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- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
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Just wanted to add another tip for anyone still struggling with this - if your son does find the "Add Contributor" option but the email invitation still doesn't come through after a few hours, try having him remove you as a contributor and then re-add you with the same email address. Sometimes this clears up whatever glitch is preventing the invitation from sending. Also, make sure you're checking all your email folders (including promotions tab in Gmail) - the invitation emails sometimes get filtered into unexpected places. The subject line will be something like "Complete your FAFSA form" from Federal Student Aid. Good luck to everyone dealing with these technical issues! The new system definitely has some kinks to work out.
This is really helpful advice! I wish I had known about checking the promotions tab earlier - that's probably where a lot of people's invitations are ending up. The remove and re-add tip is smart too. It's frustrating that we have to figure out all these workarounds for what should be a straightforward process, but I'm grateful for communities like this where people share their solutions. Hopefully they'll fix these technical issues soon for future families going through this process.
As someone who just went through this process with my daughter last month, I can confirm that the new FAFSA contributor system is definitely confusing at first! The key thing that helped us was making sure my daughter's section was 100% complete and error-free before the "Add Contributor" option even showed up on her dashboard. One thing I'd suggest is having your son log out completely and then log back into studentaid.gov - sometimes the dashboard doesn't refresh properly and won't show all available options. Also, when he does find the contributor option, make sure he double-checks the email address he enters for you - even a small typo will mean you never get the invitation. If all else fails and you're running up against that deadline, you can always complete the parent section together on his computer while he's logged in. It's not ideal, but it works and is completely allowed as long as you're both present. The most important thing is getting that application submitted on time!
This is such great advice, especially about logging out and back in! I've seen that refresh issue with other government websites too. It's reassuring to hear from someone who recently went through this successfully. The tip about double-checking the email address is really important - I can see how easy it would be to make a typo when you're stressed about deadlines. Thank you for sharing your experience and for the reassurance that completing it together is allowed if needed. It's so helpful to have people in this community who've been through the same struggles!
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Anyone else notice that schools seem SUPER behind on sending award letters this year? I got my SAI like 3 weeks ago but none of my schools have sent me any award packages yet. When I called one school they said they're still catching up because of all the FAFSA delays.
This is accurate. Most schools are 4-6 weeks behind their normal financial aid timeline this year due to the FAFSA Simplification Act implementation delays. The Department of Education had to phase in the release of FAFSA data to schools, so many institutions only recently received complete applicant information. If you're making college decisions soon, I recommend contacting schools directly to request estimated aid packages based on your SAI.
UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at FSA! Turns out my application has an "unresolved comment code" that wasn't visible to me on the website. They said I need to submit additional verification of my parents' tax information even though we used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. They're sending me an email with instructions. The agent said this is why my SAI isn't showing up yet - the calculation is basically on hold until this verification is completed. Just wanted to update in case anyone else has the same issue!
Thanks for the update! This is really helpful to know. I'm having the exact same issue - my FAFSA shows "processed" but no SAR available and no SAI visible anywhere. I used the IRS Data Retrieval Tool too, so maybe I have the same verification problem. Did they give you a timeline for how long it takes once you submit the additional verification documents? I'm getting stressed about college decision deadlines coming up.
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As someone who went through this exact situation last year with my oldest, I can confirm that calling the school directly is absolutely the right move! My daughter's college treated summer early start as part of the 2024-2025 aid year, so we only needed one FAFSA initially. However, her friend at a different school had to file both forms. The policies really do vary by institution, especially for these bridging programs. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - ask the financial aid office about summer-specific scholarships too. Many schools have additional funding just for early start students that isn't widely advertised. Good luck with the call tomorrow!
