This whole thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my son who's applying to schools in multiple states, and I was getting so stressed about which forms each school needed. I had no idea that the CSS Profile was primarily for private schools and select public institutions - I thought it was required everywhere like the FAFSA. The fact that you're actually saving money by not having to submit CSS Profile to those other North Carolina schools is a great silver lining! I'm definitely going to use that College Board search tool someone mentioned to double-check all my son's target schools. And that spreadsheet idea with color-coded deadlines sounds genius - I'm setting that up tonight. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and making this whole process feel less overwhelming!

This is exactly the kind of confusion I went through with my oldest daughter two years ago! I was absolutely convinced we had messed something up when only some schools appeared in the CSS Profile. Turns out, like everyone else has mentioned, it's completely normal - the system only shows schools that actually require it. One thing I learned the hard way is to keep a separate checklist for each school's financial aid portal. Even after submitting FAFSA and CSS Profile, some schools have their own verification processes that happen through their student portals. Wake Forest in particular was pretty thorough with their document requests, but their financial aid office was actually really helpful when I called with questions. Also, since you mentioned this is your first time with CSS - don't be surprised if the verification process for Wake Forest and Chapel Hill takes a few weeks to complete. They're pretty thorough about reviewing everything. The good news is that once you get through it this year, you'll be a pro if your son has any younger siblings going through the process later!

I'm so sorry for your loss. As someone who works in college financial aid, I want to reassure you that you're not alone in this situation and there are established processes to help families like yours. Beyond what others have mentioned about the FAFSA, I'd recommend creating a one-page summary document that explains your situation - include the date of your husband's passing, how it affects your current financial situation, and any relevant details about income changes. This can be shared with each college's financial aid office along with supporting documentation. Many schools have emergency aid funds specifically for students whose families experience sudden financial hardship due to death or other circumstances. Also, some states have additional grant programs for students who have lost a parent - it might be worth checking with your state's higher education agency. The most important thing to remember is that financial aid officers are trained to handle these situations with compassion and flexibility. Don't hesitate to advocate for your son and explain your family's circumstances fully. Wishing you both strength during this difficult time.

I'm deeply sorry for your loss and want to commend you for persevering through such a difficult situation to secure your son's financial future. Reading through this thread, I'm struck by how many families face similar challenges and how helpful this community has been. As someone new here, I wanted to add that if you haven't already, consider reaching out to local community organizations or your church/synagogue/mosque if you're part of one - many have scholarship funds or can connect you with additional resources specifically for students who've lost a parent. Also, some employers offer educational benefits for children of deceased employees that might apply to your situation. The documentation and advocacy advice everyone has shared here is spot-on. You're clearly a strong advocate for your son, and I have no doubt you'll navigate this successfully. Thank you for sharing your update - it will help so many other families who might find themselves in similar circumstances.

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say how helpful this entire thread has been! As someone who's about to start the FAFSA process for the first time with my daughter who also has dual enrollment credits, I'm learning so much from everyone's experiences. The advice about making sure the grade level on FAFSA matches what the school has on file seems crucial - I never would have thought to double-check that. It's also reassuring to hear that grade level "jumps" are becoming more common and that financial aid offices are getting used to handling these situations. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and keep all these tips in mind when we fill out our forms. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's making what seemed like an impossible process feel much more manageable!

I'm dealing with this exact situation with my twin daughters right now! They both accumulated different amounts of dual enrollment credits, so one is classified as a junior and the other as a senior for 2025-26 even though they graduated high school together. What I learned from our financial aid counselor is that the FAFSA grade level should reflect where they'll be academically at the start of the school year, not how many years they've been enrolled. The system is actually designed to handle these accelerated pathways now since dual enrollment has become so popular. Don't stress about the "jump" from sophomore to senior - as long as your son's school confirms his senior standing based on credit hours, that's what you should put on the FAFSA. The loan amounts will adjust accordingly and you won't be penalized for his academic success!

Just wanted to jump in and share something that really helped me when I was in your exact situation last year! My family also had a major income change (my mom got laid off in early 2023) and I was so worried about using those old 2022 tax numbers. Here's what I learned: Yes, you absolutely need to report ALL non-retirement investments at their current market value - so your mom's inherited portfolio definitely counts, but your dad's 401k does not. I made the mistake of trying to be too precise with stock values and checking them daily, but honestly just use recent account statements (within the past few weeks) and you'll be fine. For the professional judgment appeals, I contacted my schools literally the day after my FAFSA was processed. Each school had completely different forms and requirements - some wanted three months of pay stubs, others wanted a letter from the employer, etc. It was a lot of paperwork but SO worth it. I ended up getting an additional $7,000 in aid at my top choice school. One tip nobody told me: when you're gathering documents, also collect unemployment benefit information if your dad received any, because schools often ask for that during the appeal process too. The new FAFSA is definitely confusing but you're asking all the right questions. You've got this!

Hey Emily! I went through this exact same situation two years ago when my family had major income changes. Just wanted to add a few practical tips that really helped me: For the investment reporting - I found it helpful to take screenshots of all account balances on the same day I planned to submit my FAFSA, just so I had consistent documentation. Don't stress about daily market fluctuations - the financial aid offices understand these numbers change. Regarding the professional judgment appeals, I'd recommend starting to gather documentation NOW even before you submit your FAFSA. Things like: termination letter from your dad's employer, unemployment benefit statements, recent pay stubs if he's found new work, and a letter explaining the timeline of events. Having this ready will speed up the appeal process at each school. Also, when you contact schools about professional judgment, ask specifically about their deadlines and whether they have a standard form. Some schools I applied to had a simple one-page form, while others required a full financial hardship packet. Knowing what each school needs upfront saved me tons of time. One last thing - keep detailed records of every conversation you have with financial aid offices. I created a simple spreadsheet tracking which schools I contacted, when, what they requested, and follow-up dates. It was a lifesaver when managing multiple appeals. You're being super proactive by asking these questions - that's exactly the approach that will help you maximize your aid!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - the FAFSA changes this year have been devastating for so many families! Reading through all the responses, it sounds like you've gotten some excellent advice about the professional judgment process. One additional thing I'd suggest is to also check if your son's school offers any institutional aid that might not be tied to the federal SAI calculation. Some schools have their own need-based grants that use different formulas, especially for continuing students who've had their aid unexpectedly reduced due to the FAFSA changes. Also, when you submit your professional judgment documentation about the 401k withdrawal, include a brief letter explaining that this was a one-time necessity for essential home repairs and that you don't anticipate needing similar withdrawals in the future. Financial aid officers appreciate when families provide context that helps them understand the full picture. Keep us updated on how the appeal goes - your situation could really help other families who are dealing with similar SAI shocks this year!

I'm going through almost the exact same situation right now! My daughter's SAI jumped from around $8,000 to $18,000 and her aid package went from $12,500 down to just $2,100. Like you, we only had modest income changes but lost the multiple student benefit when her older brother graduated. What's been really helpful for me is gathering ALL the documentation before calling financial aid - both years' tax returns, SAR reports, and detailed notes about any one-time income events. I also created a simple timeline showing exactly what changed between the two years to make it easier for them to understand our situation. The financial aid office was actually really understanding once I explained everything clearly. They said the FAFSA changes have created a lot of these situations and they're trying to help families navigate the transition. Definitely push for that professional judgment review - it sounds like you have a strong case with the retirement withdrawal being a one-time necessity. Good luck and don't give up! The whole system feels overwhelming right now but there are people who want to help once you get through to the right person.