As a parent of twins who went through this process two years ago, I want to echo what others have said about being proactive. The colleges absolutely can see your triplets information on the FAFSA, but many financial aid offices are overwhelmed and won't automatically reach out to help. Here's my practical advice: Create a simple spreadsheet tracking each school's policy on multiple children. When you call (and definitely call, don't just email), ask these specific questions: 1. "What is your institutional policy for families with multiple children in college?" 2. "Do you have a special circumstances appeal process?" 3. "What documentation do you need from me?" 4. "When is the deadline for appeals?" Also, timing matters - submit any appeals or special circumstances requests as soon as possible after receiving your initial aid offers. Some schools have limited funds for these situations and it's first-come, first-served. With triplets, you're in an even more unique situation than most families. Don't be afraid to mention the financial strain this puts on your family - financial aid counselors are often parents themselves and understand the challenge. Good luck!

I'm in a similar situation but with twins starting college next year, and reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! It sounds like the key takeaway is that while FAFSA no longer automatically adjusts for multiple children, colleges can still see this information and many have their own policies to help. For anyone else in this situation, it seems like the action items are: 1. Contact each school's financial aid office directly 2. Ask about their "institutional methodology" for multiple children 3. Request a "Professional Judgment" or "Special Circumstances" review 4. Submit CSS Profile if required (since it still considers multiple children) 5. Create documentation showing all children's enrollment status 6. Be persistent but polite in your communications @Ava Johnson - with triplets, you definitely have a strong case for additional aid. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like private colleges especially tend to be more flexible with these situations. Fingers crossed that all three schools will work with you!

As someone who works in college admissions, I want to add that timing isn't everything - your son's academic profile and demonstrated interest matter a lot too! Michigan evaluates financial aid holistically, and if your son has strong stats or brings something unique to their incoming class, they may still offer competitive aid even with a late FAFSA addition. When you call tomorrow, also ask about work-study opportunities and payment plans that could help bridge any funding gaps. And don't forget that you can always negotiate - if your son gets a better offer from another school, Michigan's financial aid office may be willing to review and potentially match or improve their package. The worst they can say is no, but many families are surprised by how willing schools are to work with them when they communicate openly about their financial needs.

Reading through all these responses has been so educational! I'm in a similar situation with my daughter who just decided she wants to add two more schools to her FAFSA. It sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Add schools immediately through studentaid.gov, 2) Call both financial aid and admissions offices to explain the situation, 3) Ask about Professional Judgment processes, 4) Don't give up hope since some schools hold back funding for late applicants, and 5) Consider writing a letter explaining the late addition. Has anyone had experience with adding multiple schools at once? I'm wondering if that makes the process any different or if each school is handled separately once added to FAFSA.

As someone new to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this thread has been! My family is facing a similar situation - my son's high school had students create FSA IDs during a college fair last fall and we had no idea until we tried to start his FAFSA application. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has been a lifesaver. I'm going to start with the school IT department approach that several people mentioned worked well, then try having him search through all his email accounts systematically. It's reassuring to know this is such a widespread issue and that there are multiple paths to resolution. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and advice - this community is amazing for helping stressed parents navigate these frustrating situations!

I'm new to this community but wow, reading through this thread is like looking at my own life right now! My twin sons both had FSA IDs created during some college prep event at their school last year and of course neither of them remembers ANY of the details. Double the frustration! What's really helpful from all your experiences is learning that the school IT department route seems to be the fastest solution. I'm definitely going to start there Monday morning instead of continuing to battle the FSA phone system. It's both comforting and infuriating to see how widespread this problem is - schools really need to do better at communicating with parents about these account creations. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - this thread is going to save my sanity (and hopefully my sons' financial aid deadlines)!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I just spoke with my son's grandparents and confirmed they are indeed the account owners - they never transferred ownership to me. Based on what you've all shared, it sounds like: 1. I didn't make a mistake by not reporting it (since I didn't know about it AND it's grandparent-owned) 2. We can use these funds for this fall's expenses without it affecting his current aid package 3. Thanks to the FAFSA Simplification Act, withdrawals won't affect future aid either This is a huge relief! We can really use this money to help with his first-year expenses. I appreciate all the guidance!

Congratulations on figuring this out! You've got it exactly right. Just one small tip from someone who went through this - when the grandparents make payments from the 529, have them pay the school directly rather than giving you the money first. This creates a cleaner paper trail and avoids any potential confusion about gift tax implications (though that's more of a tax issue than a FAFSA issue). The direct payment method also ensures the funds are used specifically for qualified education expenses. Your son is lucky to have grandparents who planned ahead like this!

Just wanted to add my experience - I completed an automotive tech program last year using FAFSA! The process was pretty straightforward once I confirmed my school had a federal school code. One thing that really helped me was creating a studentaid.gov account early and linking it to the IRS for automatic tax info transfer - saved me so much time. Also, don't forget to check if your state has additional aid programs for trade schools. I got an extra $2,000 grant from my state's workforce development fund that I almost missed because I didn't know to look for it. The application was separate from FAFSA but totally worth the extra paperwork! Good luck with your HVAC program - it's such a solid career choice with great job security!

I'm currently in a similar situation looking at dental hygiene programs! One thing I discovered that might help you is to check if your HVAC program qualifies for any industry-specific scholarships or grants. The HVAC industry has several organizations that offer funding for students - like ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) and local contractor associations. Also, if you're a first-generation college student or meet certain income requirements, you might qualify for additional Pell Grant funding beyond the standard amount. When I called my school's financial aid office, they walked me through all the different types of aid I could potentially receive and it was way more than I expected. One last tip - if you're working while going to school, make sure to report your income accurately on FAFSA but also know that trade programs often have more flexible scheduling than traditional college, so you might be able to keep working part-time to help with living expenses!