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This phone number format issue is driving me crazy too! I'm helping my nephew with his CSS Profile and we've been stuck on this exact same screen for the past hour. Based on all the suggestions here, it sounds like there are multiple formats that work - I'm going to try the +1 version first since that seems to be working for most people. It's honestly ridiculous that College Board made this change without any clear documentation or examples on the actual form. They really need to add some basic helper text showing acceptable formats. Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions - this thread is way more helpful than anything on the official CSS Profile help pages!
I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm just starting the CSS Profile for my daughter and was dreading running into this exact problem. It sounds like +15551234567 is the most reliable format based on everyone's experiences. I can't believe College Board would make such a fundamental change to their system without providing any guidance on the form itself. This kind of poor user experience just adds unnecessary stress to an already overwhelming financial aid process. Thanks to everyone who shared their solutions - you've probably saved dozens of families hours of frustration!
Just wanted to add my experience to this thread since I ran into the exact same issue last night! After reading through all these comments, I tried the +15551234567 format and it worked perfectly. It's absolutely ridiculous that College Board doesn't provide any format guidance on the actual form - I wasted 30 minutes trying different combinations before finding this thread. For anyone else struggling with this: the key is including the country code (1 for US numbers) with either a plus sign at the beginning or just starting with 1. Really appreciate everyone sharing their solutions here because the official CSS Profile help is completely useless for this problem!
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This is such a common worry for parents! I went through the exact same panic last year after submitting my son's FAFSA. The waiting period for the SAR to appear is nerve-wracking, but it sounds like you handled everything correctly. One thing that helped me was keeping a screenshot or notes of key information while filling it out next time - just in case I needed to reference it later. Also, don't hesitate to reach out to your daughter's financial aid office if you have any questions about the SAR once you receive it. They're usually very helpful and can explain how your information translates into potential aid packages. You've got this!
That's such great advice about taking screenshots or notes while filling out the FAFSA! I definitely learned that lesson the hard way this year. I kept second-guessing myself about what I had entered, especially for the more complex financial questions. Next year I'll definitely keep better records as I go through each section. It's reassuring to hear that so many other parents go through this same worry - makes me feel less alone in the process! The financial aid office tip is really valuable too, I'll remember that when we get the aid package.
As a newcomer to this community, I'm so glad I found this thread! I just submitted my first FAFSA yesterday for my oldest child and was already starting to panic about whether I filled everything out correctly. Reading through everyone's experiences here is incredibly reassuring - it sounds like the 3-5 day wait for the SAR is totally normal and I shouldn't be refreshing the portal every hour like I have been! I'm definitely going to set up those email notifications that were mentioned and keep better notes next time. It's amazing how supportive this community is - thank you all for sharing your experiences and tips!
Welcome to the community! You're definitely not alone in that refresh-the-portal anxiety - I think we've all been there! It's such a relief to know that the waiting period is completely normal. One thing I learned from this thread is to check your spam folder too, since some people mentioned their SAR notifications ended up there. The email notification setup is a game-changer for sure. Best of luck with your first FAFSA experience, and don't hesitate to ask questions here - everyone has been so helpful and understanding about the whole process!
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Just went through this exact situation last month! My advice would be to document everything showing you provide the majority of her living expenses - bank statements, receipts for school supplies, medical bills you pay, etc. Even though your ex claims her on taxes, having proof that you're the one actually supporting her day-to-day will really help when you file that special circumstances appeal with the colleges. Also, make sure to apply this to EVERY school she's considering - don't assume they'll all have the same response to your appeal. Some schools are way more flexible with divorced parent situations than others.
This is really smart advice! I never thought about keeping documentation like that. I definitely pay for most of her day-to-day stuff - clothes, school activities, medical appointments, etc. I'll start gathering receipts and bank statements now. Good point about applying to every school too - I was wondering if the appeal process would be different at different colleges. Did you find some schools were more understanding than others about divorced parent situations?
