As someone who went through the PSLF process myself, I want to emphasize how crucial it is to understand that ONLY federal Direct Loans qualify - never private loans. I made the mistake early on of refinancing some of my federal loans with a private lender to get a lower rate, and those became permanently ineligible for PSLF. Here's what I wish I'd known from the start: Even though federal loans typically have higher interest rates, the potential for complete loan forgiveness makes them invaluable if there's ANY chance your son will work in public service. I worked as a government attorney and had about $85,000 forgiven after my 120 qualifying payments. A few key things that saved me headaches: - Submit Employment Certification Forms annually, not just at the end - Double-check that you're on an income-driven repayment plan (IDR) - Keep digital copies of EVERYTHING - Use the PSLF Help Tool on StudentAid.gov rather than calling The program has gotten much better since the temporary waiver and recent improvements. Your decision to go with federal loans is absolutely the right call if public service is even a remote possibility for your son's career path.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that there are other federal loan forgiveness programs beyond PSLF that your son might want to consider too. Teacher Loan Forgiveness can forgive up to $17,500 after 5 years of teaching in low-income schools (vs 10 years for PSLF), and there are profession-specific programs for nurses, doctors, lawyers doing public interest work, etc. The key advantage is that ALL of these programs require federal loans - private loans don't qualify for ANY federal forgiveness programs. So even if your son doesn't end up qualifying for PSLF specifically, having federal loans keeps other doors open. Also want to echo what others said about the income-driven repayment plans. Even without forgiveness, these can significantly lower monthly payments based on income, which private loans don't offer. Federal loans just give you so much more flexibility throughout your career. Your decision to prioritize federal loans over the lower private rate is definitely the smart long-term strategy!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress - I can only imagine how overwhelming it must feel to see such a dramatic increase! Based on what everyone has shared here, it really sounds like the stock sale for your HVAC system is the culprit. The new FAFSA formula is treating one-time capital gains much more harshly than before, which is catching a lot of middle-class families off guard. From what I've read in other threads, many families are successfully appealing these situations. The key seems to be clearly documenting that this was a one-time necessity (home repairs) rather than regular investment income. Keep all your receipts, bank statements showing the money flow, and write a detailed letter explaining the circumstances. Don't lose hope - this sounds very fixable, especially since you have clear documentation of where the money went. The financial aid office should be sympathetic to families who had to liquidate investments for essential home repairs. Hang in there!

I'm a newcomer here but had to chime in because we went through something very similar last year! Our SAI jumped from about 16,000 to 142,000 and I literally thought there was a mistake in the system. Turns out we had cashed out some old mutual funds to pay for unexpected medical bills, and the new FAFSA treated that as regular income even though it was a one-time emergency expense. The good news is we were able to get it mostly resolved through a combination of a FAFSA correction (there was actually a small data entry error on our part) and a special circumstances appeal with the college. The financial aid office was surprisingly understanding once we explained the situation with documentation. Our final aid package wasn't quite as good as the previous year, but it was WAY better than what the initial 142K SAI would have given us. My biggest advice: document EVERYTHING and be persistent but polite. The system is definitely broken this year, but there are ways to fix it if you're willing to fight for it. You've got this!

As a new member to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! Miguel, your original question was so relatable - I think many of us first-time FAFSA applicants have that same moment of panic when we see unfamiliar numbers and terminology. Reading through everyone's responses has been like getting a masterclass in financial aid! I'm particularly grateful for all the practical tips shared here - from setting up financial aid portals and creating spreadsheets to track deadlines, to understanding the difference between grants and loans in award packages. The advice about checking state aid programs and asking schools about emergency funds is invaluable. It's clear this community genuinely cares about helping students succeed, and as someone just starting this journey, that means a lot. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences!

As a newcomer to this community and the FAFSA process, I just wanted to thank everyone for this incredibly informative thread! Miguel, your question perfectly captured what so many of us first-time applicants are feeling when we see these unfamiliar SAI numbers. I'm currently waiting for my own FAFSA results and was worried about what the numbers might mean, but reading through all these detailed explanations has been so reassuring. The practical advice shared here - from understanding that negative SAI is actually good news, to tips about setting up financial aid portals, checking state programs, and organizing deadlines - is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that's hard to find elsewhere. It's amazing to see a community where experienced members, parents, and even financial aid professionals take the time to help newcomers navigate such a complex but crucial process. This thread is going to be my reference guide as I move forward with my own applications!

As a newcomer to this community and the world of college financial aid, I'm so grateful I found this incredibly helpful discussion! My daughter is starting her freshman year this fall in chemical engineering, and like so many others here, I had absolutely no idea that summer terms could create such complex funding situations. It's honestly mind-boggling that during all our orientation sessions, campus tours, and financial aid workshops, nobody mentioned that Summer 2025 could be funded from either the 2024-25 OR 2025-26 aid year depending on the school's specific policy. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both educational and a bit overwhelming - it's clear that families are basically left to figure out these crucial details on their own rather than receiving clear guidance upfront. The terminology alone that I've learned from this thread ("summer trailer vs header," "early disbursement," "Summer Bridge Programs") is information I never would have known to ask about without this community. I'm immediately taking action based on the wonderful advice shared here: starting an emergency college savings account this week (targeting $140/month to start), scheduling an in-person appointment with our financial aid office rather than battling their phone system, and asking specifically for written documentation of all their summer funding policies. I'm also going to inquire about any chemical engineering department summer research opportunities - if she ends up needing summer courses, getting paid research experience would be ideal. It's frustrating that we parents have to become financial aid experts just to navigate our kids' education, but I'm so thankful for supportive communities like this where we can share knowledge and help each other through these unnecessarily complex systems. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their hard-won wisdom!

As a newcomer to this community and the college financial aid world, I'm so relieved I found this discussion! My son is starting electrical engineering this fall, and like everyone else here, I had absolutely no clue about these summer funding complexities until reading this thread. It's incredibly frustrating that we spent hours in orientation learning about meal plans and dorm policies but nobody mentioned that summer terms could fall into different aid years depending on the school's "trailer vs header" policy - terminology I literally just learned from you all! Reading through everyone's experiences has been both eye-opening and honestly a bit scary. The fact that we're all essentially piecing together this critical information ourselves rather than getting clear guidance from schools is really disappointing. I'm definitely taking action on the great advice shared here: starting that emergency savings account this week (aiming for $130/month initially), and I'm going to schedule an in-person financial aid appointment rather than trying to navigate their phone maze. I'm also going to ask specifically about any electrical engineering summer research opportunities - if my son ends up needing summer courses anyway, getting paid experience in his field would be amazing. The community support here has been invaluable - it's so reassuring to know other parents are navigating this confusing system together. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and helping newcomers like me feel less overwhelmed by this whole process!

After you speak with financial aid about the Pell Grant, also ask them to explain why they offered the Westlake Achievement Grant instead of subsidized loans. This might actually be better for you! Subsidized loans still need to be repaid (just without interest while in school), but grants don't need to be repaid at all. So if the grant amount exceeds what the Pell would have been, you might be getting a better deal. Just make sure you understand the renewal criteria for future years.

Hi! I'm new to navigating financial aid and this thread has been incredibly helpful. Just wanted to add that when you call the financial aid office, it might help to have your daughter's Student Aid Report (SAR) number ready along with her student ID. Also, if you don't get a satisfactory answer from the first person you talk to, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor or financial aid counselor. Sometimes the front desk staff aren't as familiar with the nuances of federal vs. institutional aid. Good luck - it sounds like you're asking all the right questions!