As a newcomer to this financial aid maze, I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who shared their experiences here! I'm literally in the exact same boat - FAFSA approved but stuck at "processed" status, and my school's financial aid office has been completely useless at explaining what happens next. Reading through all these responses has been like getting a crash course in financial aid that I definitely didn't receive during orientation. I had no clue about entrance counseling, MPN signing, or having to manually accept loans in the student portal. It's honestly crazy that schools don't make these crucial steps more obvious! Based on everyone's advice, my game plan is: 1. Log into studentaid.gov tonight to complete any missing requirements 2. Hunt for that buried "accept loans" button in my student portal 3. Set up direct deposit for faster refunds 4. Download the Federal Student Aid mobile app for easier tracking 5. Look for that hidden "Financial Aid Checklist" someone mentioned The timeline breakdown (10 days for disbursement + 1-2 weeks for refunds) is super helpful for managing my stress levels. I was starting to panic thinking something was wrong, but apparently this waiting game is totally normal for first-semester students. You've all been way more helpful than any official source I've tried! Hopefully I can pay it forward by helping other confused newcomers once I figure this whole system out.

Hey Madison! I'm also a first-year student and just went through this exact same confusion a few weeks ago. The financial aid process is honestly terrible at most schools - you're definitely not alone in feeling lost! Based on what you've described, it sounds like you're missing a couple of key steps that schools never bother to explain upfront. Here's what finally worked for me: 1. **Go to studentaid.gov immediately** - you probably need to complete entrance counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN). These are required before loans can disburse, but schools act like you should just magically know about them. 2. **Check your student portal for an "accept aid" button** - mine was buried in the financial aid section and I almost missed it completely. You have to manually accept loan offers even after your FAFSA is approved. 3. **The excess $1,500 is definitely yours** - once aid disburses, they apply it to your bill first, then send you the difference as a refund for books, living expenses, etc. 4. **Timeline is usually 10 days after classes start for disbursement, then another 1-2 weeks for refunds** - set up direct deposit in your student account or you'll be waiting forever for a mailed check. The "processed" status usually just means they're waiting for you to complete those missing steps. Once I did the entrance counseling and accepted my loans, everything moved pretty quickly. Pell Grants are automatic if you qualify based on your FAFSA - no separate application needed. You can see the breakdown of what's grants vs loans on studentaid.gov once you complete the requirements. Hang in there! The first semester is always the most confusing, but it gets so much easier once you understand the process.

I'm really sorry for your loss and what you're going through. One thing I want to add that might help immediately - if your son's school participates in the Federal Work-Study program, that income doesn't count against next year's FAFSA the same way other student income does. Even if he didn't qualify this year, it's worth asking if there are any work-study positions still available or if he can get on a waitlist. Also, since you mentioned you're renting out the family home, make sure when you report it on the FAFSA that you're only reporting the NET equity (market value minus what you still owe), not the full property value. And if the property has depreciated since your husband's death, you might want to get a current appraisal. One more thought - some schools have "emergency aid" or "crisis grants" that are separate from the normal financial aid process. These are typically for unexpected situations and might be worth asking about given your circumstances.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the stress you're dealing with. As a financial aid counselor, I want to add a few points that might help: First, definitely pursue the Professional Judgment review that others mentioned - but when you do, emphasize that your investment withdrawals are for basic living expenses, not discretionary spending. The fact that you're using them to help with your son's housing costs actually strengthens your case since it shows the money is going toward educational expenses. Also, consider having your son file as an independent student if he meets any of the criteria (age 24+, married, has dependents, etc.). If not, there's also something called a "dependency override" for unusual circumstances, though it's harder to get approved. One strategy for next year: if possible, consider paying down any debts or prepaying expenses before the FAFSA snapshot date. This can reduce your reportable assets without actually reducing your financial security. Finally, many states have their own grant programs with different eligibility rules than federal aid. California's Middle Class Scholarship program, for example, might be worth looking into even if you didn't qualify for other aid. Don't give up - I've seen families in very similar situations find pathways to make college work.