As someone who just went through this nightmare with my daughter's FAFSA, I feel your pain! The key thing is getting your ex on board early because once you start the application, you can't really move forward without his cooperation. I'd suggest having a conversation with him about timelines - the FAFSA opens October 1st for the following school year, and some deadlines are really early (like February for state aid in some states). Also, make sure he understands that even though he claims her on taxes, if you're the one who will actually be paying for college, you should gather documentation now showing your financial support. This will be crucial if you need to appeal the aid decision later. The whole system is frustrating, but it's definitely doable once you know the steps!
This is such great advice about getting the ex on board early! I'm definitely going to have that conversation with him this week. You're absolutely right about the timing - I had no idea some state deadlines were as early as February. Question though - when you say gather documentation showing my financial support, do you mean like keeping receipts for everything I pay for her, or more like bank statements showing regular transfers? I want to make sure I'm collecting the right kind of proof in case we need to appeal later.
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That retirement withdrawal situation is frustrating when it affects your Pell Grant eligibility. Unfortunately, the FAFSA does count retirement distributions as income, even when used for debt payoff rather than education expenses. Your best approach is definitely to request a Professional Judgment review from your school's financial aid office. Prepare documentation showing: - The retirement withdrawal amount - Proof it went directly to debt payments - A letter explaining this was a one-time circumstance that doesn't reflect your family's typical financial situation When you meet with the financial aid administrator, be clear that this withdrawal artificially inflated your family's income for FAFSA purposes and doesn't represent ongoing financial capacity. Some schools are more flexible with Professional Judgment than others, but this is exactly the kind of situation it's designed for. You might also want to check if your school has emergency grants or other institutional aid that could help fill the gap if the Professional Judgment review doesn't fully restore your Pell eligibility.
@brianna rodriguez I d'also suggest gathering any documentation that shows the debt burden was preventing your family from contributing to your education in the first place. For example, if high monthly debt payments were eating up most of your father s'income, collect old credit card statements or loan documents that demonstrate this. You want to paint a clear picture that the retirement withdrawals were essentially robbing "Peter to pay Paul rather" than creating new disposable income. Also consider asking your school s'financial aid office if they can do a forward-looking assessment - since the debt is now paid down, your family s'actual ability to contribute to education costs may have improved, which could help your case for future aid years.
@brianna rodriguez One more thing to consider - if your father is still working and plans to stop making retirement withdrawals once the debt is fully paid off, make sure to emphasize the temporary nature of this situation in your appeal. Even though it s'happened multiple years, if there s'a clear endpoint like (debt "will be fully paid by X date ,")that strengthens your case that this isn t'permanent income but rather a specific debt elimination strategy. You might also want to calculate and present what your family s'normal "income" would be without these withdrawals to show the financial aid office what your typical eligibility should look like. Some schools are more willing to work with families when they can see a clear timeline for when the unusual financial circumstances will end.
Laila Prince
One more thing to consider - even though you should wait for the aid package, you can still get pre-qualified for a Parent PLUS loan earlier just to know if you'll be approved. The pre-qualification is a soft credit check that won't affect your credit score and gives you peace of mind that you'll have that funding option available when you need it. You don't have to actually take out the loan until after you know the exact amount needed. This can be especially helpful if you're choosing between schools and want to know all your financing options are solid before making a final decision.
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Ravi Patel
This is all incredibly helpful! I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the details but feeling much more confident about the process now. It sounds like the consensus is definitely to wait for the aid packages first, then apply for the PLUS loan if needed. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - both the successes and the headaches! It's reassuring to know that the PLUS loan application itself is relatively quick once you have all the information. I'll make sure to keep track of each school's specific timeline recommendations too. Thanks everyone for taking the time to help a nervous parent navigate this process! 🙏
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Rajan Walker
•Welcome to the community! As someone who's just starting to learn about this process myself, I found everyone's advice really helpful too. One thing I'm still wondering about - if we do get pre-qualified for the Parent PLUS loan like Laila mentioned, does that lock in the current interest rate or would we still get whatever rate is set when we actually take out the loan later? I want to make sure I understand the timing on that piece too.
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