Hi Emma! Welcome to the community and congratulations on potentially qualifying for grants - that's such a relief when you've only dealt with loans before! I'm relatively new here too and just went through this process with my son. One thing I discovered that hasn't been mentioned yet is to pay attention to enrollment status requirements for grants. Most federal grants require at least half-time enrollment (usually 6+ credit hours), and the grant amount can be prorated based on whether your daughter is enrolled full-time vs part-time. Also, if she's planning to study abroad or do any summer coursework, make sure to ask each school how that affects grant disbursement timing. Some schools handle summer aid separately. The advice everyone's given about keeping organized and following up is spot-on - I created a shared Google doc with my son so we could both track deadlines and requirements. You're asking all the right questions and being proactive, which puts you way ahead of where we were at this stage! Best of luck with the process!

Hi Emma! Welcome to the community! As someone who just navigated this process, I wanted to add a few points that might help. First, congratulations on your improved SAI - it's such a relief when financial circumstances change for the better! One thing I learned is that while grants do appear automatically in your aid package, some schools have a separate "verification" process that can delay grant disbursement if not completed promptly. Make sure to submit any requested documents (tax transcripts, bank statements, etc.) as quickly as possible. Also, I'd recommend reaching out to each school's financial aid office proactively once you receive your award letters to confirm that all available grants have been included. Sometimes schools miss state grants or smaller federal programs like SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant) that you might qualify for with your new SAI. The community here has given you excellent advice about staying organized and following up - you're definitely on the right track by being proactive about understanding the process!

Just be prepared - even when you do everything RIGHT they might still flag your application for verification. My daughter's FAFSA was flagged last year and we had to submit extra documentation even though we did EVERYTHING correctly. The whole system is designed to make things difficult!!

As someone who works in financial aid, I can confirm that using your maiden name (the name on your Social Security card) is absolutely the correct approach. The FAFSA system is designed to match information across federal databases, and any discrepancy between your name on the FAFSA and your Social Security records will cause processing delays. Your son's different last name won't affect his eligibility or cause any issues - the system tracks family relationships through SSNs and other identifying information, not matching surnames. You made the right choice!

Just went through this exact process last semester! A few things that really helped me bridge the gap: 1. Check if your state has additional grant programs - I found out my state had a need-based grant I hadn't applied for that gave me an extra $1,200 per semester. 2. Look into textbook vouchers or rental programs through your school - I saved about $800 per semester switching from buying to renting books. 3. See if you qualify for any departmental scholarships in your major - these are often smaller amounts ($500-$1500) but they add up and many go unclaimed because students don't know about them. 4. Consider taking a lighter course load and doing summer classes if that works with your program - summer tuition is sometimes cheaper per credit hour. The entrance counseling and MPN that others mentioned is super important - you can't get your loan funds without completing both. Also, definitely pursue that Professional Judgment review if you have any special circumstances. My friend got an extra $3,000 in Pell Grant after explaining her family's situation. Don't give up - there are usually more options than it initially seems!

Hey there! I just went through this same nightmare situation last year and wanted to share what worked for me. First off, you're on the right track - definitely accept those federal loans through your school portal first. But here's something that saved me: apply for your school's emergency financial aid fund if they have one. Most schools got HEERF money that they're still distributing and it doesn't have to be repaid! Also, if you're willing to consider it, becoming an RA (Resident Assistant) usually comes with free or heavily discounted housing which can be a huge money saver. I know the applications for next year might be closed, but it's worth asking about mid-year openings. Last thing - check with your academic department about work opportunities like grading papers or lab assistant positions. They often pay better than regular campus jobs and look great on your resume. The whole system is frustrating but there are definitely ways to make it work without drowning in debt!

I'm dealing with this exact same frustrating issue right now! My daughter completed her part of the 2025-26 FAFSA three days ago, I got the notification email, but when I log into my FSA ID there's absolutely nothing there. It's so stressful trying to meet these early deadlines when the system isn't cooperating. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful though - I had no idea there were so many different potential causes. I'm going to work through the solutions systematically: first check that she entered my email correctly (seems to be a surprisingly common issue!), then try the resend invitation approach, and if needed move to the remove/re-add contributor method that several people have had success with. One question for those who got it working - about how long did it take from when you fixed the issue to when you could actually access and complete your parent section? We're trying to submit before our state's priority deadline and I want to make sure we leave enough time for any additional delays. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's reassuring to know this is a widespread technical problem with the new system and not something we did wrong!

I'm currently experiencing this exact same issue with my son's 2025-26 FAFSA! He completed his portion last week and I received the notification email, but when I log into my FSA ID account, there's no trace of the new application anywhere. It's incredibly frustrating because we're trying to submit everything before the early priority deadlines for his college applications. Reading through all these detailed responses has been so reassuring - it's clear this is a widespread technical issue with the new FAFSA system rather than user error. I really appreciate everyone sharing their step-by-step troubleshooting solutions. I'm planning to start with having my son verify he entered my email address correctly (seems like this catches a lot of people!), then try the resend invitation method, and if that doesn't work, move on to the remove/re-add contributor approach that several of you have had success with. One quick question for those who got it resolved - did you find it helpful to clear your browser cache or try a different browser as part of the process? I've been using Chrome but wondering if switching to Firefox might help with compatibility issues. Thanks again everyone for sharing your experiences - this community support makes dealing with these technical glitches so much less stressful!

I'm dealing with a similar login nightmare right now! Created my FSA ID last spring, submitted everything fine, but now it's like my account never existed. I've been trying for three days straight with password resets, different browsers, clearing cache - nothing works. The most frustrating part is that I can see my school already has some of my info from last year's FAFSA, so the data is obviously somewhere in their system, but I just can't access my account to update it for 2025-2026. Thanks for posting this - at least I know I'm not the only one going crazy over this! Going to try that Claimyr service and the incognito browser method. Fingers crossed!

This is such a widespread issue and it's honestly unacceptable that so many students are dealing with login problems during critical application periods! I'm a college junior and had to deal with this exact same situation last month. What worked for me was a combination of several suggestions I'm seeing here: 1. Cleared ALL browser data (not just cache) and waited 24 hours before trying again 2. Used a completely different device (borrowed my roommate's laptop) 3. Called during off-peak hours (early morning around 8 AM EST) to get through faster The FSA agent I finally reached explained that there were backend database issues affecting accounts created in certain time periods last year. She was able to restore my access without needing to create a new FSA ID, which saved me from having to re-verify all my information. For everyone still struggling - document everything you're trying and any error messages you get. The agents can use that info to troubleshoot more effectively. Also, if your school's financial aid office offers virtual help sessions, definitely attend one. They often have direct contacts that can expedite these technical issues. Don't panic about deadlines - most schools are being flexible with FAFSA submission dates this year specifically because of these system problems. But definitely reach out to your financial aid office to let them know you're having technical difficulties so they can make a note in your file.