This is so helpful to hear from someone who actually went through it! The summer-specific scholarships tip is gold - I never would have thought to ask about those. It makes total sense that schools would have separate funding pools for early start programs. I'm definitely adding that to my list of questions for tomorrow's call. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who works in financial aid administration - the confusion here is totally understandable because summer terms really are handled inconsistently across institutions! One additional tip: when you call the financial aid office tomorrow, ask specifically about their "satisfactory academic progress" (SAP) requirements for summer aid. Some schools have different SAP standards for early start programs, and you'll want to know about any GPA or credit hour requirements upfront. Also, if your daughter qualifies for state aid, check if your state has separate summer funding - some do, some don't. The FAFSA will cover federal aid, but state programs often have their own timelines and requirements. Fingers crossed the financial aid office gives you clear answers!
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As a newcomer to this whole financial aid process, I'm finding this thread incredibly helpful! My son is starting college next year and I had no idea that these different grants come through on completely different timelines. I was assuming everything would show up together after the FAFSA was processed. It's really reassuring to see that the confusion and stress you experienced is totally normal for first-time parents. The spreadsheet idea sounds like a game-changer - I'm definitely going to set one up before we get to this stage. And the tip about asking for written confirmation of timelines is something I never would have thought of but makes so much sense. Thank you for sharing your experience and the update about getting it resolved! It gives me hope that even when things feel overwhelming, persistence pays off and there are helpful people in these offices if you can find them.
Welcome to the financial aid community! You're so smart to be learning about this process ahead of time - I wish I had done that instead of scrambling to figure everything out after my daughter was already accepted. This thread has been a lifesaver for me too. One additional tip I'd add based on what I learned: bookmark your state's financial aid website early (like CSAC for California) and create accounts there if possible. I didn't even know Cal Grant had its own separate system until we were already in the thick of things. Getting familiar with all these different portals before you actually need them will save you so much stress later. Also, don't be afraid to call financial aid offices at schools you're considering just to ask about their typical timelines - most are happy to explain their process to prospective families. It'll help you set realistic expectations and know what questions to ask when the time comes. Good luck with your son's college journey!
As someone who's new to navigating financial aid, this entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea that FAFSA is just the application and not where all the grants actually show up. The distinction between what appears on StudentAid.gov versus the school portal makes so much more sense now. What really struck me is how much the timelines vary - it sounds like patience is key but also being proactive about following up. The advice about asking for a pending aid hold and getting written confirmation of what financial aid offices tell you seems crucial. I'm definitely taking notes on all these tips for when I go through this process with my own kids in a few years. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so helpful to see real examples of how this all plays out rather than just trying to decipher official websites that don't explain the practical realities!
Sofia Rodriguez
Congrats on getting it submitted! That's a reasonable amount too - sounds like you did your homework on calculating the actual need. Just a heads up for future years: keep all your documentation organized because you'll need similar info each year, and tuition tends to go up 3-5% annually so budget for that increase. Also, if your son ends up with any leftover loan money after all expenses are paid, make sure to return it ASAP to avoid unnecessary interest charges. Good luck with the rest of the financial aid process!
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Anastasia Sokolov
•This is such great advice! I'm new to this whole process too and still learning about all the financial aid options. The tip about returning leftover loan money is something I hadn't thought about - definitely don't want to pay interest on money we don't actually need. And organizing documentation makes so much sense since we'll be doing this for the next few years. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Tristan Carpenter
As someone who just went through this process last year, I want to emphasize something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand the difference between the Parent PLUS loan application and the Master Promissory Note (MPN). The application is what you're doing now for this academic year, but if this is your first Parent PLUS loan ever, you'll also need to complete an MPN which is a separate document that covers future borrowing. The MPN is good for up to 10 years, so you won't need to redo it each year, just the annual application. Also, double-check that your son has completed his FAFSA first - Parent PLUS loans can't be processed until the student's FAFSA is on file. The whole process becomes much smoother in subsequent years once you know what to expect!
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Diego Chavez
•This is incredibly helpful information! I didn't realize there were two separate documents - the application and the Master Promissory Note. That explains why the financial aid office mentioned some additional paperwork that would be needed. It's reassuring to know that once the MPN is done, it's good for 10 years. And yes, my son completed his FAFSA back in January, so we should be all set on that front. Thanks for breaking down the process so clearly - it really helps to hear from someone who just went through this recently!
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