When my daughter got her package from UNC last year, we had the same confusion! Called in and they explained that federal loans aren't automatically added to the initial package - we had to sign in and specifically request them after accepting the scholarships. It's apparently a strategy to reduce student borrowing by making loans an opt-in choice rather than including them as part of the initial offer. Honestly, I think it's smart since it makes students think carefully about whether they actually need the loans.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same confusion last year with my daughter! Northwestern State definitely does things differently - they show merit aid first, then you have to actively request federal loans through their portal after accepting the initial package. It's not that your aid is incomplete, it's just their process. Look for something like "Request Additional Aid" or "Loan Options" in the student portal after you accept the scholarship offer. The loans won't automatically appear until you complete that step. Don't stress - this is totally normal for their system! Your son should be eligible for the freshman loan limits ($5,500 total) once you go through the proper channels.

Here's what I would do (not a pro but went thru this): 1) Call your school's fin aid office ASAP and ask them your exact question, 2) Start gathering ALL your PJ documents now so they're ready, 3) Submit FAFSA correction as soon as allowed, 4) Submit PJ request according to what the school tells you. Different schools have different PJ timelines and requirements!

I'm in a similar situation with needing to make FAFSA corrections! Based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like the consensus is definitely Option 1 - fix the EITC error first, then submit your Professional Judgment request. The logic makes sense that schools need the most accurate baseline SAI before they can properly evaluate special circumstances. One thing I'd add - while you're waiting for the FAFSA correction to process, you could use that time to get all your Professional Judgment documentation perfectly organized. That way when your corrected FAFSA is ready, you can submit your PJ request immediately without any delays. Also, keep following up with your school's financial aid office - sometimes being the squeaky wheel helps ensure you don't fall through the cracks during busy aid season! Good luck with everything - job loss situations are so stressful but it sounds like you're being really proactive about getting maximum aid for your son.

Something nobody has mentioned yet - if MSU doesn't come through with enough aid after the appeal, you can still withdraw and request a deposit refund under hardship circumstances. It's not guaranteed but I've seen it work. Just document EVERYTHING from day one - every call, email, who you spoke with. That paper trail becomes really important if you need to make a case later.

I'm in a similar situation but with a twist - my parents are divorced and my dad (non-custodial parent) just got laid off in January. The CSS Profile already captured his income but now he has zero income and can't help with college costs at all. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with appeals involving non-custodial parent job loss? MSU uses CSS so I'm hoping they'll consider this, but I'm worried it might be even more complicated since it's not the custodial parent's income that changed. The timing issue is the same though - we need to know before May 1st but they won't review until after June 1st. It's so stressful!

Update: For anyone finding this thread in the future, the Federal Student Aid office recently published guidance stating that SSA verification wait times may occasionally extend to 5 business days during peak application periods (typically November-February and April-June). If verification takes longer than 5 business days, they recommend contacting the FSA Information Center for assistance. The current academic year (2025-2026) has seen higher than normal application volumes, which may affect processing times.

That's awesome news! Congrats on getting through the verification step so quickly. For other students reading this thread, Khalil's experience shows that the SSA verification really does work within the promised timeframe most of the time. The 2-day turnaround seems to be pretty typical based on what everyone's shared here. Now you can focus on waiting for the rest of your FAFSA processing - fingers crossed it goes smoothly from here!

Thank you all for the helpful responses! To summarize what I've learned: 1. The 2025-2026 FAFSA opens December 1, 2024 2. We'll use 2023 tax information 3. PA state grant deadline is May 1, 2025, but filing earlier (Dec/Jan) is best 4. Check FSA IDs for both parent and student BEFORE December 5. Consider using Claimyr if we need to reach FSA phone support I'm going to check with Penn State directly about their priority deadlines too. Really appreciate everyone's advice!

Great summary! One additional tip - when you do submit in December, make sure to save a PDF copy of your completed FAFSA before hitting submit. The new system sometimes has issues with the confirmation pages, and having your own copy can be helpful if you need to reference what you submitted later. Also, Penn State's priority deadline for institutional aid is typically February 1st, so you'll be well ahead of that if you file in December/January. Good luck with her junior year!