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Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - if your daughter is considering any schools that offer early action or early decision (non-binding), you might want to encourage her to apply to those since the FAFSA won't be available until December 1st. Some schools have their own institutional aid applications that can be completed earlier, and getting an early acceptance can take some pressure off while you're navigating the new FAFSA system. Also, I've found it helpful to create a spreadsheet with all the schools she's interested in, their FAFSA deadlines, CSS Profile requirements, and any school-specific aid applications. With all these changes this year, staying organized is going to be more important than ever!
This is such excellent advice! I hadn't thought about the timing issue with early applications vs. the December FAFSA launch. The spreadsheet idea is brilliant too - I'm definitely going to set that up this weekend. With all these changes, organization really will be key. Thank you for thinking of that detail about institutional aid applications - I'll make sure to check each school's website for their specific requirements and deadlines.
As someone who just went through this process with my son last year, I can't stress enough how important it is to have all your documents ready before December 1st. The new FAFSA will pull directly from your 2023 tax returns, so make sure those are filed and processed by the IRS well in advance. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - keep digital copies of everything! Bank statements, investment accounts, business records if applicable. The new system is supposed to be more streamlined, but when you inevitably need to provide verification documents to colleges, having everything organized digitally will save you so much time. Also, don't panic if the SAI number looks weird compared to what you're used to seeing with EFC. The scale is completely different, so a negative number isn't necessarily bad - it actually might mean more aid eligibility. Each college will interpret these numbers differently anyway when putting together aid packages.
This is such practical advice, especially about keeping digital copies! I learned this the hard way with my oldest years ago when I had to scramble to find bank statements that the college suddenly needed. The point about the SAI scale being different is really reassuring too - I was worried about seeing negative numbers and thinking we'd done something wrong. It's good to know that's actually normal and potentially beneficial. I'm definitely going to start organizing all our 2023 documents now rather than waiting until December. Thank you for sharing your experience!
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btw have u considered any of the regional tuition exchange programs? like the western undergraduate exchange or midwest student exchange? some of them give big discounts on oos tuition if ur in a participating state
I've heard of those but haven't researched them. I'm in Illinois - do you know if we're part of one of those exchanges?
Illinois is part of the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP). Through this program, you can attend certain public institutions in Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin at no more than 150% of the in-state tuition rate (rather than paying full out-of-state rates which can be 300-400% higher). Some participating schools also offer tuition discounts for private institutions. This could potentially save you thousands compared to standard out-of-state rates.
Your negative SAI of -1500 is definitely a good position to be in for financial aid! As others have mentioned, you'll qualify for maximum federal aid including the full Pell Grant (~$7,395). However, I'd strongly recommend creating a comprehensive comparison before committing to that $30k out-of-state school. Here's what I'd suggest doing: 1. Apply to several in-state public universities as your financial safety net 2. Look into the Midwest Student Exchange Program since you're in Illinois - could save you thousands 3. Consider starting at a community college and transferring after 2 years 4. Research private schools that meet full demonstrated need (some are more generous than public out-of-state options) The harsh reality is that even with your excellent SAI, you could still face significant debt at an out-of-state public university. I've seen students with similar situations end up with $60k+ in loans after 4 years. Run the numbers carefully and have backup plans!
This is really solid advice! I'm definitely going to look into all those options you mentioned. The backup plan approach makes so much sense - I guess I was getting tunnel vision about this one school. Do you have any specific recommendations for private schools that are known for meeting full demonstrated need for students with negative SAIs like mine?
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As someone new to navigating college financial aid, this entire discussion has been so enlightening! I'm currently helping my younger sister understand her aid package for next year, and she's in a similar situation with both Bright Futures Medallion and Pell Grant eligibility. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm realizing how important it is to understand that these are truly separate funding streams that complement each other beautifully. The tip about creating a spreadsheet to track different aid sources is something I'm definitely going to suggest to her - it seems like such a practical way to stay organized. One thing I'm curious about - for students who might be on the borderline of maintaining the 2.75 GPA requirement for Bright Futures, are there any early warning systems or mid-semester check-ins that schools typically provide? It seems like losing that scholarship would be devastating, especially since it can't be regained once lost. Thanks to everyone who has shared their knowledge and experiences here!
Great question about early warning systems! Most Florida universities do have some form of academic progress monitoring, especially for scholarship recipients. Many schools send mid-semester grade reports or have academic advisors who specifically track Bright Futures students' progress. Some institutions even have automated alerts when a student's GPA drops below certain thresholds. I'd definitely recommend having your sister connect with her academic advisor early in the semester to discuss her scholarship requirements and ask about any monitoring systems they have in place. It's also smart to encourage her to check her grades regularly through the student portal rather than waiting until final grades are posted - that way if she's struggling in any class, she can get tutoring or other support before it's too late. The key is being proactive rather than reactive when it comes to maintaining that 2.75 GPA requirement!
