Just to follow up with more specific advice: when schools ask for different things, it's because they're approaching your situation through different institutional policies. All of them are working toward the same goal - accurately assessing your current financial situation - but their processes differ. Instead of making multiple FAFSA corrections, I recommend: 1. Return to your original FAFSA (either separated or married, whichever matches your status on the day you first submitted) 2. Create a standard documentation package (separation explanation, current income, living situation proof) 3. Submit this package to all schools proactively 4. Include a cover letter explaining the FAFSA confusion you've experienced This approach puts you ahead of the process rather than constantly reacting to different school requests.

I went through something similar last year when my divorce was finalized right after I submitted my FAFSA. What helped me was creating a timeline document that showed exactly when my marital status changed and what income/tax information I was using for which time periods. I included this with every communication to financial aid offices along with copies of relevant legal documents. Most schools were actually pretty understanding once they could see the full picture laid out clearly. The key is being proactive and consistent with your documentation across all schools rather than waiting for them to ask for different things. Good luck - I know how overwhelming this process can be!

To summarize the correct approach for your grandson's situation: 1. Determine which parent is the custodial parent (who the student lived with more in the past 12 months) 2. Use only that parent's individual income from 2022 (use W-2s to separate it from the joint return) 3. For household size, include the student, the custodial parent, and any other people that the custodial parent supports more than 50% 4. Keep documentation of the divorce and separate residences in case of verification 5. Complete the FAFSA section that asks if the tax return parents are still married - answer "no" and it will guide you through the process If you encounter any issues after submission, contact the financial aid office at your grandson's school directly. They often have more authority to help with these situations than the general Federal Student Aid helpline.

As someone who just went through this exact situation with my daughter last year, I wanted to add that you should also be prepared for potential delays in processing. When there's a divorce involved and you're separating income from a joint return, FAFSA sometimes flags the application for additional review. My advice: submit the application as early as possible (ideally in January) because if they do select you for verification, it can add 4-6 weeks to the process. Also, make copies of everything - the W-2s, divorce decree, and any worksheets you create showing how you separated the income. Some schools will ask for these documents even if FAFSA doesn't initially request them. One more tip - if your grandson's dad remarried after the divorce, the new spouse's income WILL need to be included if they filed jointly for 2022 and are still married now. But since you mentioned the step-mom is "no longer in the picture," that shouldn't apply here. Good luck with the application!

After reading through this thread, I'd suggest creating a detailed budget for your college expenses before deciding. List all your costs (tuition, fees, books, housing, food, etc.) and subtract any grants, scholarships, and money from savings/family. If there's still a gap after the subsidized loan, then consider the unsubsidized loan, but only for the amount you actually need. Remember that federal loans also have loan fees (about 1%) deducted from the disbursement amount, so you receive slightly less than what you borrow.

Great thread with lots of solid advice! As a newcomer here, I wanted to add that another factor to consider is your state's loan forgiveness programs. Some states offer loan repayment assistance for nurses who commit to working in underserved areas for a certain number of years. Since you mentioned nursing as your major, it might be worth researching what's available in your state - this could potentially help offset some of that unsubsidized loan debt down the road if you do decide to take it. The HRSA website has a good database of these programs. Just another angle to consider as you make your decision!

Thank you everyone for the helpful advice! I've talked with my son and he's going to e-file his 2022 taxes tomorrow. He's also going to call the financial aid office to explain the situation and ask about a possible extension for the priority deadline. It sounds like trying to submit without filing would create even bigger headaches down the road. I really appreciate all the insights!

As someone who went through a similar situation with my nephew last year, I just want to emphasize how important it is to get ahead of this now. We made the mistake of waiting until after the priority deadline to sort out his tax issues, and he ended up losing out on about $3,000 in institutional grants that were awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. One thing I'd add - if your son's 2022 income was really low (under $10,000), he might actually qualify for simplified needs test or automatic zero EFC benefits once he files properly. This could work in his favor for aid calculations. The key is just getting that return filed ASAP so the FAFSA reflects his actual financial situation rather than estimates that will trigger verification. Good luck to both of you - law school financing is stressful enough without tax complications!

I just went through this whole process with my twins. What a nightmare! I still don't understand why they changed from EFC to SAI - seems like the same thing with a different name. One thing no one mentioned yet: your daughter should also be applying for outside scholarships like crazy. Every $1000 helps! We found several local organizations (Rotary Club, credit union, my husband's employer) that offered small scholarships with much less competition than the national ones. Also, when we got confused about our SAI and aid packages, we scheduled in-person appointments with financial aid offices at each college. SO much more helpful than trying to figure it out over the phone or email.

Hey Sofia! I just went through this exact same situation with my daughter last year - SAI of 52,847 and felt completely overwhelmed. Here's what I wish someone had told me: that SAI number isn't necessarily doom and gloom! Yes, it's higher, but both UT Austin and Baylor have pretty good merit scholarship programs that aren't tied to your FAFSA at all. My daughter ended up with a really decent package from a similar-tier private school despite our high SAI because of her academics (sounds like your daughter has great stats too with that 3.8!). The waiting is the hardest part honestly. Make sure she's submitted all her applications and any additional scholarship applications the schools require. Also double-check that both schools were listed on her FAFSA so they get the data automatically. You're doing great as a first-time FAFSA parent - this process is confusing for everyone!