doesnt FAFSA give u free money tho? why u gotta pay it back???

Something else to consider: if your daughter takes out the loans herself, it gives her skin in the game and financial responsibility. My son had his subsidized/unsubsidized loans in his name, and knowing he was responsible for them kept him focused on graduating on time. I also made a deal with him that if he maintained above a 3.5 GPA and graduated in 4 years, I'd help with payments. Worked out great as an incentive, and he finished cum laude in 3.5 years to save money. Student loans in her name won't ruin her future if the total amount is reasonable for her career path. Nursing starting salaries are typically $60-75k depending on location, so standard federal loan amounts should be manageable.

be careful with the professional judgment stuff!!!! my cousin did this and still got denied aid because the school decided they had too much money in savings even though they couldn't use the tax return method. the whole system is designed to deny people money i swear

Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm going to: 1. Have my spouse proceed with the certificate if we decide it's worthwhile 2. Submit the FAFSA for 2025-2026 as completely as possible 3. Contact the financial aid office at the degree program school immediately after 4. Prepare all our immigration documents, current income info, and a written explanation 5. Use Claimyr to reach FSA if I need official clarification I feel much more confident now! I'll update this thread after we go through the process in case it helps other recent immigrants.

UPDATE: I just got my SAI this morning! Exactly 5 weeks and 4 days after submitting. For anyone else waiting - hang in there, it does eventually come through. I also emailed my school's financial aid office like someone suggested and they confirmed they're being flexible with the priority deadlines this year because of the FAFSA delays.

My neighbor works in a financial aid office and she said they're telling students to expect 6-8 weeks for processing this year. Something about the new "FAFSA Simplification" actually making everything more complicated on the backend for now lol. Classic government program right? Make it "simpler" and it breaks everything

my cousin works in financial aid at a state school and she said they're basically working 12 hour days trying to get all the packages done. the new fafsa system is giving them all kinds of problems on their end too. maybe try calling early in the morning when the lines aren't so busy?

For anyone in this situation, many colleges have now publicly announced extensions to their May 1 deposit deadlines because of the FAFSA delays. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) has a list of schools offering extensions on their website. When you call the financial aid office, be sure to ask these specific questions: 1. "What is your current processing timeline for financial aid packages after receiving a student's SAI?" 2. "Do you offer an extension to the May 1st decision deadline if we don't receive our aid package in time to make an informed decision?" 3. "Can my student's package be expedited since we're waiting on this information to make our final decision?" 4. "Will we receive a complete breakdown of all potential aid, including specific loan types and terms?" Asking these direct questions will typically get you more concrete answers than general inquiries about status.

After seeing your responses to other comments, I want to follow up with some additional advice. Since you mentioned your hours were cut after FAFSA submission, that's EXACTLY what professional judgment reviews are designed for! Make sure to: 1. Document the reduction in hours/income (pay stubs, letter from employer) 2. Calculate the projected annual income difference 3. Submit a formal appeal letter specifically requesting "professional judgment review due to income reduction" With your already negative SAI, further reduction could potentially qualify your son for increased institutional aid or additional state grants. Don't be discouraged if your first request is denied - persistence often pays off with financial aid offices.

It's usually best to call first to learn their specific process - some schools have forms while others want a letter. Mention specifically that you've had an "income reduction since FAFSA filing" and ask about their "professional judgment review process." This uses their terminology and signals you understand the system. One more option: see if your son can get on the housing waitlist for the lowest-cost dorm options. Sometimes spots open up last minute when other students decide not to attend.