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I can confirm this is accurate information. The confusion stems from how the FAFSA form is designed versus the actual legal requirements. While the form collects information for both parents in a married-filing-jointly situation, the Department of Education only requires one parent's signature to process the application successfully. The key thing that trips people up is the difference between providing information and providing authorization (signature). Both parents' financial data must be provided, but only one parent needs to authorize that information with their FSA ID signature when they file jointly. This is especially important given all the FAFSA delays this year - focusing on getting one parent's signature right rather than coordinating two can save valuable time.
does anyone know if theres a way to check if ur fafsa was actually submitted right?? i thought mine went thru but my SAI never came and now im worried
You can check your FAFSA status by logging into studentaid.gov with your FSA ID and looking at your dashboard. It should show whether your application was successfully submitted or if there are any issues requiring attention. Keep in mind that processing times have been significantly delayed this year - many students who submitted correctly still haven't received their SAI calculations because of system backlogs.
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I'm just starting this process with my ex for our son's college applications and reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! One question I haven't seen addressed - if we use the Other Parent Account feature, do we both need to create our accounts at the same time, or can one parent start the process and the other join later? I'm worried about timing issues since my ex travels a lot for work and might not be available right when I want to get started. Also, has anyone dealt with situations where one parent lives in a different state? I'm wondering if that adds any complications to the CSS Profile process.
Great questions! From what I understand, you don't both need to create accounts simultaneously - one parent can start the process and the other can join later as long as they both complete their portions before the deadlines. The CSS Profile system is designed to link the accounts once both parents submit for the same student. As for different states, that shouldn't be a problem since everything is done online anyway. Just make sure you both use consistent information for your student (same name spelling, SSN, etc.) so the system can properly match your submissions. The key is communication about deadlines even if you're in different locations!
Just went through this exact situation last year with my daughter's applications! The Other Parent Account feature definitely works for keeping financial info separate, but here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: make sure you BOTH understand that you're essentially creating two completely separate CSS Profile applications that the colleges have to manually link together. The biggest issue we ran into was that some schools' financial aid offices weren't immediately aware that we had used separate accounts, so they kept sending "incomplete application" notices to my daughter. What saved us was being proactive - I called each school's financial aid office about a week after we both submitted and specifically told them "Both parents have submitted separate CSS Profiles using the Other Parent Account feature, please confirm you have both submissions linked to [daughter's name] application." Most schools said "Oh yes, we see both now, thanks for letting us know!" One school actually hadn't linked them properly and was able to fix it right away because of my call. Would definitely recommend this proactive approach rather than waiting for problems to surface later when deadlines are looming. Also, the fees do add up quickly when you're both paying for multiple schools, but the peace of mind of keeping finances separate was worth it for us. Good luck!
This is such valuable advice! The proactive calling approach is genius - I can definitely see how waiting for problems to surface would be way more stressful than just confirming everything is linked properly upfront. I'm definitely going to add "call financial aid offices to confirm linking" to my to-do list after we both submit. It's reassuring to hear that most schools were immediately helpful once you explained the situation. Thanks for sharing this real-world strategy - it's exactly the kind of practical tip that makes all the difference but isn't mentioned anywhere in the official CSS Profile documentation!
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So glad to hear you got through to FSA and figured out what was happening! This is exactly why I always tell people to keep trying - these database mix-ups are more common than you'd think with the new system. The fact that someone else's incorrect SSN entry created this whole mess is frustrating but at least now you know it wasn't anything your dad did wrong. Hopefully the 3-5 day timeline holds and you can get your FAFSA submitted soon. Thanks for updating us - this thread will definitely help other students who run into the same issue!
This whole thread has been so helpful! I'm dealing with a similar issue where my mom's info isn't working as a contributor. Reading through everyone's experiences makes me feel less alone in this mess. @Yara Nassar thanks for keeping us updated - definitely going to try calling FSA again tomorrow with more patience knowing it s'worth the wait to actually talk to someone who can fix these database errors!
Wow, what a nightmare but I'm so relieved you figured it out! This is actually really helpful for those of us who might face similar issues. I'm a first-gen student too and honestly had no idea these kinds of database mix-ups could even happen. It's crazy that someone else's mistake from years ago could block your financial aid application! Quick question - when you called FSA, did you have to provide any specific documentation upfront, or did they just verify your dad's identity over the phone? I want to be prepared in case I run into something similar when I start my FAFSA next week. Also, did they give you any tips for avoiding other common technical issues with the new system? Thanks for sharing your experience and keeping us updated throughout the process. This thread is going to save so many people time and stress!
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So glad you got this sorted out! Just wanted to add - when comparing financial aid packages, make sure you're looking at the net price (total cost minus all aid) rather than just the aid amounts. Sometimes a more expensive school ends up being cheaper after aid. Also, keep an eye out for renewable scholarship requirements - some merit aid has GPA requirements to maintain eligibility all four years. Your daughter sounds like she's worked hard, so I'm sure she'll have great options!
This is such helpful advice! I never thought about comparing net prices instead of just aid amounts - that makes so much sense. And the renewable scholarship requirements are definitely something I need to ask about. She's maintained a 3.8 GPA through high school, so hopefully that will help with both merit aid and keeping any scholarships she receives. Thank you for taking the time to share these insights!
Don't feel embarrassed at all! The FAFSA process is incredibly confusing and you're definitely not the first parent to mix up numbers on those forms. An SAI of 9,834 is actually in a pretty good sweet spot - not so low that you're struggling financially, but low enough that your daughter should qualify for meaningful aid. I'd also recommend having her apply for outside scholarships if she hasn't already - sites like Fastweb and Scholarships.com have tons of options, and even small $500-1000 scholarships can really add up. Best of luck with the aid packages!
Thank you so much for the reassurance! You're right that the whole process feels overwhelming when you're going through it for the first time. I'll definitely look into those scholarship sites you mentioned - we've been so focused on the FAFSA and college applications that I haven't spent much time on outside scholarships. Every little bit helps, especially with college costs these days. I really appreciate how supportive this community has been in helping me figure this out!
Elijah Jackson
Thank you all for the helpful responses! I'm going to follow the financial aid office's instructions and wait for the official package before appealing. In the meantime, I'll make sure all our documentation is perfectly organized and ready to go. I just get so anxious about these things because we really need the additional aid - the estimated package would leave us with over $14,000 per year we simply can't afford. Fingers crossed the official package looks better, but at least now I know exactly what to do if it doesn't.
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Sophia Miller
•Good plan! One more tip - when you do submit your appeal, make sure to include a specific dollar amount that would make attendance possible. Don't just say "we need more aid" - say "we need an additional $X to make attendance possible." Financial aid officers appreciate clear, specific requests they can work with.
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Sofia Ramirez
Just wanted to add - while you're waiting for the official package, it might be worth reaching out to other schools your son applied to and seeing if their aid packages are more generous. Sometimes having a competing offer from a peer institution can strengthen your appeal case. Also, don't forget to document any changes in your family's financial situation that happened after you filed the FAFSA - if your husband's income reduction happened recently, make sure you have pay stubs or a letter from his employer showing the exact reduction and when it took effect. The more concrete documentation you have, the stronger your appeal will be.
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Ava Thompson
•This is really helpful advice! I hadn't thought about using competing offers as part of the appeal. My son did apply to several other schools, so we'll definitely wait to see what their packages look like too. And yes, my husband's income reduction happened in November, so I have his last few pay stubs showing the decrease. It sounds like having all this documentation organized and specific dollar amounts will be key when we do submit the appeal.
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