sorry but all u parents telling kids to hide money or move it around are teaching terrible lessons!! just be honest on the dang form

I completely understand your panic - I went through the same thing last year! The good news is that while student assets are counted at 20%, the impact on your daughter's aid might be less dramatic than you think. For her $3,500 in savings, you're looking at roughly $700 added to your SAI (Student Aid Index), which doesn't translate to a dollar-for-dollar reduction in aid. As for not reporting the $1,200 last year, try not to stress too much. The Department of Education doesn't automatically cross-reference every detail from year to year unless there are major red flags. Just report everything accurately going forward. One thing to consider: if your daughter needs any educational supplies or equipment for the upcoming school year (laptop, textbooks, etc.), using some of her savings for these legitimate expenses before filing could reduce the reportable amount while still supporting her education. Just don't make any sudden large transfers - timing and documentation matter if you're selected for verification.

As a first-time FAFSA filer from NJ, this entire thread has been a goldmine of information! I was completely overwhelmed by the process and had no idea about NJFAMS or how the state aid system worked. Based on everything I've read here, I feel much more confident about what to expect. I submitted my FAFSA two weeks ago and just created my NJFAMS account today - it's showing "no records found" but from what @Libby Hassan mentioned, that seems normal for the first couple weeks. I'm planning to follow @Beth Ford's advice about calling at 8:30 AM if I need to reach HESAA, and I'll definitely be checking my NJFAMS portal weekly like @Sean Murphy suggested. It's honestly such a relief to know that the long processing times and delays are happening to everyone and not just because I messed something up. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is amazing for helping navigate these confusing systems!

As another NJ newcomer to this process, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing such detailed experiences! I'm a transfer student from out-of-state who just established NJ residency and submitted my FAFSA last month. Reading through this thread, I realize I need to create my NJFAMS account ASAP to start monitoring my status. One question I have that I haven't seen addressed yet - for students who recently became NJ residents, is there any additional documentation HESAA typically requires to verify residency for state aid eligibility? I have my voter registration and driver's license updated, but I'm wondering if there are other documents I should have ready just in case. The whole residency requirement for state aid seems like it could be another potential complication in an already complex process. Has anyone dealt with residency verification specifically through HESAA?

Just wanted to follow up and see if you were able to create your FSA ID without issues? Did the name change cause any problems?

That's great to hear that your FSA ID creation went smoothly! For other parents in similar situations, it's worth noting that the credit verification questions can actually be helpful - they prove the system IS linking your financial history correctly across name changes. One more tip for when you actually complete the FAFSA: make sure to have your 2023 tax return handy (for the 2025-26 FAFSA). The IRS Data Retrieval Tool can automatically import your tax information, which reduces errors and speeds up processing. Since you mentioned having a complicated history, using the automatic import feature will help ensure everything matches perfectly with what the government already has on file.

I'm a financial aid counselor and want to add one crucial point that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure your niece applies for a dependency override at ALL the schools she's considering, not just her top choice. Each school evaluates these independently and some are much more lenient than others. Also, if any of the schools deny her override initially, she can appeal that decision! I've seen students get approved on appeal after providing additional documentation or a more detailed explanation. Don't give up after the first "no" - persistence really pays off in these situations. One last tip: when she writes her personal statement, encourage her to focus on the facts of her situation rather than getting too emotional. Schools want to understand the circumstances clearly, and a straightforward, chronological explanation tends to work better than a heavily emotional narrative.

As someone who works in college admissions, I want to emphasize something really important - your niece should start this process IMMEDIATELY with all her schools. Dependency overrides can take 4-8 weeks to process, and some schools have earlier deadlines for financial aid consideration than others. A few practical tips from what I've seen work: 1. When she calls the financial aid offices, ask specifically for the "dependency override coordinator" - not all front desk staff know the process well 2. Keep detailed records of who she talks to and when - get names and reference numbers 3. Submit everything via email AND regular mail with tracking - schools sometimes lose paperwork 4. Follow up weekly, not every two weeks - squeaky wheel gets the grease Her situation is absolutely appropriate for an override. The fact that her grandmother has been claiming her on taxes for years is actually really strong evidence. Most schools are reasonable about these cases - they just need proper documentation to protect themselves from fraud. Also, make sure she applies for state aid too if her state offers it. Some state programs have different dependency criteria than federal aid.

Great question about verification rates! From what I remember, the verification rate varies each year but it's typically around 30-40% of students who get selected. It sounds scary but it's really just confirming the info you already put on your FAFSA with documents like tax returns, W-2s, and bank statements. The key is responding quickly if you do get selected. As for additional forms - yes! Several of my schools required the CSS Profile (which costs money to submit, ugh), and a couple wanted their own institutional aid applications. Some also required separate scholarship applications with essays. The CSS Profile was the big one though - it's used by many private schools and some state schools for institutional aid. Check each school's financial aid website under "required forms" or "how to apply" - they usually have a checklist. One more tip: if you're applying to schools in different states, some state aid programs have earlier deadlines than the federal FAFSA deadline, so double-check those too!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's helping their younger sibling through this process right now! One thing I wish I had known earlier is that some schools have their own financial aid portals where you can check the status of your application even before they send out official aid packages. It's worth creating accounts on each school's student portal if you haven't already - sometimes they'll show "FAFSA received" or "under review" which can give you peace of mind that everything went through properly. Also, if you're planning to apply for any merit scholarships at your schools, don't wait! Many have deadlines in the next few months and some require separate applications. The financial aid office can usually tell you what scholarships you might be eligible for based on your academics/activities. Good luck with everything - you're definitely ahead of the game getting your FAFSA submitted this early!