I'm also going through the transfer financial aid nightmare right now, so you definitely have my sympathy! One thing I discovered that might help - check if your new school has a dedicated transfer student success center or coordinator. Mine had one and when I couldn't get through to regular financial aid, the transfer coordinator was able to look up my file status and even put in a priority request for processing. They often have better relationships with the financial aid office and can advocate for you. Also, since you mentioned you're getting anxious about orientation being so close - most schools will let you register for classes and attend orientation even if your aid package isn't finalized yet. They understand these timing issues happen with transfers. Just make sure to ask about payment plan options or deferrals when you do get through to someone. Your Pell situation sounds totally normal for a transfer student, especially since you have so much remaining eligibility. The administrative delays are frustrating but they don't reflect any problems with your actual eligibility. Keep pushing to reach them, but don't let the stress consume you - you're doing everything right!

Hey! I'm a newcomer here but I've been reading through all these responses and wow, what a helpful community! I'm actually starting my transfer process next year and this thread has been incredibly educational. Just wanted to add one thing I learned from a friend who transferred - she said to also check if your new school participates in the National Student Clearinghouse. Sometimes there can be delays if they're waiting for enrollment verification from your previous school through that system, and it's not always obvious that's what's holding things up. Also, reading about everyone's experiences with phone systems being terrible - have any of you tried reaching out through social media? Some schools are surprisingly responsive on Twitter or Facebook when their phone lines are swamped. Might be worth a shot if you're still stuck! Yara, it really sounds like you're doing everything right and your situation should work out fine based on everyone's advice here. The waiting is awful but you've got plenty of Pell eligibility left and a whole community here rooting for you!

As a complete newcomer to this process, I can't thank everyone enough for this incredibly helpful thread! I'm just starting to research the FAFSA for my daughter who's a high school junior, and I had no idea about any of these changes. The automatic IRS data retrieval actually sounds like a huge improvement over manually entering all that tax information - I'm sure I would have made mistakes transcribing numbers. I'm curious though - for those of you who've completed the new FAFSA, roughly how long did it take compared to the old system? I'm trying to plan when to block out time for this, and it sounds like the asset questions are still manual entry, but everything else is streamlined. Also, is there a good resource for understanding what types of assets need to be reported? I want to make sure I'm prepared with the right information when the time comes.

As a newcomer to this whole FAFSA process, this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm just getting started with my son's application and was completely bewildered when I opened the form and couldn't find any income questions. I kept thinking I was missing something obvious or had clicked on the wrong section. The automatic IRS data retrieval makes so much sense now that everyone has explained it - honestly, it sounds way more efficient than the old system where you had to manually enter all those tax line items. I'm relieved to know that the confusion is normal and that other parents went through the same initial panic. Now I feel much more confident about moving forward with the application. My plan is to get our FSA IDs set up this week, gather our asset information, and then complete the FAFSA early in the process. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you've turned what felt like an overwhelming task into something that actually seems manageable!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening and honestly heartbreaking to read. I'm a junior in high school and my parents have already made it clear that I'll be "figuring out" college on my own despite their combined income of around $85k. Reading all these experiences has me both terrified and grateful to know what I'm walking into. What strikes me most is how this seems to be such a widespread issue affecting thousands of students, yet there's been virtually no meaningful reform to address it. The fact that 18-year-olds can legally do almost everything else but are still considered financially dependent on unwilling parents is absolutely mind-boggling. I'm definitely taking notes on all the strategies mentioned here - community college for the first two years, aggressive local scholarship hunting, work-study opportunities, and building relationships with financial aid offices. It's frustrating that we have to become experts in navigating a broken system just to get an education, but I really appreciate everyone sharing their real-world experiences and solutions. Has anyone found success in organizing with other affected students to push for policy changes? It seems like with so many of us dealing with this same issue, there should be enough voices to demand reform from our representatives.

I'm a current financial aid officer and seeing this thread really breaks my heart because I deal with students in your exact situation every single day. The system IS fundamentally broken - you're absolutely right about that. Here's some insider perspective that might help: when you come to our office for a professional judgment review, bring EVERYTHING. Bank statements showing you pay your own bills, text messages/emails from parents refusing to help, proof of employment, lease agreements if you live independently. The more documentation you have, the better your case. Also, many students don't realize that even if we can't change your dependency status, we often have emergency funds, institutional grants, or work-study positions with higher pay rates that we can offer. Don't just ask about federal aid - ask specifically what institutional resources might be available for students with non-contributing parents. One more tip: if your school participates in CSS Profile, fill it out even if it seems pointless. Some private schools have endowment funds specifically designated for students in situations like yours, and CSS Profile schools often have more flexibility than federal aid allows. The advocacy idea mentioned above is brilliant - student voices sharing these real experiences could definitely push for the policy changes this system desperately needs.

As someone who works in college financial aid, I can confirm that this "unmarried parents living together" situation comes up more often than people realize. You're on the right track - since you provide more financial support, you should complete the FAFSA, but both incomes will be included. One thing I'd add is to be very careful about how you answer the household size questions. Since you're living together, your household size should include both parents and all children living in the home, which can actually help lower your Student Aid Index slightly. Also, keep detailed records of who pays for what expenses throughout the year - not just for potential verification, but because some schools may ask for this information during their professional judgment review process. The key is being completely transparent and consistent in how you report your family's situation across all forms and communications.

I'm dealing with a similar situation but with a twist - my ex and I are divorced, living together, but we also have a child from his previous relationship living with us part-time. The FAFSA household size question becomes even more complicated when you factor in step-siblings and shared custody arrangements. From what I've learned through this process, document EVERYTHING - who pays utilities, groceries, medical expenses, school fees, etc. The financial aid offices really do want to see a clear picture of financial responsibility. Also, I'd recommend starting the FAFSA process early because these complex situations often require back-and-forth communication with both the Department of Education and individual schools. One more tip: if your daughter applies to multiple schools, be prepared to explain your living situation to each financial aid office separately, as they may interpret the guidelines differently.

I just want to echo what everyone else has said - this thread has been absolutely amazing! I'm currently working on my FAFSA and had the exact same question about my mom's Associate's in Medical Office Administration. I was literally losing sleep over whether I was going to mess up my financial aid by answering this wrong! Reading through all these real experiences from students who've been in the same situation, plus the professional insights from financial aid counselors, has completely put my mind at ease. It's so clear now that ANY Associate degree counts as "completed college" - no exceptions, no qualifications needed. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences. This community is incredible and makes navigating the FAFSA so much less stressful!

I'm so relieved to find this thread! I'm filling out my FAFSA right now and was completely stuck on this same question. My mom has an Associate's in Graphic Design and I've been sitting here for like an hour trying to figure out if that counts as "completed college" or not. Reading through everyone's experiences and especially the explanations from the financial aid professionals has made it crystal clear - ANY college degree, including Associate's, counts as completing college for FAFSA purposes! It doesn't matter what field the degree is in or when it was earned. I was way overthinking this question and stressing myself out for no reason. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and making this so much clearer for those of us doing this for the first time. This community is amazing!