I completely understand your frustration! As a newcomer here, I've been reading through all these responses and they're really eye-opening. I had no idea that FAFSA was purely need-based rather than merit-based. My own daughter is a junior with similar grades to yours, and I was assuming her hard work would automatically translate to more financial aid. Now I realize we need to be looking at two completely separate tracks - the FAFSA for need-based aid and scholarships for merit-based aid. It sounds like you're already taking action on both fronts based on the advice here, which is great! The suggestion about documenting your reduced work hours due to health issues for the professional judgment review could really make a difference. Hang in there - your daughter's achievements will pay off, just maybe not through the avenue you originally expected.

As another newcomer to this community, I'm finding this discussion incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation with my son who's a senior - great grades but our FAFSA aid is minimal. Reading through all these responses has been like a crash course in financial aid that I wish I'd taken years ago. The clarification about the $15K likely being total aid packages (not just FAFSA) really puts things in perspective. I'm definitely going to look into that Claimyr service someone mentioned since I've also been stuck in phone tree hell trying to reach FSA. And the advice about appealing with documentation of changed circumstances gives me hope - my husband's hours were cut last year but that won't show up on our taxes until next year. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

As someone who works at a community college with a popular nursing program, I can confirm everything others have said about using remaining FAFSA eligibility for a second degree! We see this situation frequently. A few practical tips from what I've observed: - Apply early to nursing programs - they're competitive and many have waiting lists - Consider starting with prerequisite courses at a community college if you need them, then transferring to a 4-year program (often more cost-effective) - Look into accelerated BSN programs specifically designed for students who already have a bachelor's degree - they're usually 12-18 months instead of 4 years - Some hospitals in my area offer "nurse extern" programs that provide tuition assistance in exchange for a work commitment after graduation The nursing shortage is real, so schools and employers are generally very supportive of career changers entering the field. Your business background could actually be valuable - many nurses move into administrative or management roles where that knowledge would be helpful! Don't let the financial aid complexity discourage you from pursuing this if it's what you want to do. The math works with your remaining eligibility, and nursing has excellent job prospects and earning potential.

Just want to echo what others have said and add that timing can be really important for your financial aid! Since you're graduating next spring, make sure to submit your FAFSA for the nursing program as soon as possible after October 1st (when the new FAFSA opens for the following academic year). I made the mistake of waiting too long when I did my career change, and even though I had plenty of LEU remaining, some of the better aid packages were already awarded to students who applied earlier. Also, if there's a gap between finishing your business degree and starting nursing school, keep in mind that your dependency status might change if you turn 24 during that time - which could actually work in your favor if your parents have higher income. One more tip: document everything! Keep records of your current LEU usage, any correspondence with financial aid offices, and program requirements. It makes the whole process so much smoother when you're dealing with multiple schools and comparing options. You've got this! Career changes can be stressful but nursing is such a stable field with great opportunities.

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm a junior in high school who just submitted my FAFSA last week, and I'm already getting bombarded by Sallie Mae emails. I had no idea this was such a widespread issue or that they literally buy our information to target us when we're most vulnerable about college costs. Reading everyone's experiences and solutions has been incredibly educational. I'm definitely going to be proactive and file a CFPB complaint right away rather than waiting for it to get worse. The fact that so many people have had quick success with that route is really encouraging. I also had no idea about checking the communication preferences in my studentaid.gov account or that there were services like DMAchoice.org to opt out from multiple lenders at once. This thread is like a crash course in protecting yourself from predatory student loan marketing! Thanks to everyone who shared their strategies and experiences. It's reassuring to know that even though these companies are predatory, we have tools to fight back and a community to support each other through the process. Knowledge is power! 📚

This is such an important thread! I'm a parent who went through this with my daughter last year, and the predatory tactics these companies use are absolutely infuriating. What really bothered me was how they made everything sound so official and time-sensitive, preying on both student and parent anxiety about financing college. A few additional tips that helped us: 1. I created a separate email address just for FAFSA-related communications to contain the spam 2. When filing the CFPB complaint, be very specific about the frequency and include screenshots of the emails - it strengthens your case 3. Don't feel pressured to respond to any of their "pre-approval" offers - they're not real pre-approvals anyway The most important thing to remember is that these private lenders have ZERO affiliation with your school or federal financial aid. They're just vultures circling around FAFSA data trying to profit off student desperation. Federal aid should always be exhausted first - the interest rates, repayment options, and borrower protections are infinitely better. Hang in there everyone! The award letters will come, and you'll have plenty of time to make informed decisions without these predatory companies breathing down your neck.

So glad this thread exists! I'm in a similar situation but with a twist - I'm divorced and have primary custody of my 3 kids, but my ex-wife claims one of them on her taxes while I claim the other two. For FAFSA purposes, do I count all 3 kids in my household size since they live with me most of the time, or only the 2 I claim as dependents? The custody/tax situation is making this even more confusing than it already was!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm a single mom going through my first FAFSA application and was getting so stressed about these household size questions. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel less alone in finding this process confusing. It's reassuring to know that divorced parents should only count themselves and their dependents - I was second-guessing myself too because of how the questions are worded. Thanks to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences!

Wow, this thread has been incredibly educational! As someone completely new to the FAFSA process (my daughter is just a sophomore), I'm already feeling more prepared thanks to all your insights. The tax line confusion seems to be a common issue - it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one who finds these forms confusing. I'm definitely taking notes on the spreadsheet idea for tracking different schools' calculator requirements, and the tip about timing for asset reporting is something I never would have considered. One question for those who've been through this - how far in advance did you start using these net price calculators? I'm wondering if it's worth doing rough estimates now with our 2022 tax info, or if I should wait until my daughter has a clearer idea of her target schools junior year?

This thread has been so helpful for a newcomer like me! My daughter is a junior and I'm just getting started with understanding the FAFSA process. The clarification about Line 22 vs Line 24 really cleared up my confusion - I was worried I'd mess up the whole calculation by using the wrong number. I love the spreadsheet idea for tracking different schools' requirements, and the tip about timing with asset reporting is something I definitely wouldn't have thought of on my own. It's actually reassuring to hear that even financial aid professionals acknowledge these calculators aren't perfect - takes some of the pressure off getting every detail exactly right. Planning to start running some rough estimates this summer just to get a feel for what we might be looking at financially. Thanks everyone for sharing your real experiences instead of just generic advice!