This is such a helpful thread! As someone who's been helping family members navigate FAFSA for a few years now, I can confirm that with an SAI of 4400, you're definitely in good shape for Pell Grant funding. What I always tell people is to also look into work-study opportunities at your community college - with your SAI, you'll likely qualify and it can be a great way to earn some extra money while gaining relevant work experience on campus. Also, since you're working full-time while attending school, make sure to keep track of any education-related expenses (books, supplies, etc.) for tax purposes - you might be eligible for education tax credits too!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to find this detailed discussion! I'm in a very similar situation to Jamal - independent student, working while attending community college, and completely new to the financial aid process. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been incredibly enlightening. The breakdown of SAI ranges and Pell Grant amounts, the information about state grants (had no idea these existed!), and the practical tips about work-study and tax credits are exactly what I needed to hear. It's reassuring to see that the system can work for students like us, and the emphasis on applying early and checking all available resources is noted. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these complex processes!

Just wanted to add that if you're applying to private colleges in California, you might also want to look into the Cal Grant B option. While Cal Grant A covers tuition/fees, Cal Grant B gives you a living allowance ($1,648) plus tuition coverage after your first year. For students with very low family income, Cal Grant B can actually provide more total aid over four years than Cal Grant A, especially at expensive private schools. The system automatically determines which grant type gives you the most money, but it's worth understanding the difference when planning your college budget!

Just to add one more perspective as someone who went through this process recently - don't panic if you see conflicting information online about deadlines! The March 2nd deadline is the PRIORITY deadline for Cal Grants, meaning you get first consideration for funding. But CSAC does accept applications after March 2nd on a funds-available basis until September 2nd. Obviously you want to hit that March deadline, but if something goes wrong with your GPA verification or FAFSA, you're not completely out of luck. I had issues with my school's GPA submission and still got awarded a Cal Grant B in late April. The key is to keep following up and don't give up!

also dont forget to check if ur school does preffesional judgment reviews if u have special circumstances. my family had medical bills and job loss that wasnt on fafsa and we got our sai lowered after we showed proof

Your SAI of 21,939 definitely puts you in a challenging position, but don't give up yet! I'm in a similar situation - my family makes about $95k and my SAI came back at 20,500. Here's what I've learned so far: 1. You're right that you won't qualify for Pell Grants (cutoff is around 6,500 SAI), but you can still get unsubsidized federal loans 2. The key is applying to schools strategically - some state schools and private colleges with good endowments still offer institutional aid even with higher SAIs 3. Definitely pursue that professional judgment appeal for the medical expenses others mentioned I'm also focusing heavily on merit scholarships since need-based aid will be limited. Have you looked into your state's merit programs? Some states have automatic scholarships based on GPA/test scores regardless of income. Don't let this SAI discourage you from completing applications - you won't know what aid you can get until you try!

Welcome to the community! I'm also fairly new here but have been lurking and learning so much from everyone's posts. Your son's situation is definitely complex, but it sounds like you're getting some really solid advice here. The key takeaway seems to be that yes, it needs to be reported as his asset, but the impact might not be as devastating as it initially appears once you factor in the asset protection allowance. One thing I wanted to add that I learned from my own research - make sure you keep really detailed records of everything related to this inheritance and the guardianship account. If you get selected for verification (which seems pretty common these days), having all your documentation organized will make the process much smoother. Also, I've heard that some schools are more generous with institutional aid than others, so don't lose hope if his first choice school doesn't offer enough federal aid - there might be other options available. Good luck with the whole process! It's overwhelming but this community has been such a lifesaver for understanding all the ins and outs.

As someone new to this community, I wanted to chime in because I just went through something very similar with my stepson last year. He inherited about $35,000 from his biological father, and we were completely lost on how to handle it for FAFSA purposes. What I learned (the hard way) is that you absolutely must report it as your son's asset - there's no getting around that. But here's what helped us navigate the situation: we scheduled a consultation with a fee-only financial planner who specializes in college funding strategies. It cost us about $300, but it was worth every penny because they helped us understand not just the FAFSA implications, but also how to strategically plan for all four years of college. One thing they pointed out that I hadn't considered is that while the inheritance will impact his first year of aid, if he uses those funds for college expenses, the asset balance will decrease each year, which means the FAFSA impact decreases too. So it's not like you're stuck with the same penalty for all four years. Also, don't forget to look into merit-based scholarships that aren't need-based. With an inheritance like this, your son might not qualify for as much need-based aid, but merit scholarships don't care about assets - just grades, test scores, and achievements. Hang in there - this community has been incredibly helpful for me, and it sounds like you're getting great advice here!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for all the detailed advice shared in this thread! My daughter is currently a freshman, but she's already expressing doubts about her current major (Communications) and is interested in switching to Nursing. Reading through everyone's experiences is helping me understand the potential financial implications we might face. What really stands out to me from all these responses is how crucial it is to start planning early and maintain detailed documentation throughout the process. The advice about coordinating between academic advisors and financial aid counselors is particularly valuable - I never would have thought about that collaborative approach. I'm curious about one aspect I haven't seen discussed yet - for those who successfully maintained their financial aid through extended programs, did you find that your school's nursing or other health science programs had any special provisions or funding opportunities? I know nursing programs often have different timelines and requirements than traditional four-year degrees, so I'm wondering if there might be program-specific aid available. Also, has anyone dealt with the situation where clinical rotations or hands-on requirements extended the timeline? Nursing programs often have very structured sequences that can't be rushed, so I want to understand if that creates different considerations for financial aid extensions. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly - this community is such a valuable resource for parents trying to navigate these complex decisions!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this entire discussion incredibly valuable and timely! My son is currently a sophomore who recently switched from Mechanical Engineering to Chemistry, and we're just starting to realize he might need an extra semester or two to graduate. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm struck by how much proactive planning seems to make a difference in these situations. The advice about getting both the academic advisor and financial aid counselor involved early, documenting everything, and exploring all the different aid options is exactly what I needed to hear. One thing I'm particularly curious about - for those who successfully navigated major changes from Engineering to other STEM fields, did you find that some of the technical coursework transferred over in ways that helped reduce the timeline impact? My son completed calculus, physics, and some chemistry courses in his Engineering track, and I'm hoping those might count toward his Chemistry degree requirements. Also, has anyone dealt with a situation where the student is considering graduate school in their new field? I'm wondering if there are any strategic considerations about undergraduate timeline and funding that might impact graduate school applications or financial aid eligibility later. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly - this community is proving to be such a valuable resource for navigating these complex financial aid situations!