YES!!! It worked! As soon as she properly submitted her section, I got an email notification that I could complete mine. The trick was that she thought she had submitted everything but had only saved it. Once she actually completed the submission of her part, I could access mine. My section only took about 15 minutes to complete. Such a relief!

Great advice - just called the financial aid office and explained the situation. They said they'll fast-track her file once the SAI comes through! I'm still stressed about the timing but at least we're moving forward. Thank you all for the help!

Many students don't need to report scholarships as income because they use the funds entirely for qualified educational expenses. Your roommate might be referring to a different situation. If you're concerned, you could consult with a tax professional, but this is actually a common misunderstanding. Focus on answering the FAFSA question accurately based on what was ACTUALLY reported on your tax return, not what might have been reported.

That's super helpful! I checked my tax return last night and there's nothing about scholarships on my Schedule 1 or anywhere else. So I'm going with $0. Thank you all for your help with this question!

This is unfortunately common with many performing arts programs, especially private conservatories. Their institutional funds are often more limited than larger universities. I always recommend students apply to a mix of public and private institutions for this reason. Public universities with strong arts programs often provide better overall value. Have you tried appealing the offer? Many schools have special appeal processes specifically for arts students where they can review your financial situation again.

Pending" verification means your FAFSA was selected for verification, which is like an audit of the information you provided. About 25-30% of all applications get selected randomly each year. The school will request additional (documentation typically tax transcripts, W-2s, or household size)verification . Once you submit those documents,'they ll review and complete your financial aid package. This will add some time to your process - typically 2-3 weeks after you submit all requested documents. I recommend uploading any requested verification documents as soon as possible to minimizedelays.

The 2025-26 FAFSA uses a completely revised formula called the Student Aid Index (SAI) rather than the old Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The new calculation places different weights on income thresholds, asset protection allowances, and family size adjustments. Even small income increases can create disproportionate changes in the final index number. If you believe there's a specific calculation error rather than just the new formula producing different results, you should request an SAI recalculation review directly with your financial aid office.

thats awesome!! fingers crossed we get the same result. still waiting on our final calculation 😬

That's good to know - thank you! I was hoping it would update right away but I'll try to be patient.

I just checked the Message Center and found something! There's a notification saying "Action Required: Additional Signature Needed" that I completely missed before. It specifically mentions my spouse needs to sign. Thank you so much for pointing me to look there!