You're doing great by having a plan! Just wanted to add one more tip - when you do get your aid packages, don't just look at the bottom line. Break down each offer to see: - How much is grants/scholarships (free money you don't repay) - How much is work-study (money you earn working on campus) - How much is subsidized vs unsubsidized loans - What the interest rates are on any loans Some schools make their packages look better by including Parent PLUS loans or private loans that have much higher interest rates. As a single parent with your income level, you'll want to stick to federal direct loans if possible - they have better repayment options and protections. Also, once you start school, look into becoming a tutor or TA if possible. Many schools pay well for these positions and the flexible schedule works great for parents!

Your negative SAI is actually fantastic news! As others mentioned, it means maximum Pell Grant eligibility. I went back to school as a single parent too with similar income and was amazed at how much the dependency status of my children helped with aid calculations. One thing I wish someone had told me - start building relationships with the financial aid offices at your target schools NOW. Don't wait for acceptance letters. Most offices are happy to do preliminary aid estimates based on your SAI, and some schools have special emergency funds or institutional grants for parents returning to education that aren't widely advertised. Also consider community college for prerequisites if any of your target programs allow it. I saved thousands doing my first two years at CC while working, then transferred. The credits counted the same but cost about 1/4 as much. You've got this! The hardest part is taking that first step, and you're already there.

UPDATE: I finally got in! Used the Claimyr service that someone mentioned above to reach an FSA agent who gave me specific instructions. Had to clear ALL browser data, turn off my wifi, connect via mobile hotspot, and then access the site at 4:15am. Not ideal but it worked! Now frantically filling everything out before any more technical issues happen. Thanks everyone for the help!

I'm having the same exact issue! Been locked out since Monday trying to complete my daughter's FAFSA. Really frustrating that this keeps happening every year during crunch time. I'm going to try the early morning access method that @Mei Chen mentioned - hopefully 4am works better than normal hours. Has anyone had luck contacting their school's financial aid office directly about this? Wondering if they have any workarounds or if they're just telling everyone to wait it out.

Thank you all SO much for this detailed advice! This is exactly what I needed to hear. I'm feeling much more prepared now. I'll definitely: 1. Mark December 1st on my calendar and plan to submit FAFSA that first day 2. Start gathering our 2023 tax documents now 3. Create FSA IDs for both me and my husband in November 4. Research which of her target schools require CSS Profile 5. Make a list of each school's priority financial aid deadlines One follow-up question - should I also be looking into private scholarships now, or wait until after we see what financial aid packages look like? I don't want to overwhelm myself but also don't want to miss opportunities. Really appreciate this community - you've all been incredibly helpful! 🙏

As someone who just went through this process with my oldest, I can't stress enough how important it is to get organized early! One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - consider opening a dedicated email folder or using a spreadsheet to track all your financial aid deadlines and requirements for each school. Each college can have different deadlines, different required forms (some want CSS Profile, some don't), and different verification requirements. Also, don't forget about your state's financial aid programs! Many states have their own grant programs with earlier deadlines than federal aid. In my state, we had to submit by February 15th for the state grant, which was actually a significant amount of money. The process feels overwhelming at first, but once you break it down into steps like you've done, it becomes much more manageable. Your daughter is lucky to have a parent who's planning ahead like this! Best of luck with everything!

also tell him to apply for as many scholarships as possible!!! i found some weird ones that hardly anyone applies for - like one for students who like gardening and another for people who write essays about climate change. every little bit helps when fafsa is being difficult

I went through a similar dependency override situation a few years ago and want to share some practical tips that helped me get approved. Beyond the documentation everyone mentioned, here are some things that made a difference: 1. Get a letter from a school counselor, teacher, or coach who knows your grandson's situation - they carry more weight than family friends 2. Keep detailed records of any attempts to contact his parents (save voicemails, screenshots of unanswered texts) 3. If possible, get documentation from any social services or counseling agencies that have been involved 4. Write a clear timeline of events showing when parental support ended Also, make sure he applies for the dependency override BEFORE the financial aid deadline if possible. Some schools will give provisional aid pending the decision, but others won't process anything until it's resolved. Time is really critical here - I'd recommend calling the financial aid office tomorrow morning to get the process started immediately.

One more thing nobody mentioned - make sure your parents aren't expecting you to take out Parent PLUS loans too. Those are completely different and would be in THEIR name not yours. Some families get confused about this.

As someone who's been through this process recently, I wanted to add a few practical tips that helped me: 1. Clear your browser cache before starting - the studentaid.gov site can be finicky with saved login info 2. Have your tax information handy even if you think you won't need it - sometimes the system asks for verification 3. The entrance counseling takes about 20-30 minutes and you can pause/resume it if needed 4. After you accept your loans, it usually takes 1-2 weeks for your school to receive the funds Also wanted to echo what others said about only borrowing what you need. I started with just the subsidized portion my first semester and found I could cover most expenses that way. You can always accept more later if needed, but you can't "un-borrow" once it's disbursed! Good luck with your first year of college! 🎓