UPDATE: I finally got it working! After trying literally everything suggested here, what finally worked was: 1. Had my stepdad create a brand new FSA ID (even though his old one worked fine for the initial application) 2. Logged in at 3:15am when the system was quiet 3. Went through the "View Processed Information" route instead of the regular correction path 4. Used Chrome in incognito mode with all extensions disabled The signature button finally actually DID something! Got the confirmation email 10 minutes later. Thanks everyone for the help - this system is such a nightmare. For anyone else with this issue, try creating a new FSA ID for your contributor!

Wow, creating a new FSA ID to fix the signature issue - that's such a random but brilliant solution! I'm dealing with a similar problem right now where my mom's signature isn't working after we corrected some tax info. The button just sits there doing nothing no matter what browser or device we use. Going to try your exact steps tonight: new FSA ID for her, 3am login, "View Processed Information" route, and Chrome incognito. Fingers crossed this nightmare finally ends! Thanks for coming back to share what actually worked - you're a lifesaver for posting the solution after you figured it out.

Update: So what happened?? Did the school fix the scholarship or are you stuck with the higher amount?

That's fantastic news! So glad you fought for what was rightfully yours and that the school honored their written commitment. This is such a great example of why it's crucial to get everything in writing when dealing with financial aid - and why parents shouldn't back down when schools try to pull a bait-and-switch after commitment deadlines. Your persistence paid off and hopefully this helps other families in similar situations know they have recourse when schools don't honor their written agreements. Congrats to your son!

Good steps! When you speak with them again, be very specific about the financial gap and what you need. Sometimes saying

Hey MoonlightSonata! I'm glad you took action and called Fairfield's financial aid office. That shows real maturity in handling this stressful situation. While you're waiting to hear back from them, I'd also suggest reaching out to your other accepted schools ASAP - not just your second choice. Sometimes schools have additional aid available later in the cycle as other students decline their offers. Also, don't forget to ask about payment plans or work-study opportunities that might help bridge any remaining gap. You're absolutely making the right moves by exploring all your options before committing to a financial burden that could impact you for years. Keep us posted on how things develop!

One last suggestion - create a folder (physical or digital) with these categories: 1. Academic achievements (honor roll, awards, etc.) 2. Extracurricular participation proof (certificates, programs) 3. Community service documentation 4. Test scores 5. Notable projects or work samples Start collecting everything now, even if it seems minor. By senior year, you'll have a comprehensive portfolio to reference when filling out applications. The number one reason students struggle with applications is they can't remember or document their achievements from 9th-10th grade. Also, check if your state has any early commitment programs. Some states like Indiana, Oklahoma and Florida have programs where 7th-8th graders can commit to certain requirements and guarantee state aid later.

As a financial aid counselor, I want to emphasize something that hasn't been mentioned yet - start teaching your son about financial literacy NOW. Many students get to college with no understanding of student loans, interest rates, or how debt impacts their future. Consider having him read books like "The Complete Guide to Paying for College" or even age-appropriate resources about budgeting and saving. When scholarship/aid decisions come up in a few years, he'll be equipped to make informed choices rather than just taking whatever is offered. Also, if he's strong in math, look into actuarial science or finance programs - many have excellent scholarship opportunities and high earning potential that can offset college costs through future income rather than just aid. One more thing - start visiting college campuses now, even casually. It helps kids understand what they're working toward and can motivate them to stay focused on academics. Plus, demonstrated interest at some schools can actually impact merit aid decisions later!

**EDITED TO ADD:** After being on hold for nearly an hour, I finally got through to the CA Student Aid Commission. For students who have both parent and student with SSNs but are having FAFSA submission issues, they said students can submit the CA Dream Act Application as a backup. They will still need to complete the FAFSA by June 30th and submit an Application Conversion Form (G-55), but this ensures they won't miss Cal Grant eligibility. Hope this helps!

As a California parent who just went through this nightmare with my twins, I wanted to share what finally worked for us after days of submission errors. We kept getting the "cannot continue processing" error even though everything was complete. What saved us was calling the Federal Student Aid hotline at 1-800-4-FED-AID and specifically asking them to check for "backend data corruption" on our applications. Turns out there was some kind of glitch with how our tax information was being processed that wasn't visible to us. The agent fixed it on their end and we were able to submit immediately after. For anyone still struggling - make sure to mention "backend data corruption" when you call. The first-level support didn't know what that meant, but when I got transferred to a technical specialist, they knew exactly what to look for. Both my kids' applications went through within minutes after the fix. Also documenting everything is crucial - I took screenshots every step of the way showing our completed applications with timestamps, which the agent noted in our file as proof of our attempts before the deadline.