This has been such an incredibly helpful thread to read through! As someone who's also dealing with FAFSA for the first time, I'm learning so much about asset reporting that I never knew was this complex. Lena, I really admire how you're approaching this situation with complete honesty even though it might impact your aid eligibility. The advice everyone has given about reporting the $32,000 as an asset, looking into scholarships, and potentially speaking with financial aid counselors about professional judgment seems spot-on. One additional thought - since you mentioned this happened 3 months ago and you've been saving most of it for college, you might want to document that intention somehow. Even though it doesn't change the FAFSA reporting requirements, if you do end up in conversations with financial aid offices about professional judgment, being able to show that this windfall was always intended for educational purposes rather than general spending might help your case. Also, the point about state grant programs that someone mentioned earlier is really worth exploring. My state has several programs that use different criteria than federal aid, and some focus more on academic achievement or career goals rather than just financial need. Best of luck with everything - you're handling this with such integrity and thoughtfulness!

As someone who's been through multiple FAFSA cycles and has seen various asset situations, I want to commend you for approaching this with such honesty and thoroughness. The advice you've received here is excellent - definitely report the $32,000 as an asset and consider it a learning experience in financial aid complexity. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned much is the importance of understanding how this might affect your aid over multiple years. Since you mentioned this happened 3 months ago, you'll likely see the income impact on your 2026-2027 FAFSA (using 2024 tax info) in addition to the current asset impact. Planning ahead for how both the asset depletion and income reporting will affect your aid in future years can help you make strategic decisions about spending priorities. Also, don't overlook work-study opportunities! Even if your traditional need-based aid is reduced, you might still qualify for work-study positions that can help offset costs while giving you valuable experience. You're clearly a responsible person who will make good use of both this windfall and whatever educational opportunities come your way. That character will serve you well in college and beyond!

As someone who just went through this process with my own negative SAI, I wanted to add a few practical tips that really helped me maximize my aid! First, when you contact financial aid offices, ask specifically about their "work-study" programs - these can provide valuable income without affecting your aid eligibility like outside jobs might. Second, look into local scholarships from community organizations, credit unions, and businesses in your area - many go unclaimed because students focus only on national scholarships. Third, if you're considering community college for your first two years, make sure to research transfer agreements with four-year schools - you can often lock in the same aid package for when you transfer. Your negative SAI of -834 puts you in an excellent position, but these extra steps can help you squeeze every dollar out of the system. The financial aid officers I spoke with were actually impressed when students came prepared with specific questions about maximizing aid - it shows you're serious about making college affordable!

I'm just starting to navigate this whole process and seeing everyone's responses has been incredibly eye-opening! Like many others here, I initially panicked when I saw a negative number on my FAFSA, thinking something had gone wrong. It's such a relief to understand that a negative SAI actually indicates high financial need and better aid eligibility. My family's situation is similar to Brooklyn's - we're definitely in that lower income bracket with multiple kids thinking about college. Reading about everyone's success stories, especially hearing that some students actually got paid to attend or received aid packages that exceeded costs, gives me so much hope. I'm taking notes on all the advice here about state grants, net price calculators, work-study programs, and local scholarships. This community has made what seemed like an overwhelming process feel much more manageable. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and making this less scary for newcomers like me!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I called my financial aid office this morning and explained about my registration deadline. They confirmed what you all said - the IRS retrieval consent form is something they need separately from the FAFSA processed status. They're sending me the form by email today, and they said they can expedite the review since registration is coming up. Really appreciate all the explanations - the whole financial aid system is so confusing!

I'm glad you got it sorted out! Just went through something similar myself last year. One tip that really helped me - when you submit that IRS retrieval consent form, ask the financial aid office for a confirmation email or receipt number. That way if there are any delays or mix-ups, you have proof you submitted it on time. Also, some schools have online portals where you can track the status of your verification documents, so definitely ask about that when you turn in the form. Good luck with registration!

As someone who just went through this process at UMD as a single parent, I wanted to share my experience to give you some real perspective! My SAI was around 4000 and I received a pretty comprehensive package. Here's what I got: - Full Pell Grant ($7,395) - Maryland State Grant ($3,200) - UMD Institutional Grant ($8,500) - Work-study ($2,500) - Subsidized loans to cover the remaining gap The key things that made a huge difference for me: 1. I applied EARLY - seriously, Maryland state aid runs out fast 2. I filled out the Special Circumstances Form mentioning childcare costs 3. I contacted the S.A.F.E. program that someone mentioned above - they were amazing! My total out-of-pocket after all aid was around $4,000 for the year, which I was able to manage with the payment plan. Don't let anyone scare you away - UMD actually does try to support student parents, but you have to know which programs to apply for and be proactive about reaching out. The general financial aid office can be overwhelming, but once I connected with the right people, they were incredibly helpful. Feel free to message me if you want more specific details about my experience!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's also navigating financial aid as a single parent (though not at UMD), I wanted to add a few things that might help: 1. Don't forget about the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit - you can claim childcare expenses related to attending school, which can help offset costs at tax time. 2. Many schools have emergency aid funds specifically for unexpected expenses that student parents face. These aren't always well-publicized but can be lifesavers when childcare falls through or other emergencies pop up. 3. If you end up needing to take some loans, remember that as an independent student with dependents, your annual loan limits are higher than dependent students ($9,500-$12,500 in federal loans vs $5,500-$7,500). Your 3500 SAI really should put you in a strong position for need-based aid. The fact that so many people here have shared positive experiences at UMD for student parents is really encouraging. Best of luck with your decision - you've got this!

My daughter got an SAI of 15000 last year and still qualified for $7500 in federal loans plus got a decent merit scholarship from her school. Don't just look at the FAFSA results - apply for every private scholarship you can find too!

Don't lose hope! I went through something similar with my twins a few years back. Even with SAIs around 16-17k, they both ended up with decent aid packages. Here's what I learned: 1. The small differences in SAI could be from tiny variations in how they answered questions - even things like student income from part-time jobs can affect it 2. Federal loans are still available at those SAI levels (both subsidized and unsubsidized) 3. Many schools have their own institutional aid that kicks in regardless of SAI 4. Having triplets in college simultaneously should help - make sure each school knows about this! My advice: Wait for that third SAI, then contact each school's financial aid office directly. Mention you have triplets all attending college and ask about their process for multiple children. Some schools have special consideration forms for this exact situation. Also, don't forget to apply for outside scholarships - there are tons out there that aren't tied to SAI at all. The FAFSA is just the starting point, not the end of the road!