Grace, I can see you're getting some great advice here! As someone who just went through this process with my son, I wanted to add one more thing that really helped us - when you call the financial aid offices tomorrow, also ask if they have any "emergency" or "expedited" FAFSA processing for families who had legitimate delays like medical emergencies. Some schools have special procedures for situations exactly like yours where family health crises caused delays. They might be able to flag your daughter's file for priority review or consideration for late-deadline scholarships if you explain the circumstances. Also, keep documentation of those medical issues and any correspondence showing the health emergency timeline - this could be helpful for both the special circumstances appeals and potentially for explaining any delayed submissions to scholarship committees. You're doing everything right by acting quickly now. Your daughter is lucky to have such a dedicated parent advocating for her!

Grace, I'm so glad to see you're getting such comprehensive advice here! I went through a very similar situation two years ago (also due to family medical issues) and want to share one additional tip that saved us thousands. After you submit the FAFSA using your 2023 data and call both schools about their priority deadlines, also ask each financial aid office about their "professional judgment review" timeline. Some schools process these appeals much faster than others, and if your 2024 medical expenses and income changes are significant, this could result in additional aid. Also, don't forget to check if your state has its own student aid programs with separate deadlines. Many families focus so much on federal aid and school-specific aid that they miss out on state grants that could be substantial. Your state's higher education website should have this information. You're handling this crisis so well - your daughter is going to have great options thanks to your persistence! The fact that you're acting quickly now despite everything you've been through shows incredible dedication.

Don't forget to look into the California Middle Class Scholarship too! It's specifically for families making under $201k with assets under $201k, and can cover up to 40% of tuition and fees at UC/CSU schools AFTER other aid is applied. With your income around $65k and that SAI, your daughter would likely qualify. My son is at Cal State Fullerton and got $3,800 from this program alone, on top of his Cal Grant and federal aid. The best part is you don't need a separate application - eligibility is determined automatically through your FAFSA/California Dream Act Application.

Hey James! I'm a newcomer here but wanted to chime in since I just went through this exact same situation with my daughter last year. Her SAI was 6,850 (super close to yours!) and I was panicking thinking we'd get zero aid. Turns out I was completely wrong - she ended up with a fantastic aid package that made her state school very affordable. The key thing that helped me was understanding that SAI is just the starting point for calculations, not what you actually pay. With your $65k income, you're definitely in the sweet spot for need-based aid. My daughter qualified for about $4,200 in Pell Grant money, plus our state had additional grants, and her university threw in institutional aid too. One tip that really helped us - when you do get that financial aid package, don't be afraid to ask questions if something doesn't make sense. The financial aid officers are actually pretty helpful once you get past the phone tree nightmare. Your daughter is going to be just fine financially for college!

As someone who works at a college bursar's office, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help ease your stress: 1. Most schools post a "bill due date" that's actually AFTER aid disbursement, so you won't be expected to pay out of pocket while waiting for aid to arrive. 2. Check if your daughter's school has a payment plan option - even if you don't need it, understanding how it works can be helpful backup knowledge. 3. Keep digital copies of all financial aid documents in one folder. If there are any disbursement delays, having everything organized will speed up resolution. 4. Many schools send automated emails/texts when aid disburses and when refunds are processed. Make sure both you and your daughter are signed up for these notifications. 5. If your daughter lives off-campus, budget carefully for that refund money - it typically needs to cover rent, groceries, books, and personal expenses for the entire semester. The process really is mostly automatic once everything is submitted correctly, but having a clear understanding of the timeline definitely helps with planning. You're asking all the right questions!

As a parent who went through this exact same confusion two years ago, I totally understand your overwhelm! Here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: The key date to focus on is about 10 days before classes start - that's when aid typically disburses to your daughter's student account. The school automatically applies it to tuition/fees first, then if there's excess, that becomes the "refund" (which isn't really a refund, just leftover aid money). My biggest tip: don't panic if the refund takes a week or two after classes start to hit her bank account. We made the mistake of buying all her textbooks upfront thinking we'd get reimbursed immediately, but it took about 10 days. Now I know to either wait for the refund or use the school's book advance program if they have one. Also, encourage your daughter to treat any refund money like it has to last the ENTIRE semester - I've seen too many kids blow through it in the first month and then stress about money for the rest of the term. Setting up that separate account someone mentioned earlier is genius! The financial aid office saying "it's automatic" is actually true once all the paperwork is done - but definitely confirm she's completed everything on her to-do list in the student portal. You've got this!

As someone new to this process, I really appreciate all the detailed advice here! I was in the same boat wondering about timing. Based on what everyone's shared, it sounds like creating the FSA ID early is definitely the way to go. The verification delays seem to be the biggest risk, and I'd rather deal with any issues now rather than when we're trying to meet deadlines. I'm also going to write down all my login info like someone suggested - that's such a practical tip that I wouldn't have thought of. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences, both good and bad. It's making this whole process feel much less intimidating!

This is such a timely question! I'm going through the exact same thing with my son right now. After reading all these responses, I'm convinced that creating your FSA ID now is definitely the right move. What really stood out to me is how unpredictable the verification timing can be - some people get verified in 24 hours, others wait days or even weeks. I'd much rather deal with any potential hiccups now rather than when we're rushing to meet college deadlines. Plus, it sounds like having both FSA IDs ready means you can power through the actual FAFSA application without interruptions. Thanks for asking this question - the answers have been incredibly helpful for those of us navigating this process for the first time!

UPDATE: We got it working! You were all right - my daughter had to specifically invite him as a contributor through her account. The invitation email went to his spam folder (of course), but once he found it and clicked the link, he could access her application. Thanks everyone for your help!

So glad you got it sorted out! This is such a helpful thread - I'm bookmarking it for when my younger son starts his FAFSA next year. The spam folder thing is so typical too. It's crazy how unintuitive the new FAFSA system is compared to the old one. At least now other parents dealing with this same issue will have all these great troubleshooting steps in one place!