One thing I wish I had known earlier - make sure you and your daughter are on the same page about timing! My son completed his verification on a Friday afternoon and immediately sent me the contributor invite, but I was traveling for work and didn't see the email until the following Tuesday. I panicked thinking I had missed something important, but it turned out there was no rush since his school deadlines weren't until April. However, some schools do have earlier priority deadlines for aid consideration, so it's worth checking those dates ahead of time. Also, keep in mind that after you complete your portion, your daughter will need to log back in to submit the final application - it's not automatic. Good luck with the process!

Just to add another perspective - I completed my parent contributor section last week after going through some initial confusion about the process. One thing that really helped was having my 2023 tax return PDF open on my computer while filling out the form, since there are several questions that require specific line numbers from your return. The system also asks for bank account balances and investment information as of the day you're completing the form, not from your tax return, so have those current numbers ready too. Also, don't stress if you make a small mistake - you can go back and make corrections later through the FAFSA correction process. The whole thing took me about 45 minutes once I had all my documents organized. The key is just being prepared with the right paperwork before you start!

Update: I've contacted all five schools I applied to and it's been a mixed bag. Two have already sent me their special circumstances forms, one said they'll only review after I commit to attending (which seems unfair), and I'm still waiting to hear back from the other two. I used that Claimyr service to get through to one of the schools that wasn't answering and it actually worked! Got through to a financial aid counselor who was really helpful. I've started gathering all our documentation. This is a lot of work but hopefully worth it. Thanks everyone for your help! I'll update again when I hear back about any aid adjustments.

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad's diagnosis and your job situation - that's incredibly stressful to deal with while trying to figure out college finances. Just want to add that when you're writing your appeal letter to each school, be specific about the financial impact. Don't just say "we lost income" - give them actual numbers. Like "Parent A's income went from $X per year to $0 due to job loss on [date]" and "we anticipate $Y in out-of-pocket medical expenses for Parent B's treatment." Also, if your dad's illness might affect his ability to work or your family's long-term financial situation, mention that too. Schools can sometimes adjust aid for multiple years if the circumstances are ongoing, not just temporary. Good luck with everything - this process is overwhelming but it really can make a significant difference in your aid package!

I'm so glad you were able to get the process started! Just wanted to add one more tip that really helped me when I went through a similar Professional Judgment review - make sure to write a detailed cover letter explaining your situation in your own words along with all the forms and documentation. The financial aid officers are human beings, and sometimes a personal explanation of how your circumstances have changed can really help them understand the full picture beyond just the numbers on paper. You've got this! Rooting for you and your son.

I'm so sorry for your loss and what you're going through right now. This situation is unfortunately more common than it should be, and the system really doesn't handle these life changes well automatically. Just wanted to add a few things that might help as you go through the Professional Judgment process: 1. Ask the financial aid office about their typical timeline - some schools can process these in 2-3 weeks while others take much longer, especially during busy seasons. 2. If your son is applying to multiple schools, you'll need to do this process separately with each one. The good news is that once you have all your documentation organized for the first school, you can use the same paperwork for the others. 3. Don't be discouraged if they ask for additional documentation after your initial submission - this is normal and doesn't mean your request will be denied. 4. Keep detailed records of every conversation, email, and submission. Get names and reference numbers when possible. The stress of dealing with financial aid on top of grieving is incredibly difficult, but you're doing everything right by advocating for your son. Hang in there!

Just want to add - APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS EVEN AFTER YOU GRADUATE!! I found three different "teacher shortage" grants in my state that give $2000-$4000 per year for working in high-need schools. That money goes directly to paying down your loan principal. Also check if your district offers any loan repayment assistance - mine gives $1200/year as a retention bonus specifically for loan payments. Every bit helps!

Hey Yara! As someone who just went through this exact same situation last year, I totally understand the panic. Here's what I learned that might help: First, breathe! You're asking the right questions. With $67k in loans and a $46k starting salary, an income-driven plan is definitely your best bet initially. I started with REPAYE and my payments were around $320/month, which was much more manageable than the $800+ standard payment. For your situation, I'd actually recommend going straight for PSLF rather than Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Here's why: TLF only forgives up to $17,500 after 5 years, but PSLF forgives your ENTIRE remaining balance after 10 years of qualifying payments. With your loan amount, you'll likely save way more money with PSLF. The key things that helped me get started: - Applied for REPAYE immediately (lower payments than IBR in most cases) - Made sure my school qualified for PSLF before accepting the job - Submitted my first Employment Certification Form within 30 days of starting - Set up autopay for the small interest rate reduction Don't let the horror stories scare you - the recent PSLF improvements have made the program much more reliable. Just stay organized and follow the rules exactly. You've got this!

Great news! Just so you're prepared for when your SAI does show up, remember that the number might look different than you expect. The SAI can range from -1500 to 999999. Lower numbers (especially negative ones) indicate higher financial need. Don't be alarmed if you see a negative number - that's actually potentially good for your aid eligibility. The SAI replaced the old EFC calculation and uses a slightly different formula.

I'm dealing with the exact same issue right now! Submitted my FAFSA on March 5th and still no SAI showing up anywhere. I've been checking my studentaid.gov account daily and there's literally nothing in the My Documents section except the initial confirmation. My school's financial aid office told me they're seeing this with tons of students this year - apparently the new FAFSA system is causing major delays. They actually suggested I bring them my FAFSA confirmation email and they'll note in my file that I'm waiting on federal processing. Might be worth asking your school if they'll do the same while you wait for your SAR to finally appear!