That's amazing news, Bethany! You're so lucky to have found a school that meets full need with institutional grants. Just a heads up - make sure to ask them about their aid renewal requirements. Some schools require you to maintain a certain GPA or complete a minimum number of credit hours each semester to keep your institutional grants. Also, if your family's financial situation changes significantly (like a parent gets a new job or loses one), your aid could be recalculated, so it's worth understanding their appeal process too. Congratulations on getting such great aid!

Your -1500 SAI is excellent! As a newcomer here, I just wanted to add that you should also look into state-specific grants in addition to the Pell Grant. Many states have their own need-based aid programs that stack on top of federal aid, and with your SAI you'd likely qualify for maximum amounts. Also, don't forget to check if any of your target schools participate in programs like the Yellow Ribbon Program (if you have military connections) or have special first-generation college student support programs that might offer additional funding or resources. It sounds like you're already on the right track by calling schools directly - that personal contact can make a huge difference in understanding your full aid picture!

This whole thread has been incredibly reassuring to read as someone currently navigating FAFSA with my twins! It's amazing how common these technical glitches seem to be, yet schools rarely warn families about the possibility. Emma, I'm so glad you got it sorted out - your persistence really paid off. For other parents dealing with similar issues, I'd also recommend screenshotting everything as you go through the process. When I had to call about my daughter's aid package last year, having screenshots of error messages and blank pages really helped the counselor understand what I was seeing on my end versus what they were seeing in their system. The timing stress is so real too - these decision deadlines feel impossible when you're waiting for crucial financial information. Schools really should build in more buffer time knowing how common these processing issues are during peak season.

What a rollercoaster of emotions this thread has been! I'm a first-time FAFSA parent and reading Emma's initial post made my heart race because we're still waiting to hear from two of my daughter's schools. But seeing how it all worked out with just persistence and good advice from this community is so reassuring. The systematic approach from Omar and the technical troubleshooting tips from CosmicCaptain are gold - I'm bookmarking this thread for reference. It's wild how these "glitches" seem to happen so frequently yet we never hear about them until we're in the thick of it ourselves. For anyone else stressed about blank or missing aid packages - this thread proves that most of these issues really are technical problems that get resolved once you reach the right person. Don't give up! The financial aid season timing is brutal but persistence really does pay off. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this kind of real-world guidance is so much more helpful than the generic advice you find on most websites.

Thank you SO MUCH for this template! I just got off the phone with the financial aid office, and they explained their

This is such a frustrating situation and unfortunately more common than it should be. As someone who went through something similar with my daughter's volleyball scholarship, I'd recommend a few things: 1) Get everything in writing from now on - follow up phone calls with emails summarizing what was discussed, 2) Ask for a meeting with BOTH the athletic department AND financial aid office together so they can't pass the buck between departments, and 3) Come prepared with your total cost of attendance breakdown showing how you planned to use the combined aid. The key argument is that athletic scholarships and need-based aid serve different purposes and shouldn't be mutually exclusive. Also, make sure you understand exactly what type of FAFSA aid is being counted - grants vs loans make a huge difference in your appeal strategy. Don't give up without fighting for it!

This is such valuable information! I'm in a similar situation with my son who's a sophomore in high school - his great-grandfather set up a UTMA account that now has about $8,000 in it. Reading through all these responses, I'm realizing I need to start planning NOW rather than waiting until his senior year. The idea of spreading out educational expenses over multiple years is brilliant. I think I'll talk to the custodian about using some funds for SAT prep, a better laptop for his coursework, and maybe some dual enrollment courses. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread is going to save us from making the same mistakes!

As someone who works in financial aid administration, I want to emphasize a few key points that have been touched on but are worth repeating clearly: 1) UTMA/UGMA accounts are ALWAYS student assets on FAFSA, regardless of who the custodian is - this is federal law, not negotiable. 2) The 20% assessment rate means $14,300 would increase your SAI by approximately $2,860, which could significantly impact aid eligibility. 3) Spending down these accounts on legitimate educational expenses BEFORE filing FAFSA is completely legal and ethical when done properly through the custodian. 4) For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, report the account balance as of the day you submit your application - so timing matters if you're planning to spend some funds first. One additional strategy to consider: if your daughter has any educational expenses this spring (books for dual enrollment, computer equipment, etc.), those could be paid from the UTMA account now to reduce the reportable balance. Just make sure grandmother approves all expenditures since she's still the custodian. Good luck navigating this - it's a common situation that catches many families off guard!

Hannah, as someone new to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm not dealing with VA benefits myself, but watching how everyone came together to help you navigate this confusing situation really shows what a supportive space this is. The separation between VA benefits and FAFSA systems seems like such a design flaw - it's crazy that two federal programs don't communicate with each other at all. But it sounds like you've gotten amazing guidance from people who actually know the ins and outs of the system. I'm particularly impressed by how many practical details people shared - things like the "VA pending" policies, keeping records for next year's FAFSA, and even summer enrollment options. These are exactly the kinds of real-world tips that official websites never mention but can make or break your experience. Best of luck with your VA Form 22-5490 application and the whole certification process! I hope you'll come back and let us know how it all works out. Threads like this are so valuable for future students who will inevitably face the same confusion. Thanks for asking the question that led to such an informative discussion! 🎓

Hannah, I'm new to this community but wanted to jump in because I went through something very similar with my Chapter 35 benefits! Reading your original post brought back all the confusion and stress I felt when my aid package didn't show any VA benefits either. Everyone here has given you absolutely fantastic advice - the separation between VA and FAFSA systems is SO poorly explained to students and families. What really helped me was creating a simple tracking document with all my important dates and deadlines once I started the process. I tracked when I submitted my 22-5490, when I contacted the school's Veterans Services office, expected processing times, etc. It helped me stay on top of everything when there were so many moving pieces. One thing I'd add that I learned the hard way: when you do get your Certificate of Eligibility, take a photo or scan it before you bring it to your school's Veterans Services office. I had a minor panic when I thought they had lost mine (they hadn't, but it was temporarily misplaced), and having that digital backup gave me peace of mind. The monthly payments really are a game-changer once everything gets set up! And you're asking all the right questions - you're going to navigate this just fine. This community has been such a great resource for so many students dealing with these kinds of confusing financial aid situations. Welcome to the group! 😊