That's great news! I'm so glad you were able to get through to them and they're willing to expedite the process. A conditional aid offer is exactly what you needed to make your deposit decision with confidence. Make sure to get that Friday deadline in writing if possible, and don't forget to keep copies of everything you submit. You've got this - the hardest part was just making that initial contact!

Don't let the word "verification" scare you - it really is just a routine check! I'm a college financial aid counselor and see this all the time. The good news is that you're already taking the right steps by being proactive. Since this is school-initiated verification (not federal), they often have more flexibility with timelines. A few quick tips: 1) When you submit your IRS Form 4506-T, it can take 5-10 business days for the IRS to process and send transcripts directly to the school, so factor that into your timeline. 2) If you filed taxes electronically, you might be able to get IRS transcripts online immediately at irs.gov which could speed things up. 3) Keep that Friday deadline they gave you, but also ask if they need the actual IRS transcripts by then or if submitting the 4506-T form is sufficient to start processing. You're doing everything right - verification completion rates are actually very high once families engage with the process!

Update us when your son logs in and checks - I'm curious if this solved your issue. The final submit button should be at the very bottom of the review page in his account, and it's a distinctly different color than the rest of the page elements.

So glad to hear you got it resolved! This is such a common issue that it really shows how poorly designed the new FAFSA interface is. The fact that so many families are getting stuck at this exact same point means the Department of Education needs to seriously rethink how they present the submission process. For anyone else reading this thread - bookmark this conversation! The advice here about checking for that final submit button after all signatures are complete could save you weeks of stress. And definitely don't panic if the helpline can't "find" your application - they're probably just looking for completed submissions, not works in progress.

Hey, just wanted to follow up - were you able to get through to the financial aid office? Did adjusting the PLUS loan work out for your daughter's summer classes?

That's fantastic news! So glad you were able to get through and get everything sorted out. It's such a relief when the financial aid office actually responds and helps resolve these time-sensitive situations. Your daughter is lucky to have such a proactive parent advocating for her. Summer classes can be a great way to catch up, especially after dealing with health issues. Best of luck with her coursework!

One additional option to consider: some families in your situation look at starting at a community college for two years to complete general education requirements at a much lower cost, then transferring to the dream school to finish the degree. The diploma will still say "Dream University" but at potentially half the cost.

I'm in a similar situation with my son - SAI of 69,000 and feeling overwhelmed. One thing that's helped us is creating a spreadsheet comparing the total 4-year costs of all his accepted schools, including potential aid packages. Some schools that seemed expensive initially actually came out cheaper after institutional aid. Also, don't forget about work-study opportunities and summer jobs - my older daughter managed to earn about $8K per year through campus work and internships, which helped offset some costs. It's definitely frustrating when you feel like you're in that "too rich for aid, too poor to afford it" middle ground, but there are still options out there!

Just to address the last comment: There are multiple ways to qualify for the simplified formula. Benefits are one way, but income below certain thresholds is another. If your friend's family income is below about $60,000 AND they filed certain tax forms (like 1040 with standard deduction), they would also qualify for simplified treatment without reporting benefits. The new FAFSA is definitely causing confusion, but in many ways, it's more streamlined. Always double-check your SAI calculation when you receive it, and don't be afraid to ask for professional help if something seems wrong.

So glad you got it figured out! For anyone else reading this thread - don't panic if your FAFSA looks different this year. The simplified approach is actually designed to help families who need aid the most. Just make sure you're reporting ALL income sources correctly, including child support, even if asset questions are skipped. The key is being thorough with the income sections since that's what really drives your aid calculation. Good luck with your financial aid process!