As someone who just got through the Excelsior application process this year, I wanted to share a few additional tips that might help: 1. **Document everything NOW** - Don't wait to gather your paperwork. Get copies of 2023 tax returns from both parents, any divorce decrees, and start that expense tracking spreadsheet ASAP. 2. **The "supporting parent" calculation is crucial** - I actually had to submit a signed affidavit explaining why my mom was my supporting parent even though my dad claimed me on taxes (she paid 70% of my actual living expenses). HESC accepted this with proper documentation. 3. **Income verification is intense** - They wanted tax transcripts directly from the IRS, not just copies of tax returns. You can request these online but they take time to arrive. 4. **Apply anyway if you're borderline** - The income limits have been increasing, and they do consider special circumstances sometimes. I know someone who got approved even though they were slightly over the AGI limit due to a parent's job loss during 2023. 5. **Follow up religiously** - Check your application status online weekly and respond to any requests for additional info immediately. They don't send reminder emails! The NY residency requirement is definitely something to consider carefully, but remember you can work anywhere in the state - NYC, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany all have good job markets in different fields. Good luck to everyone applying! This thread has been so helpful for understanding the confusing parent income rules. 🍀

As someone who's been lurking here for a while but finally created an account because this thread is SO helpful - thank you everyone for breaking down these confusing rules! I'm in a similar situation with divorced parents but mine never remarried, which I thought would make things simpler... turns out it doesn't! My dad claims me on taxes but my mom pays for most of my day-to-day expenses. From reading all your responses, it sounds like I need to focus on who claimed me for 2023 taxes specifically. One thing I'm still confused about - if the supporting parent determination is based on who provides more than 50% of support, but the tax dependency might not match that, which one takes priority for Excelsior? @Kolton mentioned submitting an affidavit when these don't align, but I'm wondering how often HESC actually accepts those explanations vs just going with the tax return info? Also, has anyone successfully appealed an Excelsior denial? I'm worried I might be borderline on the income limit and want to know if there's a realistic path forward if the initial application gets rejected. Thanks again to everyone who's shared their experiences - this community is literally saving my sanity during application season! 💙

As a newcomer to this whole FAFSA process, I have to say this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm the parent of a high school junior who just started her first job, and I've been stressing about how her earnings might impact our financial aid eligibility next year. The specific breakdown of 50% of income above the $7,600 protection allowance and 20% of assets is exactly what I needed to understand. What really helped me was seeing the actual dollar amounts in the original example - it makes the percentages so much more concrete and less scary than I initially thought. I'm particularly grateful for all the strategic tips about timing education-related purchases before filing FAFSA. My daughter needs a new laptop and some other supplies for senior year, so knowing we can legitimately reduce her reportable assets by making those purchases strategically is really helpful. One follow-up question: for students who are just starting to work (like my daughter), is it worth having conversations with them about these FAFSA implications early on? I don't want to discourage her work ethic, but I also want to make sure we're making informed financial decisions as a family throughout her senior year. Thank you to everyone who shared such detailed and practical advice - this is the kind of real-world guidance that makes all the difference!

As someone completely new to the FAFSA process, this thread has been a lifesaver! My daughter just turned 16 and got her first job at a local retail store, and I had no idea how her earnings would impact our future financial aid applications. The clear breakdown everyone provided about the 50% income assessment above the protection allowance and 20% asset assessment really helps me understand what we're dealing with. I love how you've all shared specific dollar amounts and real examples - it makes the abstract percentages so much more manageable to understand. I'm definitely taking notes on all the strategic timing advice, especially about making education-related purchases before filing FAFSA. It's reassuring to know there are legitimate ways to be smart about the system without doing anything inappropriate. One question I have: since we're still two years out from filing our first FAFSA, should I start having conversations with my daughter now about these implications, or wait until closer to application time? I want to help her make informed decisions about her earnings and savings without overwhelming her or making her feel like working isn't worth it. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed and practical guidance - this is exactly the kind of real-world information that's impossible to find anywhere else!

As someone who's currently going through this process with my son, I can confirm that adding schools later is definitely possible and pretty straightforward! We submitted our FAFSA in early February with 5 schools, then added 2 more in March when he got some unexpected acceptances. The process took maybe 10 minutes total. One thing I'd add to the great advice already here - make sure you have your FSA ID login info saved somewhere secure. I panicked when I couldn't remember my password and had to go through the reset process, which delayed adding schools by a few days. Also, if you're dealing with any state-specific aid programs, definitely research whether school order matters in your state before you submit. Some states are pickier about this than others! The new FAFSA system has its quirks, but the ability to modify your school list after submission is actually one of the better features. Good luck with your daughter's applications!

Just want to echo what everyone's saying here - you can definitely add schools after submission! I'm going through this right now with my youngest. We submitted in January with her top 6 choices, then she got waitlisted at her dream school and decided to apply to 3 backup options. Adding them to the FAFSA was honestly the easiest part of the whole process. One thing I learned the hard way though - if you're applying for any merit-based aid or special programs at those later schools, make sure to check if they have earlier FAFSA deadlines than their regular financial aid deadlines. My daughter missed out on a competitive scholarship at one school because even though we met their general aid deadline, the scholarship had an earlier FAFSA requirement that we didn't know about. Always worth calling the financial aid office directly if you're unsure about timing!