I'm so glad you found this community and got such helpful advice! As someone who's been through the college financial aid process twice now (older kids), I can tell you that FAFSA mistakes like this are incredibly common and the system is really designed to handle corrections smoothly. What you did - catching the error quickly and submitting the correction right away - is exactly the right approach. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here is to bookmark the studentaid.gov page where you can check your SAI score. Once your correction processes, you'll be able to see the updated number and confirm everything went through properly. Also, don't be surprised if you get emails from some of your daughter's schools asking for verification documents later in the process - this is totally normal and not related to your correction. You should be really proud of how quickly you identified and fixed this. Your daughter is lucky to have such an attentive parent advocating for her financial aid! Everything is going to work out just fine.

I'm a parent who made this exact same mistake three years ago when my oldest was applying for college! I accidentally included our entire retirement portfolio (401k, IRA, everything) and was absolutely devastated when I realized what I'd done. But here's the thing - you've already done the hardest part by catching it early and submitting the correction. What really helped me was creating a simple checklist after I fixed it: 1) Screenshot the correction confirmation (which you already did), 2) Check your email for any processing updates from FSA, 3) Monitor your SAI on studentaid.gov once it updates, and 4) Keep a list of which schools you want to call if needed. The other thing I learned is that financial aid officers are genuinely helpful with this stuff - they'd much rather you call and explain than have incorrect data in your file. You're being such a great advocate for your daughter, and trust me, by May when she's choosing her school, this whole stressful episode will just be a distant memory. You've got this!

For anyone else reading this thread later - I found that if you try to update any SSN issues, do it during non-peak hours (like very early morning). The system seems to work better then. Also, triple-check all dates of birth against official documents. And start the process EARLY! Don't wait until deadlines are close like I did.

This is such a common issue this year! I'm a newcomer here but dealing with the exact same SSN display problem. What really helped me was contacting my daughter's college financial aid office directly - they were able to flag our application as having technical issues and gave us an extension on priority deadlines. They said they're processing a lot of these cases manually while the Department of Education works on the system bugs. Don't panic about the deadlines - most schools are being very understanding about FAFSA technical problems this cycle. Document everything and keep trying!

Thank you - we'll definitely do this! She hasn't declared her major officially yet (still a sophomore) but plans to next semester. Maybe once she's officially in the Environmental Science department, she'll have access to more departmental scholarships.

As someone who's been through this exact situation, I feel your pain! The $21k gap is unfortunately very common these days. Here's what I wish someone had told me when I was in your shoes: 1. **Start with Parent PLUS loans** - Despite the high interest rate (8.05% + fees), they're still usually your best bet because of the federal protections. You can defer payments until after graduation, and there are income-driven repayment options if you consolidate later. 2. **Apply for a professional judgment review** - Since you mentioned medical expenses that weren't accounted for, this could potentially get you more grant money. The financial aid office has to consider special circumstances. 3. **Consider a hybrid approach** - Don't feel like you have to choose between PLUS loans OR other options. You could do a combination: maybe $15k in PLUS loans, $3k on a payment plan, and have your daughter earn $3k through work-study or summer jobs. 4. **Look into employer tuition assistance** - Some employers offer education benefits for employees' children. Worth checking if your company has anything like this. The system is definitely broken, but Environmental Science + Data Analytics is a solid choice that should lead to good job prospects. You're making the right call by investing in her education, even though the financial burden is overwhelming right now.

I'm in a really similar situation and wanted to share what I've learned from talking to multiple financial aid offices. Some schools are definitely more flexible than others with dependency overrides. I applied to 5 different colleges and got 3 different responses - one flat denial, one that wanted extensive documentation I didn't have, and one that worked with me on alternative evidence. The school that approved mine accepted things like: - My lease agreements and utility bills showing I'd been paying my own way - W-2s and pay stubs proving financial independence - A letter from my former high school guidance counselor explaining my situation - Bank statements showing I wasn't receiving financial support from parents It wasn't easy and took about 3 months to get approved, but it IS possible. Don't give up after one school says no - keep trying different ones. Also, smaller state schools seemed more willing to work with me than large universities. Hope this helps!

I've been working in college admissions for 8 years and want to add some practical advice to what's already been shared. The dependency override process is definitely challenging, but I've seen students in your exact situation succeed. A few additional strategies that might help: - Look into state-specific programs. Some states have grants for students who don't qualify for federal aid due to dependency issues - Consider starting at a community college that participates in guaranteed transfer agreements with 4-year schools. This can buy you time to build your case while keeping costs manageable - Document EVERYTHING from this point forward - every bill you pay, every conversation with parents about college, every financial transaction. The more evidence of complete self-sufficiency you have, the stronger your case becomes Also, don't overlook private scholarships that don't require FAFSA completion. Sites like Fastweb and Scholarships.com have filters for aid that doesn't depend on family financial information. The system is frustrating, but you're clearly resourceful and determined. Those qualities will serve you well in both getting through this process and succeeding in college once you get there. Keep pushing forward!

Yes! I finally got through to someone at Federal Student Aid (used that Claimyr service someone recommended above - worked great). They confirmed I can get Parent PLUS loans for both kids as long as I pass the credit check each year. I also spoke with a financial aid counselor at Berkeley who suggested some additional scholarship opportunities my daughter can apply for. Still going to be expensive, but at least I understand the process better now. Thanks everyone for your help!

Glad to hear you got some clarity on the process! Just wanted to add one more thing for anyone else reading this thread - make sure to keep detailed records of all your Parent PLUS loan documents and payments. The servicers can be pretty disorganized and I've had friends who had to prove payments they'd already made. Also, if your financial situation changes significantly (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), you can request deferment or forbearance on Parent PLUS loans, though interest will keep accruing. It's not ideal but it's better than defaulting. Good luck with both kids' college journeys!