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Does anyone know if there's a way to check if your kid actually submitted their part? My daughter SWORE she submitted last month but turns out she never clicked the final button. Kids these days lol
UPDATE: Just wanted to follow up in case anyone has the same issue. My daughter checked her submission status and it turns out she DID complete everything correctly. I finally got the email this morning - almost 48 hours after she submitted it! The subject line was different than last year which is why I might have missed it if it came earlier. Instead of "FAFSA Signature Required" it said "Action Required: 2025-2026 FAFSA form." Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!
Thanks for the update! This is really helpful information. The new FAFSA system has changed many aspects of the notification process, including those email subject lines. I'm glad it finally came through for you. Make sure to submit your signature promptly as there can sometimes be additional processing delays after the parent signature is added as well.
The consultant basically created a detailed timeline with EVERY transaction, highlighted all the relevant tax codes, and explained it in financial aid jargon that the office understood. Then she followed up DAILY until they processed it. It shouldn't be necessary but the system is so broken that sometimes you need an insider who knows how to navigate it. Good luck - I hope your experience is better than mine was!
While I understand the frustration, most verification issues can be resolved without paying for a consultant. Financial aid offices deal with rollover verification routinely, and they're generally very helpful if you provide clear documentation. I'd try working directly with the school first before spending money on outside help.
UPDATE: I just got off the phone with the financial aid office at my daughter's school. They were actually super helpful! They said this is a common issue and gave me a specific verification form for retirement rollovers. They said as long as I submit it with the 1099-R and account statements within a week, they can process it without delaying her aid package. Thanks everyone for your advice - it gave me exactly what I needed to ask for!
One more important point: some colleges offer pre-college programs with financial aid! If your student really wants the experience, check out programs like USC Summer Programs or Boston University's high school programs - they offer significant aid to qualifying students. Also look for state-funded programs at public universities which are often 1/3 the cost of the elite private programs while offering similar benefits.
COLLEGES ARE SUCH SCAMS!!!! First they charge these insane summer fees, then crazy application fees, then they give us these confusing financial aid packages that are mostly LOANS not GRANTS!!!! And don't get me started on textbook prices. The whole system is designed to extract as much money from families as possible.
While I understand your frustration, it's important to distinguish between different types of colleges. Many public universities and community colleges offer excellent value and genuine financial aid. The FAFSA is designed to help determine need-based aid eligibility. Those expensive summer programs are optional and not representative of the entire higher education system.
Xan Dae
Another important thing to know - even though the federal deadline is June 30, 2026, that's for the entire 2025-2026 academic year. That means if you're starting in Fall 2025, you need to submit MUCH earlier than that June 2026 date. I think that deadline confuses a lot of people. Also, the FAFSA form itself should take about 30-45 minutes to complete if you have all your documents ready. You'll need: 1. Your SSN 2. Your driver's license number (if you have one) 3. Your 2023 tax records (for 2025-2026 FAFSA) 4. Records of untaxed income 5. Information about your assets 6. List of schools you're applying to If you're a dependent student (most undergrads are), you'll need your parents' information too.
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Ana Rusula
•This is excellent advice. And remember that starting with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, the form has been significantly redesigned. It's now called the "Better FAFSA" and is supposed to be simpler, but there have been some technical issues during the transition. For the 2025-2026 form, hopefully those will be resolved, but still plan to submit early in case of any system problems!
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Noah huntAce420
Thank you all for this helpful information! I'm going to mark December 1 on my calendar and aim to submit that first week. I'll also make a spreadsheet of all my potential nursing schools with their specific FAFSA and CSS Profile deadlines. One last question - if my parents are divorced, whose information do I need to include on the FAFSA?
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Fidel Carson
•For divorced parents, you'll need to report information for the parent you lived with more during the past 12 months. If you lived with both equally, then you report the parent who provided more financial support. If that parent has remarried, you must also include your stepparent's information. This is different from the CSS Profile, which might require information from both biological parents depending on the school's policy.
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