Just wanted to add that timing is really important with the MAAPP application! I completed mine last week and learned that even though the federal FAFSA deadline is later, Mississippi processes HELP grants on a first-come, first-served basis once you meet the eligibility requirements. So even if you qualify, if you wait too long, the funding could run out. I'd recommend submitting both your FAFSA and MAAPP application ASAP rather than waiting until closer to the April 30th deadline. Also, make sure your college is on the approved list for HELP - most public Mississippi universities are covered, but it's worth double-checking if you're considering any private or out-of-state schools.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm also a Mississippi resident just starting this process. Based on everything I've read here, it sounds like the key steps are: 1) Complete FAFSA first, 2) Create separate MAAPP account at msfinancialaid.org, 3) Complete Mississippi Aid Application and authorize FAFSA data transfer using FSA ID, 4) Verify the green checkmark appears showing successful data import, 5) Take screenshots of everything with confirmation numbers. I'm planning to submit both applications this week since funding is first-come, first-served. Does anyone know approximately how long after submission you typically hear back about approval status? I want to have a realistic timeline for when I might know about my aid package.

As someone who just went through this process with my own daughter, I can confirm what others have said - she absolutely qualifies as independent! My daughter was in foster care from ages 13-15, then came back to live with us. I was so confused by all the conflicting information online, but the financial aid officer at our local community college walked me through it step by step. The key thing to remember is that the FAFSA question asks "At any time since you turned 13" - not whether she's currently in foster care. Since your daughter was in care after turning 13 (even if she later returned home), she meets the criteria. For documentation, I'd recommend getting certified copies of all court orders rather than just regular photocopies. Some schools were pickier than others about this. Also, if you have any documentation showing she was specifically a "ward of the court" (not just in foster care), that can be helpful too since the FAFSA question covers both situations. One last tip - start the verification process early! Even though it usually only takes 2-3 weeks, you don't want financial aid delays to impact her enrollment. Good luck!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what I learned when helping my sister navigate this exact same situation. She was in foster care from age 13-16, then returned to live with our mom. I was really confused about the FAFSA rules at first too, but after reading through all these responses, I'm now confident that your daughter definitely qualifies as independent! The key thing that helped us was contacting each school's financial aid office directly before submitting documentation. Some schools had specific forms they wanted us to fill out in addition to the court documents, while others just needed the basic paperwork. Having that conversation upfront saved us from having to resubmit things later. Also, I'd recommend keeping detailed records of every interaction you have during the verification process - dates, names of who you spoke with, what documents you submitted, etc. It really helped when one school lost our paperwork and we needed to prove we had already submitted everything on time. Your daughter has been through enough already with the foster care experience - don't let anyone make this process harder than it needs to be. The rules are clear that she qualifies, and you have every right to advocate for her to get the independent status she deserves!

UPDATE: You all were right! I tried using my old address with the Data Retrieval Tool and it worked! All my tax info loaded into the FAFSA automatically. Thank you everyone for your help - I was really stressing about this!

So glad you got it sorted out! The address thing is such a common issue that trips people up. For anyone else reading this thread - another quick tip is to make sure you're using the exact spelling of your name as it appears on your Social Security card when using the DRT. Even small differences like using a nickname instead of your full legal name can cause it to fail. The IRS systems are super picky about exact matches!

I just completed my MPN yesterday and wanted to add one more tip that helped me - if you're doing the MPN for the first time, make sure you have all your references' contact information ready before you start! The form requires you to provide contact details for two references (people who have known you for at least 3 years), and I got halfway through the MPN before realizing I didn't have my aunt's current phone number. Had to pause the whole process to track down her info. Also, double-check that your driver's license information is current if you're using that for identity verification. The whole thing really does only take about 20-30 minutes once you have everything ready, but gathering the required info beforehand saves you from having to stop mid-process. Good luck getting everything sorted before your deadline!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who literally just finished this whole process last week! After reading through all these responses, I'm definitely in the "do the MPN first" camp. I completed my MPN on a Tuesday morning (took about 25 minutes), got the confirmation email, and then accepted my loans on my school portal that same afternoon. Everything processed super smoothly and my disbursement is already scheduled for next week. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you're logged into the correct FSA ID account when you do the MPN! I know it sounds obvious, but my roommate accidentally used her mom's FSA ID (they share a computer) and had to start the whole thing over again. Also, if you're planning to do this over the weekend like you mentioned, just be aware that the studentaid.gov site sometimes does maintenance on Sunday evenings, so maybe aim for Saturday or early Sunday to be safe!

This is super helpful advice - thank you! I'll tell him to use those exact questions when he calls tomorrow. He was worried about seeming pushy, but framing it this way sounds professional and appropriate.

As a newcomer here, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation with my nephew who's starting his master's program this fall. His FAFSA has been "processed" for weeks but no aid package yet from his school. Reading through all your experiences, it sounds like being patient but persistent is key. The information about graduate students being processed last in the queue is eye-opening - I had no idea the system worked that way. I'm definitely going to share the advice about calling with specific questions rather than just asking "when will I get my package." Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!