One other important thing to note: If UAB has already requested verification, make sure you're monitoring your son's student portal AND email for notices. Alabama schools often communicate verification requirements through the school's system rather than through the Federal Student Aid portal. Also, if you resolve the federal verification first, many Alabama schools will simplify the state verification process and potentially just require the additional state forms rather than duplicating documentation efforts.

The Alabama SAI will always differ somewhat from the federal calculation due to the state's inclusion of additional assets (like home equity). However, resolving federal verification will ensure your base financial data is correct. Once that's done, the Alabama differential should only reflect their additional factors, not errors in the underlying data. So yes, definitely resolve the federal side first, then address any remaining state discrepancies afterward with the financial aid office at UAB.

Something to keep in mind - your daughter's financial aid package will likely improve after freshman year. The loan limits increase ($6,500 for sophomore year, $7,500 for junior/senior years). Additionally, once she's on campus and established, she'll have more opportunities for departmental scholarships and upper-level work opportunities that often pay better than first-year work study positions. Also, don't overlook outside scholarships! Local community organizations, parent employers, and industry associations often offer scholarships that have much less competition than national ones. Even small scholarships of $500-$1000 can add up quickly.

Based on your SAI, your family is expected to contribute about $31,422 per year toward college costs. Any college with a cost of attendance higher than that amount means your daughter would have demonstrated need. For example: If a college costs $50,000/year total (tuition, room, board, etc.): - Your demonstrated need would be $18,578 ($50,000 - $31,422) - This can be filled with various aid types (loans, work-study, grants) If a college costs $25,000/year: - You'd have no demonstrated need since your SAI exceeds the cost - You'd still get the unsubsidized Direct Loan ($5,500) since that's not need-based This is why you might see very different packages from different schools depending on their total cost.

OK this is gonna sound weird but have you considered getting married? My roommate got married to his girlfriend (they were gonna get married eventually anyway) and it automatically made him independent for FAFSA. His aid package went from nothing to covering almost everything. Just saying 😂

Update: I just spoke with my financial aid office. They said I can definitely still submit FAFSA for this academic year and potentially get aid for Spring 2025. They also have a special circumstances form I can submit to explain why my parents' income doesn't reflect my actual financial situation. It's not a guarantee, but worth trying! They also told me about a payment plan option for Spring in case I don't get enough aid. Thanks everyone for your helpful advice!

For National Guard members doing the typical one weekend per month plus two weeks in summer, they generally remain dependents if under 24 and not meeting other independence criteria. The military service that automatically confers independent status is active duty (not training). To directly answer your original question about multiple students: When you log into your FSA account as a parent, you'll see a dashboard that shows all students who have invited you as a contributor. You can toggle between their applications and complete your sections for each one. The system has improved in recent months - initially there were issues with the multiple student setup, but most have been resolved.

BTW tell ur son to check with the URI veterans office too, not just financial aid. My nephew got extra $ for books and stuff through some Guard education program that financial aid didnt even know about

we just bit the bullet and paid the off-campus deposit for our son. better safe than sorry imo. the apartment complex has a 2 week decision window so if by some miracle the fasfa comes through early and he gets on campus housing we can back out. check if any off campus places have flexible deposits!

After making some calls this morning based on advice here, I just wanted to update that our housing office is now offering a special "FAFSA delay" extension form! They said many families are in this exact situation, so they created a process where you can fill out a form explaining you're waiting on financial aid, and they'll extend your housing deadline until 2 weeks after your SAI score is processed. Might be worth asking if your daughter's school has something similar!