Glad to hear you got some positive news from your financial aid office! For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation in the future, here's a quick reference for FAFSA deadlines: • Federal FAFSA Deadline: June 30, 2026 (for 2025-2026 school year) • Corrections/Updates Deadline: September 14, 2026 • School Deadlines: Typically January-March before the academic year • State Deadlines: Vary widely, check https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/fafsa-deadlines Remember that your SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation and financial aid package will be processed faster the earlier you apply. Even if you haven't missed deadlines, earlier applications typically receive more favorable aid packages.

As someone who went through a similar panic last year, I just want to emphasize what others have said about contacting your financial aid office directly. Even though you missed the priority deadline, many schools have some flexibility, especially if you can demonstrate extenuating circumstances like being overwhelmed with finals. One thing I wish I had known earlier is that some schools also have "summer melt" funding - money that becomes available when other students don't enroll or drop out. This usually happens in June/July, so even if you don't get institutional aid initially, there might be additional opportunities later. Also, don't forget to look into private scholarships! Many have deadlines throughout the year, and some are specifically for students who missed initial aid deadlines. Sites like Fastweb and Scholarships.com can help you find ones that are still accepting applications. You're doing the right thing by acting quickly now. Good luck!

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses! I feel much better now understanding that the SAI isn't necessarily our exact out-of-pocket cost. We're going to: 1. Contact State University's financial aid office directly 2. Look into more scholarship opportunities 3. Consider calling FSA to understand our SAI calculation better 4. Wait for the official aid package before panicking This community has been incredibly helpful - way more informative than the confusing official websites!

As someone who just went through this process with my daughter, I wanted to add that it's also worth looking into whether State University offers any payment plan options. Even if your final out-of-pocket cost ends up being close to your SAI, many schools let you spread payments over 10-12 months instead of paying each semester upfront. This can make a big difference for cash flow! Also, don't forget about work-study opportunities - these aren't always reflected in the initial aid package but can help reduce your actual costs by $2,000-3,000 per year.

I'm facing a similar situation right now with my son! Reading through everyone's experiences is both reassuring and nerve-wracking at the same time. One thing I've learned from calling multiple schools is to ask specifically about their "estimate accuracy guarantee" - some schools will actually guarantee that if your final package is more than 15% lower than the estimate (and your financial info was accurate), they'll honor the original estimate or let you withdraw without penalty. Also, I'd suggest documenting everything - screenshot that estimate, save all emails, and get any verbal promises in writing. If the final package does come in significantly lower, having that paper trail will strengthen any appeal you might need to file. The deposit deadline stress is so real, but remember that $1,500, while not insignificant, is still much less than what you'd lose by committing to an unaffordable school for four years. Trust your gut - if the numbers worked with the estimate and your financial situation hasn't changed, there's a good chance you'll be okay.

I'm going through this exact same anxiety right now with my daughter! What's helped me is creating a "worst case scenario" budget to see if we could still make it work even if the final package is significantly less generous than the estimate. One thing I discovered is that many schools have a "summer melt" period where they reallocate aid from students who don't end up enrolling. If your final package does come in lower than expected, it might be worth asking in late June/July if any additional institutional aid has become available. Also, have you looked into your state's 529 college savings plan tax benefits? We realized we could still contribute to our 529 and get a state tax deduction even after she starts school, which effectively reduces our out-of-pocket costs by a few hundred dollars per year. Every bit helps when you're stretching the budget! The waiting is definitely the hardest part. Hang in there - most families I know who took the leap with estimates ended up being okay, and it sounds like you've been thoughtful about the financial planning.

UPDATE: I tried all the browser tricks (clear cache, incognito mode, different device) with no luck. The SSN field would accept the number, but after saving and returning, it would be gone again with that box checked. I ended up using that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get through to FSA - got a callback in about 45 minutes instead of spending hours redialing. The agent confirmed it was a known database issue on their end. Apparently, there was a mismatch between how my husband's name was entered and his SSN record in their system (he goes by his middle name, but his SSN is under his first name). The agent manually overrode the error and fixed it in their system. They gave me a case number and told me to wait 48 hours before checking again. Just checked today and FINALLY his SSN is showing correctly and that box is unchecked! Thanks everyone for your help with this frustrating issue!

Great to see you got this resolved! This is exactly why I always recommend documenting these types of system issues. The name mismatch issue you described is becoming more common with the new FAFSA - they've tightened up their identity verification processes, which is good for security but creates problems when people use different versions of their names on different documents. For anyone else dealing with similar issues, it's worth checking if there are any discrepancies between: - How your name appears on your SSN card - How it appears on your tax returns - How you entered it in the FAFSA Even something as simple as using "Bob" vs "Robert" or including/excluding a middle initial can trigger these validation errors. The system is much less forgiving than it used to be. Thanks for sharing the resolution - posts like this are invaluable for other families going through the same nightmare!

This might sound crazy, but have you tried accessing the site using a VPN? Sometimes regional server issues can cause problems like this.

Hey Luca! I actually had this exact same issue last month and was pulling my hair out. What finally worked for me was logging out completely, clearing ALL my browser data (not just cache/cookies but everything), then waiting about 30 minutes before logging back in. Apparently the FAFSA system sometimes gets "stuck" on your session data. Also, make sure you're not using any browser extensions that might interfere - I had to disable my password manager temporarily. If that doesn't work, definitely try the mobile app suggestion from Andre - that's been a lifesaver for a lot of people! Hang in there, you'll get through this! 💪