strategies and reasons for hope. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - you're helping so many of us navigate what initially feels like an impossible situation!

Glad to hear you got it sorted out! Just wanted to add one more tip for future reference - you can also set up text alerts through your studentaid.gov account to get notified when your FAFSA is processed or if there are any issues. Really helps avoid these last-minute panic situations. And definitely keep checking your school email regularly during aid season - sometimes they send important updates that can get buried in your inbox.

Just wanted to chime in as another PA student who went through this same confusion! One thing I learned the hard way is that even if your PHEAA approval letter doesn't explicitly mention FAFSA, you should always double-check your student portal to make sure all your aid requirements are met. Sometimes there are holds or missing documents that aren't obvious from the initial approval. Also, if you're taking summer classes at a different school than your main campus, make sure both schools are communicating about your aid - I had issues with that once where my home school had all my info but the summer host school didn't receive the transfer properly. Hope everything works out for your summer registration!