When we first got our son's financial aid package, I was so confused because they included $15,000 in Parent PLUS loans as part of the "aid" package! That's not aid - that's DEBT! We decided to only let him accept the direct student loans ($5,500) and grants. We're cash-flowing the rest by selling our second car, taking on extra consulting work, and having him live at home to commute. It's not ideal but I refuse to take on debt at 52 years old that I'll be paying off in retirement. Has anyone successfully appealed their SAI calculation? We had some unusual medical expenses last year that weren't reflected in our tax return.

Wow, congratulations on that aid package! $87k in savings is absolutely life-changing. I totally understand the mixed feelings though - being grateful but also frustrated that we have to feel grateful for "only" paying six figures for education. We're in the thick of this process too with our twin daughters who are high school seniors. After running the FAFSA estimator, I'm already having panic attacks about potentially paying for two kids at once. Even with aid, we're looking at potentially $60k+ per year combined if they both go to our state university. Quick question - did your daughter's merit scholarships come directly from the university or were they external scholarships she applied for separately? We're trying to figure out our scholarship strategy and wondering if we should focus more on school-specific awards or cast a wider net with outside scholarships. The fact that your daughter's grandparents paid $2,500/year in the 70s really puts this in perspective. Even adjusting for inflation, that would be maybe $15k today - still WAY less than current costs. Something is seriously broken when education costs have outpaced inflation by this much.

To answer your question about processing time - corrections typically take 3-5 business days to generate a new SAI, which should work with your 3-week deadline. But definitely contact your school tomorrow as others have suggested. And yes, it's absolutely better to correct it now than face potential consequences later. If you're found to have incorrect information during verification or an audit, you could lose aid eligibility, have to repay funds, or even face penalties in severe cases. Being proactive about corrections shows good faith and responsibility.

That's awesome news! It sounds like your financial aid office is really helpful. For future reference, many schools have these special correction forms because they know FAFSA mistakes happen all the time - especially with mid-year income changes like promotions or job switches. The fact that they're giving you 2 weeks buffer beyond their normal deadline shows they understand these situations. Make sure to keep copies of everything you submit, including the correction form and any supporting documentation about your dad's promotion. Good luck with everything!

Update: Rutgers just notified us they received the FAFSA data too! So it looks like things are definitely moving now. Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'm feeling much more confident about the timeline now.

Congratulations on getting the notifications from both Montclair and Rutgers! That's great news that things are moving along. I'm still waiting to hear from any of my daughter's schools - we submitted about 2.5 weeks ago. It's reassuring to see that the system is actually working, even if it feels slow. Did you notice any pattern in which schools got your info first, or does it really seem random like others mentioned?

As someone who went through a similar process, I'd strongly recommend your friend connect with local immigrant advocacy organizations in Florida - they often have specialized knowledge about navigating these systems that even financial aid offices don't have. Organizations like the Florida Immigrant Coalition sometimes offer workshops specifically on FAFSA for new citizens. Also, she should look into whether any community colleges near her offer bridge programs for internationally-trained healthcare professionals. These are often cheaper than university programs and specifically designed to help foreign-trained doctors transition to US practice. Many of these programs qualify for federal aid since they lead to certificates that are required for licensing. One last tip: if she's considering taking the USMLE exams, some test prep programs are eligible for federal aid if they're offered through accredited institutions. It's worth asking about when she speaks with schools!

Just wanted to add something that might help your friend - when she does get her citizenship finalized, she should also look into state-specific financial aid programs in Florida. The state has its own grant programs like Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG) and Bright Futures that she might qualify for as a new resident/citizen, even if federal Pell Grant eligibility gets complicated due to her foreign degree. Also, many medical schools and healthcare institutions in Florida have their own scholarship funds specifically for students from underrepresented backgrounds or those pursuing healthcare careers. Since she's already a trained physician, she might be viewed favorably for these programs. I'd suggest she reach out directly to admissions/financial aid offices at places like University of Florida College of Medicine or Florida International University - they often know about funding sources that aren't widely advertised. The key is to cast a wide net beyond just federal aid. There are often multiple funding sources available that can be combined to make her educational goals more affordable!

Have you considered reaching out to your local congressman or senator's office? This might sound strange, but when my FAFSA was stuck in verification hell last year, my dad contacted our senator's constituent services office. They have staff dedicated to helping with federal issues, including Department of Education problems. The senator's office made an inquiry on our behalf, and magically our verification was completed within a week after being stalled for over a month. It's worth a shot if things continue to drag on.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! As someone who just went through a similar situation with my daughter's FAFSA verification, I wanted to share what worked for us. We were stuck in "extended review" for 8 weeks, but here's what finally moved things along: 1. We called the school's financial aid office weekly (not to be annoying, but to show we were actively engaged) and asked them to document each call in our file. 2. We submitted a hardship letter explaining our specific timeline constraints and financial situation - the school forwarded this to the Department of Education as part of our case. 3. Most importantly, we asked the school about their "aid pending" enrollment option. They let us register for classes and defer 75% of the tuition payment until October 15th, with just a small enrollment deposit required upfront. The verification finally cleared in week 9 (mid-August), and the Parent Plus loan funded just in time. Don't give up hope, and definitely explore all the payment deferral options others have mentioned here. The schools really do understand this is happening to lots of families this year due to the FAFSA system changes.