Thank you everyone for the helpful responses. I'm going to mark \

Good choice! You're doing the right thing by marking 'yes'. I just wanted to add that if you're still feeling uncertain, you can always call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243. They can walk you through the specific question and confirm the correct answer for your situation. The wait times can be long (as Klaus mentioned), but it might give you extra peace of mind knowing you answered correctly. Best of luck with your son's financial aid process!

I'm in a similar situation with my daughter starting at UC San Diego this fall while my son is already at UC Berkeley. One thing that really helped us was documenting ALL our expenses - not just the obvious ones like mortgage and car payments, but also things like increased grocery costs, medical expenses, and even the transportation costs between campuses for visits. Also, don't forget to mention any changes in your financial situation since you filed the FAFSA - job changes, medical bills, etc. The financial aid offices are more understanding than you might think, especially when you present a clear, organized case. One tip: when you call, ask specifically about the "Professional Judgment" process - that's the official term they use for these appeals, and using the right language sometimes helps get you to the right person faster. Good luck!

I'm currently going through this exact situation and wanted to share what I've learned so far. My daughter is starting at UC Berkeley this fall while my son is already at UC Santa Barbara, and the financial reality hit us hard when we realized we'd be paying nearly $70k per year combined. Here's what has been working for us in the appeal process: 1. I submitted appeals to both schools simultaneously - don't wait to finish one before starting the other. Time is critical since aid is distributed on a first-come basis. 2. The "multiple children in college" circumstance is your strongest argument. Make sure to lead with this in your appeal letter and provide enrollment verification for both kids. 3. I included a detailed cost-of-living analysis specific to California. Housing costs, gas prices, groceries - everything is more expensive here and that context matters. 4. Don't forget about the Cal Grant program in addition to the Middle Class Scholarship. Sometimes students miss out on Cal Grant B even when they qualify. 5. Each UC has slightly different forms and requirements. UC Berkeley wanted more detailed expense documentation while UCSB was more focused on the family size impact. So far, UC Berkeley has indicated they're reviewing our case favorably and we should hear back within 2-3 weeks. The key is being thorough but concise in your documentation and following up appropriately without being pushy. The system definitely isn't perfect for middle-class families, but there ARE options if you're willing to advocate for yourself. Don't give up!

Just to follow up on your question about different schools - your second child attending a more expensive private college might actually work out better than you expect. While the FAFSA calculation treats both students similarly, private colleges often: 1. Have more institutional grants and scholarships 2. Meet a higher percentage of demonstrated need 3. May offer preferential packaging (more grants, fewer loans) Make sure to compare the final net cost after all aid is applied rather than just the sticker price. Sometimes the more expensive school becomes the more affordable option after all aid is considered.

Just wanted to add one more practical tip from my experience - make sure you update your FAFSA immediately when your second child starts college. Don't wait until the next renewal cycle! I made that mistake and left money on the table for half a semester. You can submit a correction to update the "number of college students in household" field, and both schools should automatically recalculate your aid eligibility. It's worth the extra paperwork to get that SAI adjustment as soon as possible. Also, keep detailed records of both kids' enrollment status since some schools require verification that both are indeed enrolled at least half-time to maintain the multiple-student benefit.

Update: Tried desktop mode on my phone like some of you suggested, and it ALMOST worked but then crashed when processing my W-2 image. Went to my local library today but their computers don't allow file uploads for security reasons (so frustrating). My cousin is letting me borrow her laptop tomorrow. Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

I feel your pain! I had similar issues last year and what finally worked for me was a combination approach. First, try switching to "Request Desktop Site" in your mobile browser settings - that helped me get past some of the upload glitches. But honestly, for the document upload sections, you really do need a computer. Quick tip though: if you can't get to a computer before your deadline, you can submit your FAFSA without the tax documents and then upload them later through the "Make FAFSA Corrections" option. This way you at least meet the priority deadline for consideration! You'll just need to update it with your W-2 info within a few weeks. Better to submit incomplete than miss the deadline entirely and lose those state grants.

Just want to add something that helped us last year - create a spreadsheet to track everything! I made columns for each school with their COA, our SAI, estimated need, and then filled in actual aid amounts as the letters came in. It really helped us compare apples to apples when decision time came. Also, don't forget about outside scholarships! Your daughter's SAI won't affect most merit-based scholarships from local organizations, businesses, or national foundations. Even small $500-1000 scholarships add up and can make a real difference. The school guidance office usually has lists, or check sites like Fastweb or Scholarships.com. One more tip - if you get aid packages that seem low, don't be afraid to appeal! Financial aid offices can sometimes increase awards, especially if you have competing offers from similar schools. We successfully appealed at two schools and got an extra $2000/year at one of them.

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm in the exact same situation with my son - we got his SAI of 8,200 last week and I've been panicking trying to figure out what it actually means for our finances. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been more informative than hours of trying to navigate the studentaid.gov website. I had no idea about things like net price calculators, CSS Profile requirements, state grant programs, or the difference between need-blind and need-aware schools. One thing I'm still wondering about - has anyone here dealt with the situation where parents are divorced? We filed the FAFSA with just my income (as the custodial parent), but I'm worried that some schools might require information about my ex-husband's income too through the CSS Profile or other forms. Did anyone run into complications with divorced parent situations affecting their aid calculations? Also, @Micah Trail, I hope you post an update once your daughter starts receiving her aid packages! It would be really helpful to see how the real offers compare to all these estimates we're trying to figure out. Thank you to everyone who has shared their knowledge and experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating this confusing process!