After you speak with financial aid about the Pell Grant, also ask them to explain why they offered the Westlake Achievement Grant instead of subsidized loans. This might actually be better for you! Subsidized loans still need to be repaid (just without interest while in school), but grants don't need to be repaid at all. So if the grant amount exceeds what the Pell would have been, you might be getting a better deal. Just make sure you understand the renewal criteria for future years.

Hi! I'm new to navigating financial aid and this thread has been incredibly helpful. Just wanted to add that when you call the financial aid office, it might help to have your daughter's Student Aid Report (SAR) number ready along with her student ID. Also, if you don't get a satisfactory answer from the first person you talk to, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor or financial aid counselor. Sometimes the front desk staff aren't as familiar with the nuances of federal vs. institutional aid. Good luck - it sounds like you're asking all the right questions!

As a grandparent who went through this process last year with my granddaughter, I wanted to add a few practical tips that helped us navigate everything smoothly: 1. Consider creating a shared Google doc or folder with your grandson and his parents where you can all track deadlines, required documents, and school-specific aid requirements. Each college can have different deadlines for their own aid forms beyond just the FAFSA. 2. If your grandson is applying to multiple schools, help him create a spreadsheet to compare aid packages when they come in. The "net price" (total cost minus all grants and scholarships) is what really matters, not just the sticker price. 3. Don't forget about state aid programs! Many states have their own grant programs with earlier deadlines than federal aid. In our state, we almost missed out on $2,000 in state grants because we didn't know about the separate deadline. 4. If you want to help but are worried about affecting his aid eligibility, you could also consider paying for things like textbooks, laptop, or dorm supplies directly to the vendors rather than giving cash. The whole process seemed overwhelming at first, but breaking it down into smaller steps really helped. Your grandson is lucky to have such a supportive grandparent looking out for him!

As someone who just went through this process with my own grandchild, I want to echo what others have said about starting early and staying organized. One thing that really helped us was attending a financial aid workshop at the local high school - many schools offer these for families in the spring. The counselor explained everything in plain English and even helped us understand the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans. Also, don't be afraid to call the financial aid offices at the colleges your grandson is considering! I was intimidated at first, but the staff were actually very helpful in explaining their specific policies and deadlines. Some schools even have grandparent information sessions. One mistake we made was assuming we understood everything from online research. Having that face-to-face conversation with a real person made all the difference. Your grandson is so fortunate to have you advocating for him - that support means more than you know!

I went through this exact situation with my son two years ago! Here's what worked for us: I called each college's financial aid office directly and explained the situation upfront. Most were very understanding and walked me through their specific process. The key thing I learned is that different schools handle this differently - some required more documentation than others. Also, don't worry too much about the insurance payments he makes - as long as you estimate them honestly and explain you don't have exact amounts, that should be fine. The important thing is showing you've made good faith efforts to get his information and that you're the de facto sole parent. Start reaching out to those financial aid offices now - they'd rather help you navigate this than have you miss deadlines!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what happened with my neighbor who went through something very similar last year. She had been the sole caretaker for years but her ex was still legally considered a parent. What really helped her case was getting a letter from her daughter's school counselor confirming that she was the only parent who had ever been involved - attending parent-teacher conferences, handling emergencies, etc. She also got statements from her daughter's doctors and therapist confirming the same thing. The financial aid offices were much more receptive when she had multiple third-party professionals backing up her story. One tip she shared: when you call the financial aid offices, ask specifically about their "professional judgment" process - that's the official term they use, and it shows you understand the system. Good luck with everything!

As a newcomer to this process, I can't express how grateful I am for this detailed thread! My son is currently a high school sophomore, so I have a bit of time to prepare, but reading everyone's experiences has been incredibly enlightening. The biggest revelation for me is understanding that FAFSA household size is based on the support test rather than tax dependency - I had no idea these were different! The spreadsheet approach for tracking expenses sounds like a game-changer. I'm planning to start documenting everything now: tuition contributions, insurance premiums, phone bills, groceries, transportation costs, and even those 529 plan contributions I never realized counted as support. It's amazing how all these "little" expenses can add up to determine whether you cross that crucial 50% threshold. Thank you all for creating such a supportive environment where newcomers like me can learn from your real-world experiences. This process seemed so intimidating before, but now I feel like I have a roadmap to follow!

As someone who's been lurking in this community while preparing for my first FAFSA experience (daughter is a high school junior), I just had to jump in and say how incredibly helpful this entire discussion has been! I came here completely confused about household size calculations and had NO idea that it was based on a support test rather than tax dependency. That's such a critical distinction that seems to catch so many parents off guard! The spreadsheet idea for tracking all expenses is brilliant - I'm definitely implementing that immediately. Reading through everyone's real experiences has transformed what felt like an impossible maze into something I can actually navigate with confidence. It's amazing how this community comes together to help newcomers understand these complex rules. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge so generously!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! My FAFSA shows everything completed except the family size field is mysteriously blank. I know I filled it out because I remember double-checking it before submitting. It's so frustrating that this is apparently a widespread glitch with the new system. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's really helpful to know I'm not the only one and that the correction process isn't too complicated. I'm going to log in tonight and make the correction following the steps that Danielle outlined. Fingers crossed it processes quickly!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this nightmare last year! My daughter's FAFSA had the same family size glitch - the field was completely empty even though I triple-checked it before submitting. What made it worse was that I didn't notice for almost 3 weeks because I assumed everything was fine after the initial submission went through. By the time I caught it, some schools had already started processing aid packages with the wrong (basically non-existent) family size info. The correction itself was straightforward using the steps others have mentioned here, but I learned the hard way to also immediately email each school's financial aid office with a brief explanation and the corrected SAI once it processed. Most were super understanding and just updated their records, but one school required me to submit a formal appeal with documentation. My advice: make the correction ASAP (tonight if possible), and don't wait for the reprocessing to finish before contacting the schools. Just give them a heads up that you discovered the glitch and submitted a correction. It shows you're being proactive and helps avoid any delays on their end. The whole thing stressed me out for weeks, but in the end my daughter got all her aid packages without any major issues. You've got this!