The financial aid office can consider your specific situation through Professional Judgment, but they're not obligated to adjust your SAI based on family contribution agreements. Each school has different policies. Honestly, in most cases they won't make adjustments just because there's an agreement about how much a stepparent will contribute. They typically consider the entire household income available for educational expenses, regardless of internal family arrangements. However, if there are unusual financial circumstances (high medical expenses, job loss, etc.), that would be something they might adjust for. It's still worth having the conversation with each school after submitting the FAFSA.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar boat - my dad remarried last year and we're dealing with the same name/address confusion. One thing I learned from our experience is to keep copies of EVERYTHING - marriage certificate, any name change documents, old and new tax returns. The financial aid offices will likely ask for documentation to verify the timeline of changes. Also, @Evelyn Martinez - regarding your concern about the higher SAI due to your stepdad's income, you might want to look into schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need or have good merit aid programs. Sometimes a higher SAI doesn't hurt as much at schools with generous aid policies. It's worth researching each school's average aid packages for families in your income bracket (including your stepdad's income now). Good luck with everything! This process is definitely overwhelming but you'll get through it.

As someone who just went through this process with my oldest daughter, I want to emphasize what others have said about the huge variation between schools. We had an SAI of around 7,000 (very close to yours) and her aid packages ranged from $4,000 total aid at our local state school to $18,000 at a private liberal arts college. The key thing I learned is that schools with higher sticker prices sometimes end up being more affordable because they have larger endowments for need-based aid. Also, don't forget about state-specific aid programs! Depending on where you live, there might be additional grant programs for residents attending in-state schools. And definitely submit any required CSS Profile if the schools ask for it - that's often how private schools distribute their institutional aid. The waiting is the hardest part, but you're asking the right questions now instead of being blindsided later. Good luck to your daughter!

I'm in the exact same boat with my daughter - SAI of around 6,800 and trying to figure out what to realistically expect! Reading through all these responses has been so eye-opening. I was also doing that simple COA minus SAI math and getting my hopes up for big grant awards. What's really hitting me is how much the individual school matters. It sounds like we really need to wait and see what each college offers rather than trying to predict it based on the SAI alone. I'm definitely going to check out those Net Price Calculators that @Nathaniel Mikhaylov mentioned - that sounds like a much better way to estimate costs than my current guessing game. The hardest part is just not knowing what our actual out-of-pocket will be until March. We're trying to plan but it feels impossible when the aid could vary so dramatically between schools. At least now I know to prepare for more loans than grants, which honestly helps set realistic expectations even if it's not what I wanted to hear!

Hi Diego! As someone who just went through this process with my twin daughters last year, I wanted to add a few things that really helped us as a single-parent household: 1. **Work-Study Programs** - Don't overlook these! Your daughter can earn money while in school, and work-study income doesn't count against her aid eligibility for the following year like regular employment does. 2. **Emergency Aid Programs** - Many colleges have emergency grant funds for unexpected expenses. These aren't advertised much but can be lifesavers for things like textbooks, housing deposits, or even car repairs. 3. **State Tax Credits** - Michigan offers the Michigan Education Trust (MET) and other tax benefits that can help with college costs. Even if you haven't been saving in these programs, there might be tax advantages you can take advantage of. 4. **Food Assistance** - Many colleges now have food pantries and meal assistance programs. Don't be shy about using these resources - they're there to help students focus on studies instead of worrying about basic needs. The biggest thing I learned is that financial aid offices are actually there to help you succeed, not to make things difficult. Once you get past the initial paperwork maze, most schools want to work with families to make college affordable. You're doing great by starting early and asking questions!

Hi Diego! I'm another single mom who just finished this process with my son last year, and I wanted to share a few things that really helped us navigate the new FAFSA system: **Timeline is everything** - The 2025-26 FAFSA opened in December, so if you haven't started yet, definitely prioritize this. Many state aid programs are first-come-first-served, and Michigan's deadline for state aid is typically March 1st (though some schools have their own earlier deadlines). **Don't forget about in-state advantages** - Michigan has some great public universities, and your daughter will qualify for in-state tuition rates. With your income level, she might even qualify for programs like the Michigan Reconnect scholarship if she considers community college first. **Appeal process exists** - If your financial circumstances have changed recently (like you mentioned the child support ending soon), you can submit a "special circumstances" appeal to individual schools. This can sometimes result in additional aid beyond what the FAFSA initially calculates. **Document everything** - Keep copies of all tax documents, bank statements, and any correspondence with financial aid offices. The verification process is much smoother now with direct IRS data transfer, but having backup documentation saved me when there were questions. You're asking all the right questions and starting at the right time. Your daughter is lucky to have such a proactive mom advocating for her education!

This thread has been incredibly educational! As someone just starting to navigate the dual enrollment FAFSA process, I'm curious about one practical aspect - when both kids are in college and you're dealing with two different financial aid offices, how do you keep track of all the deadlines, required documents, and communication? Do you maintain separate files for each child, or is there a system that works well for managing everything? I'm already feeling overwhelmed thinking about coordinating aid renewal paperwork, verification requests, and appeals for two different schools with potentially different timelines and requirements. Any organizational tips from parents who've successfully managed this would be hugely appreciated!

This has been such an informative discussion! I'm dealing with the same situation and feeling much more confident after reading everyone's experiences. One quick follow-up question - for those who've been through this process, did you find it helpful to have both kids apply to some of the same schools? I'm wondering if having siblings at the same institution might make the financial aid process smoother, or if it's better to let each child choose schools independently regardless of where the other is applying. My kids have somewhat different academic interests, but there is some overlap in their potential school choices, and I'm trying to figure out if there are any administrative advantages to having them at the same place (or disadvantages I should be aware of).

I'm new to this whole financial aid process and reading through your situation is both eye-opening and terrifying! My daughter is a junior in high school, so we'll be going through FAFSA next year. Quick question - you mentioned the Asset Protection Allowance for parents. Is there a resource where I can find out what that allowance would be for our age bracket? I want to understand how our savings might impact aid eligibility before we get to that point. Also, for those who've been through appeals - what specific documentation seems to carry the most weight with financial aid offices? Medical bills, pay stubs, tax projections? I'm trying to prepare in case we run into similar issues. Thanks for sharing your experience, even though it's frustrating. It's helping those of us who are just starting to navigate this system!

Welcome to the financial aid maze! As someone who just went through this with my oldest, I can share what I learned about documentation and the Asset Protection Allowance. For the Asset Protection Allowance, you can find the current tables on the Federal Student Aid website under "How Aid is Calculated." For 2024-25, if the older parent is 45-49, the allowance is around $15,200. For ages 50-54, it's about $21,300. The allowance increases with age, so older parents get more protection for their savings. Regarding documentation that carries weight - from my experience and talking to financial aid officers: 1. Recent pay stubs showing current income (especially if it's significantly different from tax year) 2. Medical bills/receipts (like Aidan's dental costs) 3. Unemployment documentation if applicable 4. Written statements from employers about reduced hours/income changes 5. Documentation of major expenses not reflected in taxes The key is showing that your current situation is materially different from what the FAFSA captured from your tax returns. One-time events like retirement withdrawals (as in Aidan's case) or job loss create the biggest gaps between tax year data and current reality. Start organizing this documentation now - you'll thank yourself later! And definitely read through this thread carefully because it shows exactly the kinds of issues you want to avoid.