I'm new to this community but wanted to jump in because I'm in almost the exact same situation as you, Lucas! Working part-time retail and trying to figure out how to make college affordable without massive debt. After reading through all these amazing responses, I'm feeling so much more hopeful. The real numbers people shared really put the FAFSA impact in perspective - like even losing $800-1200 in Pell Grant but gaining $4000-6000 in employer coverage is clearly a huge win. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen mentioned much - has anyone dealt with employers that offer tuition benefits but have restrictions on class scheduling? Like, do they require you to take evening or weekend classes, or are most of these programs flexible about when you take your courses as long as you meet the work hour requirements? Also, for those working in retail currently - have you found that having tuition assistance as a goal helped motivate you during the job search, or did it make the process more stressful? I'm wondering if I should cast a wide net and apply everywhere with benefits, or focus on just a few companies where I think I'd be a really strong candidate. Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this thread has been absolutely invaluable for someone just starting to navigate this process!

Hey Samantha! I'm so glad you're feeling more hopeful after reading through everyone's experiences - I know I certainly am! This thread has completely changed my perspective on what's possible. Regarding class scheduling flexibility, from what I've gathered reading everyone's responses, most of the employer tuition programs people mentioned seem to be pretty flexible about when you take classes as long as you meet the minimum work hour requirements. Several people specifically mentioned that companies like Starbucks, Target, and even healthcare systems and financial institutions tend to be understanding about student scheduling needs. Emma mentioned having a proactive conversation with her manager about her academic schedule and potential conflicts, which seemed to work really well. I think the key is being upfront about your school commitments rather than trying to hide them. For the job search approach, I'm planning to cast a wider net initially but then focus my energy on the opportunities that seem like the best fit. Based on what everyone has shared here, I'm going to prioritize: 1. Local healthcare systems and financial institutions (better pay + direct payment + fewer restrictions) 2. Community college employer partnerships (often less competitive than big corporate programs) 3. My current employer (easy transition if they have any benefits) 4. The major retail/corporate programs as stretch goals The math is just so compelling - even with FAFSA impact, we're looking at potentially graduating debt-free or with minimal loans. That's life-changing compared to the alternative of $30k+ in student debt. Good luck with your search! This community has been incredible for helping us figure out a real path forward.

I'm also new to this community and just encountered this exact same issue! Submitted my FAFSA last week and have been unable to add 4 additional schools for my son's applications due to that frustrating "College selection unavailable" error. I was getting really worried that I had somehow corrupted my submission. This thread has been incredibly helpful - it's such a relief to learn this is a widespread system maintenance issue rather than user error! Based on everyone's success stories, I'm planning to try the Claimyr callback service tomorrow morning since multiple people have reported getting through to FSA agents in 20-30 minutes versus the hours I've spent on hold with no results. I'll also be checking each school's website tonight for those direct FAFSA request forms that Giovanni and others mentioned - what a brilliant workaround I never would have considered! It's really disappointing that Federal Student Aid didn't provide clear advance notice about this maintenance period when so many families are dealing with critical deadlines, but this community has provided more practical solutions than any official source. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made such a difference for newcomers like me who were feeling overwhelmed by this system outage!

I'm also new to this community and just hit this exact same frustrating wall! Submitted my FAFSA for my daughter last Tuesday and have been trying to add 5 additional schools ever since, but keep getting that "College selection unavailable" error. I was honestly starting to think I had somehow broken the system or missed a critical step. This entire thread has been such a lifesaver - I can't believe how much more practical information I've found here than on any official FSA communication! Learning that this is a system-wide maintenance issue affecting everyone (not something I did wrong) is an enormous relief. The fact that Federal Student Aid didn't send clear notifications about this outage when families are dealing with such time-sensitive deadlines is really disappointing. Based on all the detailed success stories shared here, I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr callback service first thing tomorrow morning - hearing that so many people got through to FSA agents in 20-30 minutes instead of the hours I've wasted on endless hold is incredibly encouraging. I'm also going to spend tonight systematically checking each of my daughter's target schools' websites for those direct FAFSA request forms that Giovanni discovered and others have confirmed actually work. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences and working solutions. This community has provided more helpful guidance and reassurance than any official source, and it's comforting to know that schools are being flexible with deadlines given this widespread system problem!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! Just to make sure I'm totally clear: 1. Income = 2023 tax year (for 2025-2026 FAFSA) 2. Assets = Current values as of today 3. Rental property = Current market value minus remaining mortgage 4. Retirement accounts = NOT included 5. Primary home = NOT included I think I've got it now. Going to work on getting my asset documentation together so I can submit an accurate application.

One more tip that might help - if you're unsure about the exact current value of assets like your rental property, it's better to use a reasonable estimate based on recent comparable sales or property tax assessments rather than delay your application. You can always provide documentation during verification if needed. The key is being consistent and honest about your reporting method. Also, don't forget that if you have any business or farm assets, there are special rules for those too depending on the size of the business. Good luck with your application!

As someone who just went through this exact same process with my daughter at SUNY Cortland, I can confirm what others have said - this is totally normal! The "offered" status for NY state aid is just how the system works until enrollment verification happens a few weeks into the semester. One thing I'd add that I don't think anyone mentioned yet: make sure to check that your daughter's program of study is correctly listed in both her SUNY portal and her TAP application. We discovered late in the game that there was a mismatch between what was on file with the school versus what was submitted to HESC, and it caused a delay in her TAP disbursement even though everything else was correct. Also, if you're still having trouble getting through to the financial aid office, try reaching out via their online student portal messaging system if they have one. Sometimes those messages get responded to faster than phone calls, especially during peak season like this. Hang in there - it really does work out in the end, even though the waiting and uncertainty is nerve-wracking!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! I'm currently dealing with the same exact situation for my son at SUNY Purchase - his TAP and SUNY Tuition Credit are both showing "offered" status and I was completely panicking thinking we had missed some acceptance deadline or messed something up. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief, especially learning that this is just how NY state aid works - staying in "offered" status until enrollment is verified a few weeks into the semester. I wish the schools would explain this more clearly instead of leaving families to guess what's happening! The residency verification issue that so many people mentioned is something I never would have thought to check. I'm definitely calling the registrar's office first thing Monday morning to make sure we don't have any hidden holds. And I'm starting that documentation spreadsheet today - such a brilliant idea for keeping track of all these calls and conversations. Thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences and practical tips. This kind of knowledge sharing makes navigating this confusing system so much more manageable!

As someone who works in financial aid, I want to emphasize how important it is to stay on top of your student portal! So many students miss crucial verification requests or updates because they're not checking regularly. @KhalilStar did exactly the right thing by going back and checking after getting that advice. Also, for future reference, most schools have their financial aid timelines posted on their websites - usually buried in the FAQ section but super helpful for planning. And don't be afraid to ask for deadline extensions if you need them - we'd rather work with you than have you make uninformed financial decisions!

Coming into this thread late but wow, what a great example of how this community supports first-gen students! Reading through all these responses really highlights how confusing the FAFSA process can be when you're navigating it for the first time. The distinction between FAFSA processing and actual aid package creation is something I wish was explained more clearly on the official websites. It's so easy to assume "processed" means "approved for X amount" when really it's just the beginning of the process. Really appreciate everyone who shared practical tips like checking student portals for verification requests, calling early in the morning to avoid hold times, and reaching out to first-gen support offices. This is exactly the kind of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing that makes such a difference!