This has been such an educational thread! As someone who's about to start the college financial aid process with my daughter next year, I'm bookmarking this entire conversation. The distinction between state merit aid (Bright Futures) and federal need-based aid (FAFSA/Pell Grant) is so much clearer now thanks to everyone's explanations. I'm particularly grateful for the practical tips like using the portal filters to separate aid types, creating a tracking spreadsheet, and staying on top of GPA requirements. It sounds like Florida students who qualify for both Bright Futures and Pell Grant are really in an excellent position financially. One follow-up question - for families just starting this process, when should we expect to hear about Bright Futures eligibility? Is that notification separate from the college's financial aid award letter, or do they typically come around the same time?
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Wow, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a transfer student who just submitted my FAFSA last week and I'm pretty sure I made the same mistake with my dad's income information. Seeing how many people have dealt with this exact issue makes me feel so much better about having to make corrections. The step-by-step guidance from everyone (especially the financial aid advisor!) is exactly what I needed. I'm going to log into studentaid.gov tonight and get this fixed before my transfer deadline next month. It's amazing how something that seemed like such a catastrophe this morning now feels totally manageable thanks to this community sharing their experiences!
I'm so glad you found this thread helpful! It's really reassuring to see how common this mistake is - you're definitely not alone in mixing up the tax years. The fact that you caught it before your transfer deadline puts you in a great position. I just went through the correction process myself after reading all the advice here, and it really was as straightforward as everyone described. Make sure to save that confirmation page when you submit your correction - it'll give you peace of mind while waiting for it to process. Good luck with your transfer applications!
I'm new to this whole FAFSA process and reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a lifesaver! I haven't submitted mine yet but now I'm paranoid about making the same income year mistake. Can someone clarify - for the 2025-26 FAFSA, we're supposed to use 2024 tax information, right? I keep second-guessing myself after seeing how common it is to mix up the years. Also, is there anything else that's commonly messed up that I should double-check before submitting? I'd rather catch any potential errors now than have to go through the correction process later!
Yes, you're absolutely right - for the 2025-26 FAFSA you need 2024 tax information! That's exactly the mistake so many people in this thread made (including the original poster). Since you haven't submitted yet, you're in a great position to double-check everything. Besides the tax year, other common mistakes I've seen people mention here and in other threads include: forgetting to have both student and parent sign with FSA IDs, mixing up student vs parent assets, and entering gross income instead of adjusted gross income. The fact that you're being this careful before submitting shows you're on the right track! Take your time and maybe have a parent review it with you before hitting submit.
Angelina Farar
Update: I finally got through to a FSA representative who confirmed my payments DO count as long as I'm on ICR (which I am) and working full-time at a qualifying employer (which I am). She did advise me to submit a new Employment Certification Form immediately to make sure these early payments are being tracked properly. Thanks everyone for your help - especially the tip about Claimyr which saved me hours of hold time!
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Sebastián Stevens
•That's great news! Just remember to submit that ECF annually or whenever you change employers. And keep records of EVERYTHING - payment confirmations, ECF submissions, correspondence. The PSLF program has improved a lot, but documentation is still key to success.
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Jayden Reed
Congratulations on getting confirmation! This is such valuable information for other parents in similar situations. I'm in a comparable spot - work for a public library system and have Parent PLUS loans for my junior. I've been hesitant to start payments early because I wasn't sure if they'd count, but your experience gives me confidence to move forward. Quick question: When you consolidated, did you have to wait a certain period before the payments started counting toward PSLF, or did they count immediately after consolidation? I'm worried about timing since I just submitted my consolidation application last month.
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LunarEclipse
•Great question! From what I understand, payments start counting immediately after your consolidation is complete and you're placed on the ICR plan. There shouldn't be a waiting period. The key is making sure your consolidation is fully processed first - you should receive confirmation that your new Direct Consolidation Loan is active and you're officially on ICR before making payments. I'd recommend calling to verify your consolidation status before starting payments, just to be safe. The FSA rep I spoke with emphasized that timing is crucial for PSLF eligibility.
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Myles Regis
•I'm in a very similar situation - work for a state university and just started the consolidation process for my daughter's Parent PLUS loans. One thing I learned from talking to other parents who've been through this: make sure you get written confirmation of your loan servicer assignment after consolidation. Some servicers are apparently better than others at tracking PSLF progress correctly. Also, I've heard it's worth submitting your first ECF right after consolidation completes, even before making payments, just to establish the paper trail early. Has anyone else had experience with different servicers for Parent PLUS PSLF?
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