As someone who just started looking into the FAFSA process myself, this entire thread has been absolutely invaluable! I came in completely confused about SAI and feeling pretty intimidated by the whole financial aid system, but reading everyone's explanations and real experiences has made it so much clearer. I love that people shared actual numbers - it really helps to see concrete examples rather than just theoretical explanations. The tip about using the Federal Student Aid Estimator beforehand is definitely going on my to-do list, and I had no clue about the CSS Profile requirement for some private schools. One thing that really stood out to me is how much the aid packages can vary between schools even with the same SAI. That's encouraging since it means I should definitely apply to a range of schools and see what happens rather than self-selecting out of places I think might be too expensive. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences here. It's amazing how much more confident I feel about tackling this process now that I understand what SAI actually means and how it fits into the bigger picture!

As someone completely new to the FAFSA process, I just want to echo what everyone else has said - this thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding SAI! I had been putting off starting my application because I was so confused by all the financial aid terminology, but reading through all these explanations has finally made it click. The breakdown of the formula (COA - SAI = Financial Need) was especially helpful, and I love that people shared their actual experiences with different SAI numbers and aid outcomes. It's really encouraging to know that even if my SAI isn't super low, there are still options and that different schools might offer very different packages. I'm definitely going to use that Federal Student Aid Estimator tool before submitting, and I'll make sure to look into the CSS Profile for any private schools on my list. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge here - you've made this whole process feel so much less intimidating for those of us just getting started!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I've been stressing about this exact Roth IRA question for weeks while trying to complete my son's FAFSA. The clear consensus here that Roth IRAs are excluded as retirement assets is such a huge relief. I especially appreciate everyone mentioning the Federal Student Aid handbook with the specific page reference (4-18) - that's exactly the kind of authoritative source I was looking for. It's also reassuring to know that corrections can be made if needed and that college financial aid offices can provide guidance before submission. This thread has transformed what felt like an impossible task into something manageable. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and helping fellow parents navigate this confusing process!

As a newcomer here, I just wanted to add my experience to this discussion! I was in the same boat as Jessica with our Roth IRA and was so confused by the FAFSA instructions. After reading through all these responses, I feel much more confident about excluding our retirement accounts from the assets section. What really helped me was the distinction everyone made between the account balance (which doesn't count) versus any contributions or conversions that show up on your tax return (which do count as income). I also wanted to mention that I found it helpful to print out the relevant pages from that Federal Student Aid handbook that Noah mentioned - having the official documentation on hand made me feel better about our reporting decisions. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and making this less stressful for those of us going through it for the first time!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm a sophomore who just went through verification last semester, and I wanted to add one more tip that really helped me. When you're gathering your documents, also grab your Social Security Administration benefit statement (if applicable) and any records of untaxed income like child support or veterans benefits. My verification got delayed because I forgot to include documentation for some untaxed income that was on my original FAFSA. The financial aid office had to request additional documents, which added another 2 weeks to the process. It's better to bring everything upfront even if they don't end up needing it all. Also, definitely follow up regularly but be patient with the staff - they're usually dealing with hundreds of these cases during peak season. Good luck with your verification!

I went through a similar situation last year and want to share what worked for me! The key thing that saved me time was calling my school's financial aid office BEFORE submitting any corrections online. They were able to tell me exactly which documents they'd need for verification and gave me a checklist to follow. This prevented me from having to make multiple trips or submit additional paperwork later. Also, when you do correct your FAFSA, take screenshots of every page showing your corrected information - my counselor said this helps them process things faster since they can see exactly what changed. The verification process is stressful but definitely manageable if you stay organized and communicate proactively with your school. You've got this!

btw dont stress too much about this, schools deal with this stuff ALL THE TIME. my financial aid officer literally laughed when i was panicking about it and said they see multiple cases every single day with name changes, marriage changes, etc. they have standard procedures for handling it

I completely understand your stress about this situation! As someone who works in financial aid, I want to reassure you that you're handling this exactly right by planning ahead. The key points everyone has mentioned are spot-on: 1. Use your stepmom's current legal name (as it appears on her Social Security card) on the FAFSA 2. Be prepared that the IRS Data Retrieval Tool may not work due to the name mismatch - you'll likely need to manually enter tax information 3. Proactively contact your financial aid office to explain the situation and ask about their specific documentation requirements One thing I'd add: keep copies of EVERYTHING - marriage certificate, tax returns, any correspondence with your financial aid office. Having organized documentation ready will speed up the process if you're selected for verification. The good news is that schools are very familiar with these situations, especially with all the FAFSA changes this year. Your proactive approach will actually make their job easier, and most financial aid offices appreciate students who communicate early about potential complications. You've got this! The fact that you're asking these questions now rather than after submission shows you're being responsible about the process.

One thing I learned when my daughter went through this last year - make sure she doesn't accidentally click "submit" before sending you the parent invitation! Once the FAFSA is officially submitted without parent info, it becomes much more complicated to add contributors later. The system will show her application as "in progress" until both portions are complete, which is what you want. Also, if you're traveling next week, you might want to set up your FSA ID ahead of time (using a different email than your daughter's) so you're ready to go as soon as you get the invitation. The FSA ID creation process can sometimes take a day or two for verification as well.

As someone who just went through this process with my son in February, I can confirm what others have said about the timing and steps. One additional tip I haven't seen mentioned: when your daughter logs in to send the parent invitation, make sure she double-checks that your email address is entered correctly. We had a typo in my email and didn't realize it for three days when I never received the invitation. The system doesn't give any error messages if the email is invalid - it just sends the invite into the void. Also, keep in mind that if you're traveling, you can complete the parent portion from anywhere as long as you have internet access and your tax documents. The mobile version of the site works fine for the parent section, though it's a bit easier on a computer if you have the option.