Whatever u do, fill it out EARLY!!! The new FAFSA was a disaster this year and people who waited got SCREWED with less aid because money ran out at some schools. January deadline if possible!!

As someone who works in financial aid at a community college, I want to emphasize something that hasn't been mentioned yet - even if you don't qualify for need-based federal aid, completing the FAFSA can make your son eligible for unsubsidized federal Direct Loans, which have much better terms than private loans. Also, Washington state has some unique programs worth considering. The Washington College Grant has expanded significantly and now covers families making up to about $100k+ depending on family size. Even if you're slightly over the income threshold, it's worth checking. One more thing - if your 2024 income is going to be significantly higher than 2023, that actually works in your favor for the 2025-2026 FAFSA since it uses 2023 tax info. This might be your best year to apply for aid before your higher income kicks in for future FAFSA calculations. The whole process really does take less than an hour once you have your tax documents ready. Given the potential upside and minimal time investment, I'd strongly recommend filing!

Based on all the information you've shared, your son is in a really good position! To summarize what everyone has mentioned: 1. Negative SAI (-1456) = maximum Pell Grant eligibility (around $7,395) 2. Likely eligible for SEOG grants if he responds quickly 3. Potential for significant institutional aid, especially with the CSS Profile submitted 4. No verification asterisk (great news - less paperwork!) 5. Strong academic record will help with merit scholarships Make sure he stays on top of all communications and deadlines from his schools. The negative SAI is definitely going to open doors for additional aid opportunities!

That's fantastic news about the negative SAI! Just wanted to add that you should also look into state grant programs in your state - many states have their own need-based grants that use similar income thresholds as the Pell Grant. With your son's negative SAI, he'll likely qualify for state aid too, which could add another few thousand dollars to his package. Also, don't forget about work-study opportunities - students with negative SAIs get priority for federal work-study positions, which can help cover personal expenses during the school year. The combination of Pell + SEOG + state grants + institutional aid + work-study could make even that expensive private school much more affordable than you think!

wait im confused, I thought the sibling thing was still part of FAFSA? Are they changing it for 2025-2026 or did it already change? My daughter's going to college next fall and her brother will be a junior...

I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Just wanted to add that when you're gathering documents for professional judgment, make sure to include a clear breakdown of your total college costs across all three kids. I created a simple spreadsheet showing tuition, room & board, and other expenses for each child, then totaled it against our income. It really helps the financial aid officers visualize the impossible math we're facing. Also, don't forget to mention if any of your kids are at different types of schools (public vs private) since that can affect how they view the request. Fingers crossed for all of us dealing with this!

Update: I just got off the phone with our university's financial aid office. They were super helpful! They're putting a note in our file about the pending tax amendment and said they'll recalculate our package once we submit the corrected FAFSA. They also mentioned something called a "Verification" process that might happen, and told me to watch for emails requesting additional documentation. They said Pell Grant eligibility will definitely be reassessed with our corrected info, but warned that some institutional scholarships might not be available if we submit corrections after certain deadlines. So we're going to expedite the tax amendment process as much as possible. Thanks everyone for your help!

That's such great news! I'm so relieved for you that they were understanding and helpful. This whole thread has been really educational for me too - I had no idea about the Professional Judgment review option or that verification process. It sounds like you're in good hands now. Quick question though - when you say "expedite the tax amendment process," is there actually a way to speed that up with the IRS, or do you just mean getting all your paperwork submitted as quickly as possible? I might need to know this for future reference! Good luck with everything! 🤞

As someone who's been through this exact situation, I feel your pain! The $21k gap is unfortunately very common these days. Here's what I wish someone had told me when I was in your shoes: 1. **Start with Parent PLUS loans** - Despite the high interest rate (8.05% + fees), they're still usually your best bet because of the federal protections. You can defer payments until after graduation, and there are income-driven repayment options if you consolidate later. 2. **Apply for a professional judgment review** - Since you mentioned medical expenses that weren't accounted for, this could potentially get you more grant money. The financial aid office has to consider special circumstances. 3. **Consider a hybrid approach** - Don't feel like you have to choose between PLUS loans OR other options. You could do a combination: maybe $15k in PLUS loans, $3k on a payment plan, and have your daughter earn $3k through work-study or summer jobs. 4. **Look into employer tuition assistance** - Some employers offer education benefits for employees' children. Worth checking if your company has anything like this. The system is definitely broken, but Environmental Science + Data Analytics is a solid choice that should lead to good job prospects. You're making the right call by investing in her education, even though the financial burden is overwhelming right now.

I'm in almost the exact same situation with my son! We had a $19k gap last year and ended up doing Parent PLUS loans. A few things I learned that might help: 1. **Don't panic about the 8.05% rate** - while it sounds high, it's actually competitive with most private parent loans right now, and you get way better protections. Private loans I looked at were 7-12% with much stricter terms. 2. **The annual reapplication isn't as bad as it sounds** - it's literally just filling out a new application each year. Takes maybe 10 minutes online. The credit check is soft initially, only becomes hard if you're approved. 3. **Look into income-driven repayment after consolidation** - this was a game changer for us. We consolidated all the PLUS loans after my son graduated and got on an income-contingent plan that cut our monthly payments in half. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: you can actually pay down the principal while your kid is in school if you have extra money. We started throwing an extra $100/month at the loans during his junior year and it made a noticeable difference in the total interest. The system is absolutely broken, but you're not alone in this struggle. Environmental Science + Data Analytics sounds like a smart investment that should pay off long-term!