Update: I finally got through to a FSA representative who confirmed my payments DO count as long as I'm on ICR (which I am) and working full-time at a qualifying employer (which I am). She did advise me to submit a new Employment Certification Form immediately to make sure these early payments are being tracked properly. Thanks everyone for your help - especially the tip about Claimyr which saved me hours of hold time!

Congratulations on getting confirmation! This is such valuable information for other parents in similar situations. I'm in a comparable spot - work for a public library system and have Parent PLUS loans for my junior. I've been hesitant to start payments early because I wasn't sure if they'd count, but your experience gives me confidence to move forward. Quick question: When you consolidated, did you have to wait a certain period before the payments started counting toward PSLF, or did they count immediately after consolidation? I'm worried about timing since I just submitted my consolidation application last month.

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - if your daughter is considering any schools that offer early action or early decision (non-binding), you might want to encourage her to apply to those since the FAFSA won't be available until December 1st. Some schools have their own institutional aid applications that can be completed earlier, and getting an early acceptance can take some pressure off while you're navigating the new FAFSA system. Also, I've found it helpful to create a spreadsheet with all the schools she's interested in, their FAFSA deadlines, CSS Profile requirements, and any school-specific aid applications. With all these changes this year, staying organized is going to be more important than ever!

As someone who just went through this process with my son last year, I can't stress enough how important it is to have all your documents ready before December 1st. The new FAFSA will pull directly from your 2023 tax returns, so make sure those are filed and processed by the IRS well in advance. One thing I wish I'd known earlier - keep digital copies of everything! Bank statements, investment accounts, business records if applicable. The new system is supposed to be more streamlined, but when you inevitably need to provide verification documents to colleges, having everything organized digitally will save you so much time. Also, don't panic if the SAI number looks weird compared to what you're used to seeing with EFC. The scale is completely different, so a negative number isn't necessarily bad - it actually might mean more aid eligibility. Each college will interpret these numbers differently anyway when putting together aid packages.

btw have u considered any of the regional tuition exchange programs? like the western undergraduate exchange or midwest student exchange? some of them give big discounts on oos tuition if ur in a participating state

Your negative SAI of -1500 is definitely a good position to be in for financial aid! As others have mentioned, you'll qualify for maximum federal aid including the full Pell Grant (~$7,395). However, I'd strongly recommend creating a comprehensive comparison before committing to that $30k out-of-state school. Here's what I'd suggest doing: 1. Apply to several in-state public universities as your financial safety net 2. Look into the Midwest Student Exchange Program since you're in Illinois - could save you thousands 3. Consider starting at a community college and transferring after 2 years 4. Research private schools that meet full demonstrated need (some are more generous than public out-of-state options) The harsh reality is that even with your excellent SAI, you could still face significant debt at an out-of-state public university. I've seen students with similar situations end up with $60k+ in loans after 4 years. Run the numbers carefully and have backup plans!

I'm new here but wanted to chime in as someone who just went through the FAFSA process for the first time this year! You're absolutely right - it's once per academic year, not per semester. I was so confused initially too because the whole system seems designed to be as unclear as possible. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple checklist of what I needed before starting: 2023 tax returns, bank statements, investment records, and making sure both my FSA ID and my daughter's were working. The contributor system they added this year was a nightmare at first, but once I understood that my husband had to create his own FSA ID and complete his section separately, it went much smoother. For the 2025-2026 cycle, I'm planning to have everything organized by mid-September so I can submit the moment it opens in October. After dealing with all the delays and glitches this year, I never want to cut it close again! The peace of mind from submitting early is worth the extra prep time.

As a parent who just went through this process with my son this past year, I can absolutely confirm what everyone else is saying - FAFSA is definitely once per academic year! The confusion with your daughter's roommate's parents is totally understandable though. When I first started this journey, I was constantly second-guessing myself because there's so much conflicting information out there. One thing that really helped me was bookmarking the official Federal Student Aid website (studentaid.gov) as my go-to source instead of relying on random websites that often have outdated information. For the 2025-2026 FAFSA, they should announce the exact opening date closer to fall, but historically it's been October 1st. Since your daughter's financial aid advisor is out, I'd definitely recommend calling the financial aid office directly. Most schools have multiple counselors who can help with general timeline questions, and they'll know the specific priority deadlines for your daughter's school. Don't feel bad about asking "basic" questions - this stuff is genuinely confusing and they're there to help! Better to ask now than miss something important later.

Update: I spoke with someone at Federal Student Aid (finally!) and they confirmed it was due to the FAFSA Simplification Act changes that happened between when I submitted the two applications. The November application was processed under transitional rules that still gave some benefit for multiple students in college, while the January application used the new formula that eliminated this benefit. They advised me to file a correction on both applications and then contact each school's financial aid office for a professional judgment review. The aid officer said many families are in this situation this year due to the transition. Thanks everyone for your help!

Thanks for sharing your experience and the update! This is such valuable information for other families going through the same thing. I'm dealing with a similar situation where my two kids got different aid packages despite identical family circumstances. It's incredibly frustrating that the Department of Education didn't communicate these transition issues more clearly to families. We're basically finding out about these formula changes after the fact when our aid packages don't make sense. I'm definitely going to follow your advice and file corrections for both applications, then request professional judgment reviews. Did the schools' financial aid offices seem familiar with this issue when you contacted them?