I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare - the stress of seeing your SAI nearly triple must be overwhelming! As a newcomer to this community, I've been reading through all these responses and it's clear that the FAFSA Simplification Act has created chaos for families with multiple students in college. From what everyone has shared, it sounds like you have a solid action plan forming. I'd add one more suggestion: when you're preparing for those financial aid office meetings, consider bringing a "family impact statement" that shows exactly how this SAI increase affects your household budget. Include things like your monthly expenses, other financial obligations, and how you've been planning your finances based on previous aid levels. Also, don't forget to ask about work-study opportunities for your kids if they're not already participating. Sometimes when federal aid decreases, schools can offer additional campus employment to help bridge the gap. The fact that so many families are experiencing this exact same problem suggests that schools and policymakers will eventually have to address the unintended consequences of these formula changes. In the meantime, keep pushing for every available resource - institutional aid, state programs, employer benefits, and community scholarships. You're clearly a dedicated parent who's willing to fight for your kids' education. With all the great advice shared here, I'm optimistic you'll find some solutions. Please keep us updated on your progress!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's absolutely devastating when financial aid changes so dramatically without warning! As someone new to this community, I've been following similar stories and it's clear the FAFSA Simplification Act has created major problems for families with multiple kids in college. From reading all the excellent advice here, it sounds like the reduced sibling discount is likely the main culprit for your SAI jump. The old system essentially divided your contribution when you had multiple students, but the new formula provides much less relief for families in your situation. Here's what I'd recommend based on what others have shared: 1. Contact both schools' financial aid offices immediately and specifically ask for a "professional judgment coordinator" or "appeals specialist" - they have more authority than regular staff 2. Prepare a detailed comparison of your financial information from last year vs. this year to demonstrate consistency 3. Ask specifically about "FAFSA transition assistance" or institutional funds set aside for families affected by the formula changes 4. Consider creating a "family impact statement" showing exactly how this increase affects your household budget Don't give up hope! Many schools anticipated these issues and have resources available, but you often have to ask specifically. The fact that so many families are experiencing this exact problem means schools are becoming more equipped to help. You're absolutely right to feel frustrated - changing the rules mid-game without adequate communication to families was really unfair. Keep advocating for your kids and please update us on what solutions you're able to find!

Just wanted to add from personal experience - we were in almost the exact same situation last year! Had about $8K in my daughter's savings from birthday/graduation gifts over the years. After reading similar advice here, we used her account to pay tuition and it made a noticeable difference on this year's SAI calculation. One tip for your appointment tomorrow: bring a printout of both account balances as of today. Sometimes the financial aid officers ask for this info during verification meetings, and it shows you're prepared. Also, don't stress too much about the Tuesday deadline - most schools have a grace period for payment plans if financial aid is still processing. Good luck with everything! The FAFSA maze gets easier once you've been through it a few times.

As someone who just went through this exact situation with my twin daughters last semester, I can confirm what others are saying - pay from your son's savings account! We had about $15K total between both girls' accounts from years of birthday money and summer jobs. Using their accounts for tuition payments reduced their reportable assets for this year's FAFSA, and we saw a combined increase of almost $4K in aid eligibility. Just make sure to keep excellent records - I created a simple spreadsheet tracking every payment from their accounts with dates, amounts, and what it covered (tuition, books, etc.). The financial aid office at our school actually complimented us on being so organized when we had questions later. Also, don't panic about tomorrow's verification appointment - ours took about 20 minutes and the counselor was super helpful in explaining exactly how the asset calculations work. They might even be able to give you a rough estimate of how using different accounts could impact next year's aid!

I went through this exact same situation last year with our small hobby farm! Just wanted to add a couple things that might help: For the checking account balances - I ended up taking screenshots of our accounts on the day I filed the FAFSA and kept those for my records. Our financial aid office said that was perfect documentation if we got selected for verification. Also, if you're unsure about the "materially participate" requirement, the IRS definition is helpful - you need to work at least 100 hours per year OR 500 hours if it's your primary occupation. For most small ranch families like ours, the 100 hour threshold is pretty easy to meet between daily chores, maintenance, etc. One last tip: when I wasn't sure about something, I erred on the side of reporting it and then explained the situation in the "Additional Financial Information" section. Better to over-report and let the financial aid office sort it out than to accidentally under-report and get in trouble later! Good luck with your FAFSA - it's definitely confusing but you've got this!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation with our small ranch operation! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful. Just wanted to share what our CPA told us when we were preparing for this year's FAFSA: He emphasized that the key distinction for the family farm exclusion is that you have to BOTH live on the property AND actively work it yourself (not just lease it out to someone else). Since you mentioned your husband handles the livestock while working his regular job, that definitely sounds like you qualify for the exclusion. For the farm checking account, we decided to include it in our liquid assets but made sure to note in the additional information section that it's exclusively for agricultural expenses with minimal balance. Our CPA said this shows transparency while still being accurate. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - if you do get selected for verification, having your Schedule F forms organized and ready to go makes the whole process much smoother. The financial aid office will want to see proof of your farming activity and that you actually live on the property. The whole process is definitely overwhelming when you're trying to balance farming life with college planning, but it sounds like you're asking all the right questions!

As a newcomer to this community, I just have to say how incredible this thread has been! I'm dealing with the exact same situation - my spouse and I run a small dropshipping business from home and I was completely lost on how to handle the FAFSA business valuation. Like William, we have minimal physical assets and no inventory, just our laptop and some basic office supplies we'd own anyway. The family business exemption that Daniel explained is absolutely life-changing information - I had no idea this existed and it seems like it would apply perfectly to our situation since it's just the two of us with no employees. What really stands out to me is the quality of advice here - people providing actual Federal Student Aid sources, sharing real experiences from verification processes, and giving practical documentation tips. I especially appreciate Lauren's detailed breakdown of what constitutes business assets and Andre's advice about keeping detailed records. This is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes navigating FAFSA manageable instead of terrifying. I'm definitely going to research the family business exemption further and document everything carefully as suggested. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge - this community is a lifesaver for confused parents like me!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have found this thread! I'm currently struggling with the exact same issue for my daughter's FAFSA - we run a small Amazon FBA business from home, but since we use Amazon's warehouses, we don't actually hold inventory at our house. Like William, I was completely stumped on how to value a business that's essentially just purchase orders, a computer, and some basic software subscriptions. The family business exemption that Daniel explained is absolutely incredible information - I had no idea this existed and it sounds like it would apply perfectly to our situation since it's just my husband and me with no employees. What I really appreciate about this discussion is how everyone provided actual sources and documentation rather than just opinions or guesswork. The Federal Student Aid Handbook reference is exactly what I needed to feel confident about our approach. I'm definitely going to print out the official exemption language and keep detailed records as Andre and others suggested. The verification tips are especially valuable since I know these things can come up later in the process. Thank you to everyone who shared their real experiences and practical advice - this community is such a lifesaver for parents trying to navigate these confusing FAFSA requirements!

If u reallly want to kno whats going on just go to the bronco zone portal and click on missing requirements. If it says fafsa recieved but nothin else is checked then ur just waiting for them to process everything. BSU is super slow every yr but they come thru eventually. My kid got a pretty good pacakge in the end.

I'm dealing with the same situation for my son who's starting at BSU this fall! Reading through all these responses is actually really reassuring - I had no idea this was just their normal timeline. We've been stressed thinking we missed something or that there was a problem with our application. It's wild that they wait until practically the last minute to send out housing and aid info, but at least now I know what to expect. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this thread has been super helpful for a anxious parent!