As a follow-up on your options: with an SAI of 8700, you're probably right that you won't qualify for Pell Grants in the 2024-2025 award year. However, I'd recommend these steps: 1. Schedule a budget counseling session with your financial aid office 2. Ask specifically about supplemental loans (like the PLUS loan for graduate students if applicable) 3. Check whether your school offers any income-share agreements as alternatives to private loans 4. Look into any department-specific scholarships in your major 5. Consider whether adding a part-time campus job could help bridge the gap Many schools have resources they don't widely advertise, so being persistent with your financial aid office can sometimes uncover additional options.

Hey Sean! I just went through something similar last year. One thing that really helped me was applying for departmental scholarships - a lot of departments have small $500-2000 scholarships that don't get many applicants because people don't know about them. Also, check if your school has a food pantry or textbook lending program to cut down on other expenses. Every little bit helps when you're trying to stretch that loan money! And definitely don't overlook work-study if it's available - those jobs are usually pretty flexible around your class schedule.

UPDATE: Success! I used Claimyr to get through to a FAFSA agent this morning and they were super helpful. Turns out my stepdad's SSN was entered with a transposed digit in the original FSA ID creation. The agent helped us correct it and verify his identity on the spot! No paper form needed after all. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

Congratulations on getting it resolved! This is such a helpful thread for anyone dealing with FSA ID verification issues. It's amazing how something as simple as a transposed digit can cause so much stress and delay. Your experience shows that sometimes persistence with getting through to a human agent is the key - they have tools and access that can fix these issues immediately rather than going through lengthy paper processes. Thanks for updating us with the solution, it will definitely help other students and families who run into similar problems!

i got an error when i tried to do mine and had to call the fafsa ppl. waited TWO HOURS and then got disconnected!!! had to start over the next day. SUCH a pain

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this process recently! The 90-day window is accurate, but I'd recommend completing your portion within a week or two of returning from your trip if possible. While the technical deadline is generous, some schools process aid applications in batches, and you don't want to miss an early processing cycle that could affect your son's aid package. Also, since you're traveling for work, you might want to download the myStudentAid app before you leave. Even if you don't plan to complete the form on your phone, having the app can be helpful for checking the status of your invitation or accessing your FSA ID info if needed. Safe travels!

One important point that hasn't been mentioned yet: If your student doesn't need the full loan amount they're offered each year, they should only accept what they actually need! There's no requirement to take the maximum. For example, if they're offered $5,500 in federal loans but only need $3,000 to cover their costs after scholarships and your contribution, they can just accept the $3,000. This will save them money on interest in the long run and preserve more of their lifetime eligibility for later years if costs increase or circumstances change.

Congratulations on this milestone! As someone who just went through this process with my first child last year, I can share a few practical tips that helped us navigate the loan disbursement process: 1. Set up account access early - Make sure both you and your daughter have access to the student portal and understand how to view the financial aid offers and loan acceptance process. 2. Understand the timeline - Loan disbursements typically happen right before each semester starts, so plan your payment schedules accordingly. Our daughter's first disbursement was about a week before classes began. 3. Budget for the gap - There's often a delay between when you pay deposits/housing fees and when loan funds are actually disbursed, so be prepared to cover those initial costs out of pocket temporarily. 4. Keep detailed records - Screenshot everything! Loan acceptance confirmations, disbursement schedules, refund amounts. The financial aid office staff changes frequently and having your own records saved us multiple headaches. The whole process gets much easier after the first year once you understand your school's specific procedures. You've got this! 🎓

Your SAI of 19972 is actually right in the middle range - not low enough for Pell Grants but definitely not high enough to disqualify you from other aid! I work with students on college planning and see this SAI level frequently. Here's what you should know: 1) You'll qualify for federal Direct Loans ($5,500 freshman year), 2) Many colleges have institutional grants that aren't tied to Pell eligibility, and 3) Your actual out-of-pocket costs will vary dramatically between schools. I'd strongly recommend applying to a diverse mix of colleges - some state schools, some private colleges with good endowments, and maybe a community college as a backup. The private schools might surprise you with merit aid that makes them competitive with public options. Don't panic yet - wait until you have all your financial aid letters to compare. Many families with your SAI range find affordable paths to college, especially when they explore all their options!

Hey Oliver! I totally get the confusion - I just went through this process myself and the SAI system is definitely not intuitive at first. Your 19972 SAI puts you in a pretty common spot for middle-class families. While you won't qualify for Pell Grants (cutoff is around 7000), you're absolutely not out of luck for financial aid! You'll definitely get federal student loans, and many schools have their own institutional grants that they award based on different criteria than just your SAI. The key thing to remember is that each school will create a completely different financial aid package for you - I've seen people with similar SAIs get wildly different offers from different colleges. My advice would be to apply broadly, run the net price calculators for each school you're interested in, and definitely look into merit scholarships that aren't need-based at all. Don't let that number discourage you from applying to schools you're interested in - you might be surprised by what some colleges can offer, especially private schools with larger endowments. The financial aid process is confusing for everyone, so you're definitely not alone in feeling overwhelmed by it all!