I'm also new to this process and feeling pretty overwhelmed! My twin daughters are applying to college this fall too, and I've been lurking here trying to figure everything out. Reading through all these responses is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time - it sounds like the delays are normal but still so stressful when deadlines are looming! I submitted our FAFSA applications about 2 weeks ago and they're both still showing "Processing" status. At least now I know not to panic if it takes another few weeks. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know other parents are going through the same thing!

Hi there! I'm also navigating the FAFSA process for the first time with my daughter who's applying for fall 2025. Reading through this thread has been incredibly helpful - especially learning that the 3-4 week processing time is normal right now. I submitted our FAFSA about 10 days ago and have been checking the status obsessively! It's reassuring to know that schools are aware of the delays and many are adjusting their deadlines accordingly. One question - for those who have been through this before, do you get an email notification when the SAI calculation is finally complete, or do you just have to keep checking the website? Thanks for creating such a supportive community for stressed parents like us!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My daughter's FAFSA has shown "processed" for almost 3 weeks, but two of her schools are saying they still haven't received anything. It's so stressful when aid deadlines are approaching. Based on what everyone has shared here, I'm going to call the Federal Student Aid Info Center tomorrow to request that "manual retransmission" that Sophia mentioned. I'll also take screenshots of our processed FAFSA and send them to the schools preemptively. It's really reassuring to see that the financial aid offices have been understanding about these system-wide delays. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - this thread is incredibly valuable for those of us dealing with this mess!

I'm a college financial aid administrator and want to add some additional context that might help families in this situation. The transmission delays this year are largely due to the Department of Education's complete overhaul of the FAFSA processing system. While frustrating, there are a few additional steps you can take: 1. Check if your state has a separate financial aid application that might not be affected by federal delays 2. Ask schools about provisional aid packages - many can estimate aid based on your SAI even without the full transmission 3. Consider applying for private scholarships as a backup while waiting for federal aid to process The manual retransmission request that Sophia mentioned is definitely the best solution, but it's also worth knowing that the Department of Education has committed to resolving most transmission issues by mid-June. Hang in there - this too shall pass!

I'm so glad you were able to get through to someone and get some clarity! This whole situation really highlights how confusing and stressful the FAFSA process can be, especially when changes happen after you've already submitted everything. Your update gives me hope that there are actual solutions available through the appeals process. For anyone else dealing with similar SAI increases after reprocessing, it sounds like the key steps are: 1) Get the detailed calculation from Federal Student Aid, 2) Contact your schools' financial aid offices immediately, 3) Ask specifically about "professional judgment review" and "special circumstances appeal" processes, and 4) Come prepared with all your tax documents including business schedules. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's really helpful to see that there's light at the end of the tunnel even when these massive SAI jumps happen!

This whole FAFSA reprocessing situation is honestly terrifying for so many families right now. I've been working with students affected by these formula changes, and Diego, your $7K increase is unfortunately not uncommon for families with small business income. What's particularly frustrating is that the Department of Education implemented these changes mid-cycle without clear communication about what specifically was being adjusted. For anyone else reading this thread who might be dealing with similar increases: document EVERYTHING. Save screenshots of your original SAI, print out the reprocessing notification email, and gather all your tax documents including every schedule and form. The professional judgment appeals that others have mentioned here really do work, but you need to be prepared with comprehensive documentation. Also, don't just focus on your top choice schools - contact ALL the schools you've applied to. Some have more generous professional judgment policies than others, and this could actually influence your final college decision. The appeals process can take several weeks, so time is really critical right now. Hang in there, Diego - sounds like you're on the right track with those financial aid office appointments!

Thank you all for your amazing suggestions! I feel like we have a real plan now. I'm going to: 1. Submit a Special Circumstances form with all our medical expense documentation 2. Research scholarships for siblings of people with disabilities 3. Look into the EOP and PRODiG programs 4. Contact organizations specific to my younger daughters' conditions 5. Check local scholarship opportunities 6. Use Claimyr to actually get through to a financial aid advisor 7. File an appeal after doing all of the above I'll update this thread if we have any success. Really appreciate all of your help!

Great comprehensive plan! One additional resource to consider is your state's Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired or similar disability services agencies - many have scholarship programs for siblings of people with disabilities that aren't widely publicized. Also, if your daughters receive SSI or other disability benefits, document how those payments are used for medical expenses and care - this can strengthen your Special Circumstances case since it shows the true financial burden on your family. One more thing - when you do get through to financial aid, ask specifically about work-study opportunities. Even if they can't increase grant money immediately, getting your daughter campus employment can help bridge the gap while you work on other funding sources. Keep us posted on how it goes! Stories like yours help other families navigate this confusing process.

To add one more important detail - when the FAFSA for 2025-2026 opens (likely October 1, 2024), you'll need your 2024 tax information, but you don't need to wait until you file your 2024 taxes in 2025 to complete the FAFSA. You can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically import your tax information once you've filed, or you can update the FAFSA later if you submit it with estimated figures. But submitting early is always better for maximizing aid opportunities.

This is such helpful information! I'm also preparing for my son's 2025-2026 FAFSA and had the same confusion about tax years. One thing I learned from a financial aid workshop is that it's worth considering the timing of any major financial decisions in 2024 since that's what will be used for aid calculations. For example, if you're planning to sell investments or take distributions from retirement accounts, the timing could impact your Student Aid Index. Also, make sure to save all your 2024 tax documents in a dedicated folder - having everything organized will make the FAFSA process much smoother when it opens in October!