has anyone tried getting their kid classified as an independent student? i heard thats how u get more aid

I'm so sorry you're going through this - the stress must be overwhelming. As someone new to navigating financial aid, I'm finding this thread incredibly helpful. It sounds like you're taking all the right steps with the special circumstances appeals and meeting with financial aid counselors. One thing I wanted to mention - have you looked into whether any of the schools offer payment plans that could spread the costs over monthly payments? Some schools will let you pay tuition in 10-12 monthly installments without interest, which might make the Parent PLUS loans more manageable if you only need to borrow for part of the cost. Also, I've heard that some employers offer tuition assistance programs for employees' children - might be worth checking if either you or your husband's company has anything like that available. Keeping my fingers crossed that your meeting on Tuesday goes well!

UPDATE: You guys have been amazing with all these suggestions! I tried a combination of approaches: 1. Cleared all browser data completely 2. Waited 24 hours before trying again 3. Used Edge browser on desktop only (no phone) 4. Started early morning (5:30am) when server load was low 5. Removed all special characters from entries 6. Completed the entire parent section in one sitting without saving drafts AND IT FINALLY WORKED! Application status now shows "Processing" instead of errors. Can't believe how complicated this was, but so relieved it's finally submitted correctly. For anyone else stuck in this nightmare - don't give up! Try these technical fixes and if all else fails, definitely look into getting direct help by phone using the suggestion above.

Wow, what a journey! As someone who's just starting the FAFSA process for my daughter, this thread is both terrifying and incredibly helpful. I'm bookmarking all these troubleshooting steps before I even begin - especially the part about using only desktop, avoiding special characters, and completing everything in one session. It's ridiculous that we need a technical manual just to fill out a financial aid form, but I'm so grateful you all shared your solutions. McKenzie, congrats on finally getting through the system! Your persistence paid off and helped so many others in the process.

One more thing I just thought of!!! Make sure u get your FSA ID set up ahead of time too. Me and my ex BOTH had to get one even tho i was the only one filling it out, and it takes like 3 days to get approved sometimes. Just another thing to think about!!!

I'm in a very similar situation! Divorced with shared custody and my ex and I alternate tax years too. What I learned from going through this with my daughter last year is that you really need to focus on who provides more financial support rather than the tax claiming. Since you mentioned you're on SSDI and your ex might have higher income, it could actually benefit your son if your ex files the FAFSA since lower income typically means more aid eligibility. But here's the catch - make sure you understand how your SSDI gets reported because it does count as income on the FAFSA. I'd definitely recommend calling the financial aid offices at the colleges your son is interested in to ask about their specific policies for divorced parents. Some schools have been more flexible than others in my experience. Good luck!

If you don't hear back within a week, I recommend escalating to the Director of Financial Aid. You can usually find their contact information on the school's directory. Also, be sure to document all communications (dates, names of who you spoke with, what was promised). If multiple follow-ups don't resolve it, contacting your state's higher education agency can sometimes help put pressure on the institution to address the issue promptly.

I'm dealing with something similar at my daughter's school! While you're waiting for CSU Fullerton to fix their system issue, you might want to also reach out to your federal congressperson's office. They often have staff who specialize in helping constituents navigate federal aid issues, and they can sometimes get faster responses from Department of Education offices than individual families can. My friend had success with this approach when her son's school was taking too long to resolve a FAFSA verification issue. It's worth a shot while you're waiting on the school's timeline!

Have you considered Community College for your first two years? Virginia's community college system is excellent and MUCH more affordable than four-year universities. You could complete core requirements there, then transfer to a university to complete your bachelor's degree. This strategy could save you tens of thousands of dollars while you figure out your long-term financial aid situation. Many community colleges also have transfer agreements with state universities that guarantee admission if you maintain a certain GPA.

I'm in a similar situation as an international student and wanted to share what I've learned through my research. While G visa holders typically don't qualify for FAFSA, there are definitely alternative paths to consider: 1. Virginia has several state universities with strong international student scholarship programs - VT, UVA, and VCU all have dedicated funding for international students 2. Look into the Virginia Military Institute if you're interested - they sometimes have unique opportunities for children of diplomatic families 3. Consider applying for external scholarships through organizations like the Institute of International Education or Fulbright programs 4. Some Virginia schools offer graduate assistantships even to undergrads in their junior/senior years, which can provide tuition waivers and stipends The community college route mentioned earlier is honestly genius - NOVA and VCCS schools are high quality and much more affordable. You could knock out general education requirements there and then transfer with a strong GPA that might qualify you for merit scholarships at your target four-year school. Don't lose hope! The path might be different than for US citizens, but there are definitely ways to make Virginia education work financially.