Thank you so much for sharing this update! As someone completely new to the college financial aid process, I had no idea that schools send award letters to student email accounts instead of personal/family emails. My son is a high school senior and we've been anxiously waiting to hear from several schools - I've been checking our home mailbox and my personal email religiously thinking we might have missed something important. It's such a relief to know that Auburn stuck to their timeline exactly as promised. This gives me hope that the other schools we're waiting on will also follow through on their stated deadlines. The whole process feels so overwhelming when you're doing it for the first time, so posts like this with real, specific information are incredibly valuable. I'm definitely going to have my son check his university email accounts more regularly now!

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm a first-time mom going through this process with my oldest daughter who's graduating this spring. Like so many others here, I had no clue that universities send award letters to student email accounts rather than personal emails. We've been anxiously checking our mailbox and my personal email every single day! My daughter applied to Auburn as well as several other schools, and the waiting has been absolutely nerve-wracking. It's such a relief to hear that Auburn followed through on their exact timeline - it gives me confidence that when schools give specific dates, they actually mean it. The whole financial aid process feels like learning a completely new language with all the acronyms and different portals. Posts like this with real experiences and updates are a lifesaver for those of us who have no idea what we're doing. Thank you for taking the time to call Auburn and then share what you learned with the rest of us!

I'm a new community member here and just wanted to say how helpful this thread has been! My son will be in a similar situation next year - he's finishing up his Associate's degree at community college and planning to transfer. I've been dreading the FAFSA process but reading through all these responses has really clarified things for me. It's so reassuring to know that other families have navigated this successfully. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread for when we start our FAFSA next year!

As someone who just went through this process with my daughter who transferred with her Associate's degree, I can confirm everyone's advice is spot on! Definitely select "high school diploma" for that question. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure to keep all your FAFSA confirmation emails and document everything. When my daughter's aid package seemed lower than expected, we had to provide additional documentation to prove her transfer status and credit hours. Having all our FAFSA paperwork organized made that process much smoother. Also, if your daughter is transferring mid-academic year or has any unique circumstances, don't hesitate to reach out to the financial aid office at her new school directly. They're usually much more helpful than trying to get through to Federal Student Aid, and they can often clarify school-specific questions about transfer students that the FAFSA itself doesn't address clearly.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ava. This is such a difficult situation to navigate while you're grieving. It sounds like you've gotten some excellent advice here, especially about contacting the financial aid office directly before submitting the FAFSA. One thing I'd add - if you're feeling overwhelmed by all the paperwork and deadlines, don't hesitate to ask a trusted friend or family member to help you organize the documents or even come with you to the financial aid office appointment. Sometimes having an extra set of eyes and ears during these conversations can be really helpful when you're dealing with so much. You're being such a strong advocate for your daughter during an incredibly difficult time.

I'm so deeply sorry for your loss, Ava. What you're going through is incredibly difficult, and it's completely understandable to feel overwhelmed by all this paperwork while grieving. I'm really glad to see you've gotten such helpful advice from this community and that you were able to connect with Federal Student Aid through Claimyr. Having that appointment with the financial aid office next week is a major step forward. Just wanted to add one more suggestion - when you go to that meeting, consider bringing a written summary of your situation (date of husband's passing, your current financial status, etc.) along with all the documents people have mentioned. Sometimes having everything written down can help ensure you don't forget important details during what can be an emotionally difficult conversation. You're doing an amazing job advocating for your daughter during such a challenging time. This community is here for you.

I'm a former mortgage loan officer who now works in college financial planning, and I want to add something that might help with your timing decision. Since you mentioned your closing got delayed to mid-November, you might actually be in a better position than you think. The 2025-2026 FAFSA typically opens October 1st, but given the technical issues they had this past year, there's a chance it could be delayed again. Even if it opens on time, many families don't file until later in the fall anyway. If your closing happens in mid-November, that's really not that late in the FAFSA cycle - you'd still be well ahead of most state deadlines and institutional aid deadlines. One strategy to consider: You could wait until after your closing to file the FAFSA, which would eliminate this entire problem. The risk is minimal if you file by early December, especially for someone with your income level who will clearly qualify for need-based aid regardless. However, if you want to file earlier for peace of mind, definitely follow the advice others have given about creating that documentation packet and reaching out to schools immediately after filing. Either way, with your $42K income as a single parent, your son is going to qualify for substantial aid. This asset situation is temporary and manageable - don't let it stress you out too much!

I'm a high school guidance counselor who works with a lot of families in similar situations. What you're describing is actually quite common, especially with the timing challenges of major purchases and FAFSA deadlines. Given all the excellent advice you've received here, I want to emphasize one key point: your income level of $42,000 as a single parent puts you in a very strong position for aid regardless of this temporary asset situation. The federal Pell Grant alone could provide up to $7,395, and many states have additional need-based grants for families in your income range. My recommendation would be to create what others have called a "commitment packet" now while everything is fresh, then make the strategic decision about timing based on Pennsylvania's specific deadlines. Since you mentioned you're in PA, I'd strongly encourage calling PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency) directly to understand their priority deadlines and whether waiting until after your November closing would impact state grant eligibility. Most importantly, remember that financial aid officers are human beings who understand that life doesn't always align perfectly with federal deadlines. Your situation - a single parent who has saved responsibly for homeownership while preparing to send a child to college - is exactly the type of circumstance that appeals processes are designed to address. You're clearly a thoughtful, responsible parent who has planned well for your family's future. Don't let this temporary timing issue overshadow that accomplishment!

I went thru this with my tax guy last month. He said that for tax reporting purposes (not FAFSA), qualified 529 distributions aren't taxable income for anyone, but you still have to report them on Form 1099-Q. The tax form goes to whoever receives the money (usually the account owner or the student). Just something to keep in mind for tax season.

This is such valuable information! As someone new to navigating college savings and FAFSA, I'm really grateful for this discussion. It's reassuring to see that the FAFSA simplification actually made things better for families with grandparent-owned 529 plans. I'm curious though - for those of you who have been through this process, do you have any recommendations for staying up-to-date on FAFSA rule changes? It sounds like even financial professionals are struggling to keep current with all the recent changes. Are there reliable resources you trust for accurate, current information about college financial aid rules? Also, congratulations on the twin granddaughters! What an exciting (and financially planning-intensive) addition to the family!