Hey! I just went through this exact same nightmare a few months ago. Before you consider deleting (which can create more problems), try one more thing that worked for me: have your parent try signing from their phone using the mobile browser instead of a computer. For some weird reason, the mobile version of the site handled signatures better when I was having issues. Also make sure they're not copying/pasting their FSA ID password - type it manually. I know it sounds silly but that was actually part of my problem! If none of the troubleshooting works and you absolutely have to delete, definitely call your schools first like others mentioned. Good luck!

I'm dealing with similar signature issues right now! Reading through all these suggestions has been super helpful. I wanted to add one more thing that my school's financial aid counselor told me - apparently there's also a known issue where if you have multiple tabs open with studentaid.gov, it can interfere with the signature process. She said to make sure you close all other tabs and only have one FAFSA tab open when attempting signatures. Also, if your parent's FSA ID was created very recently (like within the last 72 hours), there might still be a verification delay on the backend even if it appears active. Might be worth waiting a day or two if that's the case before trying the nuclear option of deleting everything!

I'm also considering online college and this thread has been super helpful! One thing I'm wondering about - do online students still get access to things like emergency aid or hardship grants that traditional students might get? I know COVID created some special programs, but I'm not sure if those apply to online-only students or if schools have different policies for distance learners when it comes to emergency financial assistance.

I just wanted to add something that might be helpful - when you're comparing financial aid packages between online schools, make sure to look at the net price calculators on each school's website. These tools will give you a personalized estimate of what you'll actually pay after grants and scholarships, which can vary quite a bit between institutions even if your FAFSA eligibility is the same. Also, don't forget that some online programs qualify for state grants too, depending on where you live and where the school is located. I know California has some programs that work with certain out-of-state online schools. It's worth checking with your state's higher education agency to see what's available!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly thankful for finding this thread! I'm a parent of a high school senior, and I genuinely thought I had the FAFSA process figured out until reading everyone's experiences here. I was planning to file in February 2025, thinking that was "early," but now I realize that would have been way too late for optimal aid consideration! The explanation about the three different types of deadlines (federal, state, and school-specific) was particularly enlightening - I had no idea that schools set their own priority deadlines that are often months before the federal cutoff. It's also reassuring to see so many parents emphasizing that filing close to October 1, 2024 is crucial, even with potential system issues. I'm already planning to gather our 2023 tax documents this summer and set up FSA IDs well in advance. One quick question for the experienced parents here: when you mention contacting schools directly about their priority deadlines, is this something I should do for every school my daughter is considering, or just her top choices? She's looking at about 10 schools across different states, so I want to be thorough but not overwhelmingly persistent with admissions offices. Thank you all for sharing such practical, real-world advice - this community is exactly what parents like me need when navigating this complex process for the first time!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have found this incredibly informative discussion! I'm a parent of a high school senior who will be starting college in fall 2025, and honestly, I was completely clueless about FAFSA deadlines until reading through everyone's experiences here. The most shocking revelation for me was learning that the federal June 2026 deadline is essentially worthless if you actually want to receive financial aid. I was originally planning to file the FAFSA sometime in late winter/early spring 2025, thinking I had plenty of time, but now I understand that approach could have cost us thousands in potential aid! Based on all the excellent advice shared here, I'm now planning to: 1) Set up FSA IDs for both my son and myself this summer, 2) Gather and organize all our 2023 tax documents well before October, 3) Research school-specific priority deadlines by contacting financial aid offices directly, and 4) File the FAFSA as close to October 1, 2024 as possible. One question I have for this knowledgeable group: I've seen several mentions of potential system delays similar to what happened with the 2024-25 cycle. Should I have a backup plan in case the FAFSA site crashes or has issues on October 1st? Is it worth trying to file at off-peak hours, or does timing within those first few days of October not matter as much? Thank you all for sharing such practical, real-world wisdom - this community is saving families like mine from making costly mistakes!

Thank you all for this incredibly detailed discussion! As someone new to navigating FAFSA and college planning, this thread has been so educational. I'm particularly grateful for the specific credential recommendations (CCFC, fee-only planners) and the real numbers breakdown showing the potential $6K+ impact on SAI. The warnings about lookback periods and documentation requirements are also eye-opening - I definitely want to avoid any red flags during the financial aid process. One quick follow-up question: For those who worked with college financial planning specialists, did they typically handle both the asset transfer logistics AND help you understand which schools might be most generous with aid based on your financial profile? I'm wondering if I need one professional for the FAFSA strategy and another for school selection guidance, or if the right specialist can help with both aspects. This community is amazing - thank you for sharing your real experiences and saving the rest of us from costly mistakes!

As a newcomer to this community and the FAFSA process, I'm finding this thread incredibly valuable! My daughter is a sophomore in high school with about $25K saved from gifts and part-time work, so while I have a bit more time than some of you, I want to start planning early. The consensus seems clear that finding a fee-only financial planner with college planning credentials (like CCFC) is the way to go rather than a general CPA or financial advisor. I'm particularly concerned about the lookback period issues that @Zainab Ali and others mentioned - it sounds like timing and documentation are crucial. One question I haven't seen addressed: for those who successfully moved assets to parent-owned 529 plans, did you notice any impact on merit-based aid opportunities? I know merit aid is typically based on academic performance, but I'm wondering if some schools factor in financial need even for "merit" awards. Also, does anyone have experience with how this strategy works for families with multiple kids? I have a younger son who will be applying to college just 2 years after my daughter, so I'm trying to think through the long-term implications. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly - it's incredibly helpful for those of us just starting this journey!

As someone new to this process, I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here! I'm in a similar boat with my daughter's FAFSA and was panicking when I didn't see the asset section. It's reassuring to know this is actually intentional and not a technical glitch. The fact that they changed such a fundamental part of the process without making it crystal clear to families is pretty frustrating though. At least we have communities like this to help each other figure it out!

This is such a helpful thread! As someone who just started the FAFSA process for my youngest, I was completely caught off guard by how different everything looks compared to when my older kids applied. I actually called my accountant thinking I had made some mistake with our tax information when the asset questions never appeared. It's honestly pretty poor communication on their part to make such sweeping changes without clearly explaining what families should expect. I'm glad to see it worked out for you @Luis Johnson - gives me confidence to move forward with ours too!