As someone who just went through this process with my daughter, I wanted to add that you should also look into state-specific aid programs! Many states have their own grant programs for residents with low SAI scores. For example, our state had a need-based grant that covered an additional $3,000 per year that we almost missed because we didn't know to apply for it separately. Check your state's higher education website - some of these programs have their own deadlines and applications beyond just the FAFSA. With a -1500 SAI, your son will likely qualify for maximum state aid too if your state offers it.

Just wanted to share our experience since we went through this last year! My son also had a -1500 SAI and it was definitely confusing at first. The good news is that negative SAI does mean maximum federal aid eligibility. However, I learned that timing is everything - beyond just meeting deadlines, submit your FAFSA as early as possible each year because some aid is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis even if you're eligible. Also, don't forget about work-study programs! With a -1500 SAI, your son will likely qualify for Federal Work-Study at schools that participate. It's not a huge amount of money, but every bit helps, and the jobs are usually on-campus and flexible around class schedules. Some of our friends' kids have work-study jobs that actually relate to their majors too, so it can be good experience. One last tip - keep copies of everything and track all your deadlines in one place. The financial aid process involves so many different forms and dates between federal, state, and individual schools that it's easy to miss something important!

Quick update for everyone dealing with this issue: FSA just released a statement acknowledging the parent approval synchronization problem. They're implementing a fix this weekend. If you've submitted multiple approvals, the system should update correctly by Monday morning. No need to resubmit again if you've already done it multiple times.

This is such a relief to read! I'm a parent going through the exact same nightmare right now - I've submitted my approval 4 times over the past two weeks and my son keeps telling me it's still showing as incomplete on his end. I was starting to think I was losing my mind! The confirmation emails made it seem like everything was working fine. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to Sofia for the update about the weekend fix. It's frustrating that this is such a widespread issue, but at least now I know it's not something I'm doing wrong. Fingers crossed the system actually works properly after Monday!

Thanks everyone for the helpful information! To summarize what I learned: 1. Yes, I definitely need to report the rental property as an asset on the FAFSA 2. I'll report the current market value minus the mortgage balance 3. The rental income from 2023 will automatically be included via tax information 4. Trying to hide it could trigger verification and potentially worse consequences I'll make sure to have all this information ready when I fill out the 2025-26 FAFSA. Better to be honest upfront than deal with verification issues later!

Great summary Connor! You've got it exactly right. Just one additional tip - when you're getting the current market value for the FAFSA, you don't need a formal appraisal. A reasonable estimate based on recent comparable sales in your area or online valuation tools like Zillow is typically sufficient. The key is being consistent if you're selected for verification later. Also, keep good records of your rental income and expenses from 2023 since that will help if you need to provide documentation. Good luck with your daughter's FAFSA!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! As someone who made a similar mistake on my son's FAFSA two years ago, I can tell you it's absolutely fixable. The advice about making a correction on studentaid.gov is spot on - that's exactly what I had to do. One thing I'd add is to keep documentation of when you submit the correction and any confirmation numbers they give you. When I called our school's financial aid office, they were really helpful once I explained it was an honest mistake on a confusing question. They even put a note in my son's file to prioritize processing his summer aid once the correction went through. The whole process took about 2-3 weeks for us, but he still got his summer funding. Don't panic - you caught this early enough to fix it!

I went through this exact same panic last year! The FAFSA wording on that question is so misleading - I thought it was asking if I had already submitted transcripts to colleges too, not whether my daughter had graduated high school. Here's what worked for me: I did the correction on studentaid.gov that same night (took maybe 10 minutes), then called the financial aid office first thing the next morning. The key is being proactive about calling them - don't wait for the correction to process first. When I explained it was an honest mistake on a confusing question, they were super understanding and even flagged her file to expedite the summer aid review once the correction went through. My daughter ended up getting her full summer aid package, just delayed by about 3 weeks. You've got this! The fact that you caught it now means there's plenty of time to fix it before summer term starts.

I want to clarify something important: the appeal process takes time. Most schools try to process appeals within 2-4 weeks, but during busy periods it can take longer. If your daughter's deposit deadline is coming up soon, call the financial aid office and ask about their appeal timeline. Many schools will extend the deposit deadline if you have a pending appeal - but you need to ask specifically. Also, be prepared for the possibility that they might only adjust the loan portion of her package rather than grant money. It's still helpful, but not as beneficial as more grant funding.

Hi there! I'm new to this whole financial aid process and this thread has been incredibly helpful. My son is a junior in high school and I'm trying to get ahead of this process. Can I ask - when you're gathering documentation for an appeal, do you need original documents or are copies okay? Also, should I start keeping track of any unusual expenses now in case we need to appeal next year? I'm thinking things like unexpected car repairs, home maintenance costs, etc. would those types of expenses count or is it mainly medical/job loss situations?