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Just wanted to add another troubleshooting tip for future students who might find this thread - if you're still stuck after checking all the suggestions above, try logging out completely and logging back in with your FSA ID. Sometimes there's a session timeout issue that isn't obvious, and a fresh login can resolve signature problems. Also, if you're using a school computer or public WiFi, try switching to your home internet or mobile data - some networks have security settings that interfere with the FAFSA submission process. Good luck to everyone dealing with these technical issues!
That's really helpful advice about trying different networks! I never would have thought about public WiFi interfering with the submission process. For anyone reading this in the future, I'd also suggest keeping a backup of all your information in a separate document while you're working through the FAFSA - that way if you run into technical issues and have to start over, you don't lose hours of work re-entering everything. The session timeouts can be really frustrating when you're almost done!
As someone who just went through this exact nightmare last semester, I feel your pain! One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're a dependent student, make sure your parent also has their own verified FSA ID and that THEY can log in successfully. Even if your sections show complete, the signature section won't work if there's any issue with the parent contributor's FSA ID status. I spent hours troubleshooting my own account when the real problem was my mom's FSA ID had expired and needed to be renewed. Also, try submitting during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) - the system definitely gets overloaded during busy times and can cause weird glitches like this. Hope you get it sorted before your deadline!
They'll already have your SAI from your FAFSA data, but it's always a good idea to talk directly with financial aid officers at each school, especially if you have any special circumstances that weren't captured in your FAFSA. With your negative SAI, you should definitely ask each school about additional need-based scholarships or grants they might offer beyond the federal aid programs.
Congrats on the negative SAI! That's actually great news for your aid eligibility. I went through this same confusion last year when the SAI system first launched. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - make sure to also look into state grant programs in addition to federal aid. Many states have their own need-based grants that use similar criteria to the Pell Grant, and with your -579 SAI, you'd likely qualify. I ended up getting an extra $2,000 per year from my state just by filling out one additional form. Also, don't forget to check if your schools participate in work-study programs - that can be another $2,000-3,000 per year in earning potential!
Thanks for this advice! I had no idea about state grants - that sounds like free money I might be missing out on. Do you know where I can find information about what's available in my state? And for work-study, do I need to apply separately or does it automatically get included in my aid package if I'm eligible?
UPDATE: I want to thank everyone for the advice! I submitted the correction online, then went to the financial aid office in person this morning with all my documentation. They were actually really helpful and said they'd put a note on my file to expedite the review once my corrected FAFSA comes through. They also gave me a special circumstances form to fill out explaining the error, which might help speed things up. The advisor I spoke with said this happens more often than people think and that I should be eligible for Pell Grant and other federal aid once my income is corrected. Such a relief! I'll post another update once everything is finalized.
That's great news! So glad you were able to get it sorted out. The special circumstances form is a smart move on their part - it creates a paper trail for their records if they get audited. Make sure to check your student portal regularly for updates.
This is such a helpful thread! I'm a current college sophomore and I want to add that if anyone else is dealing with FAFSA corrections, it's also worth checking if your school has a FAFSA completion event or drop-in hours where financial aid staff can help you make corrections in real-time. My school does "FAFSA Fridays" where you can bring your documents and they'll help you navigate the correction process right there. It's way less stressful than trying to figure it out alone, and you get immediate confirmation that you're doing everything correctly. Also, don't forget to update your state financial aid application if your state requires a separate one - some states use FAFSA data but you might need to notify them of corrections separately!
have u checked ur spam folder? sounds dumb but my calgrant emails ALWAYS go to spam lol might be worth checking
I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My CalGrant has been stuck at GPA verification for over a month and I'm getting really anxious about my tuition payment deadline. Reading through these comments is actually really helpful - I had no idea about emergency loans or that this was such a widespread issue this year. I'm definitely going to call my school's financial aid office tomorrow to ask about short-term assistance while we wait for these CalGrants to finally process. It's frustrating that we're all dealing with this but at least we're not alone!
You're definitely not alone in this! I'm also dealing with the same CalGrant delay and it's such a relief to see that so many people are experiencing this. The advice about emergency loans from the financial aid office seems like a lifesaver - I'm planning to ask about that too. Hopefully we'll all see our CalGrants update soon, but at least now I know there are options to help bridge the gap while we wait!
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Just got an official update from FSA - they've acknowledged the issue and expect to have it resolved by next Tuesday. In the meantime, they recommend either using the mobile app as mentioned above or contacting your school directly. They also said that downloading your FAFSA confirmation page (if you still have access to it) will show your SAI score, which gives you a general idea of your aid eligibility.
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Dylan Mitchell
•Thank you for the update! Tuesday isn't ideal since my orientation is Monday, but at least they're working on it. I'll try the app and contact my school tomorrow.
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Andre Laurent
I'm having the exact same issue! Been trying to access my award information for the past two days and getting nowhere. It's so stressful when you're trying to make financial decisions for college. Thanks everyone for the suggestions - I'm going to try the mobile app right now and also reach out to my school's financial aid office first thing tomorrow morning. Really appreciate all the helpful advice in this thread!
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Aisha Mohammed
•I'm dealing with the exact same problem! It's so frustrating when you're trying to plan for college and can't access basic information. I'm definitely going to try the mobile app suggestion too - seems like several people have had better luck with that. Hope your financial aid office is more responsive than mine has been! Keep us posted if the app works for you.
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