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Just fyi when I graduated my last semester i only needed 2 classes and financial aid wouldn't cover it because I wasn't full-time anymore. Had to take out a private loan. Super annoying. Check if there's a minimum credit requirement for whatever aid he's been getting.
Since we're in 2024 now, I want to clarify some information about the 2025-2026 FAFSA that wasn't mentioned yet: 1. The 2025-2026 FAFSA will follow the new simplified FAFSA format that launched this year 2. It should be available December 1, 2024 3. Your son's SAI (Student Aid Index) will be calculated, not EFC 4. Since it's his final course, make sure his graduation date is correctly listed File the application as soon as possible after it opens to maximize his aid eligibility. Even for one course, it's worth completing if he's been eligible for grants in the past.
has anyone else noticed that the work study amounts are getting ridiculously low?? $675 a year is like what, 2 hours of work per week?? how is that even helpful
You're right about the amounts getting smaller. Many schools are spreading their federal work-study allocation among more students, resulting in those tiny awards. The $675 award likely means about 2 hours per week at minimum wage. The strategy is that once a student is in the work-study program, departments can often increase their hours beyond the initial award if funds are available later in the year. It's basically getting a foot in the door for campus employment.
Update: We called Crestview's financial aid office this morning. They explained that their institutional policy is to only offer subsidized loans to students with SAIs below 12,000, and since ours is 13,245, we didn't qualify. They said their work-study funds had already been allocated to students with greater financial need. So mystery solved! We're now weighing whether the interest savings at Westlake (about $4,500 over 4 years) is worth choosing it over Crestview, which my daughter preferred academically. Thanks everyone for your help!
Thanks for updating us! This confirms what many of us suspected - different institutional policies for the same federal programs. For your decision, consider asking Crestview if they offer any merit scholarships your daughter might qualify for. Sometimes those can offset the difference in loan types. Also, remember that a student can accept partial loan amounts - she doesn't have to take the full unsubsidized loan offered if you can cover some costs another way.
i herd some people just put "divorced" on FAFSA even if technically still married. NOT saying u should do that but ppl do. might be considered fraud tho so probably not worth risk
This is absolutely NOT recommended. Providing false information on the FAFSA is considered fraud and can result in serious consequences including fines up to $20,000, prison time, having to repay all aid received, and being barred from receiving future federal student aid. The professional judgment route is the proper legal channel for addressing this situation.
Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm going to: 1. Complete the FAFSA with both incomes as required 2. Immediately start the professional judgment process with each college 3. Gather documentation showing our 16-year separation and that I'm the primary caregiver 4. Use Claimyr to reach FSA for official documentation of their policy It's frustrating that the system doesn't account for long-term separations without formal documentation, but at least there's a pathway to get it addressed. I'll update this thread after we go through the process in case it helps others in similar situations.
I made it through to a FAFSA agent yesterday using Claimyr and asked specifically about this issue - they said it's happening to a lot of people. The agent told me they can fix the SSN/birthday over the phone but you'll need: 1. The FSA ID of the student 2. The incorrect FSA ID of the parent (your husband) 3. Documentation proving the correct information The agent also confirmed the financial corrections often DO process correctly even when the confirmation page shows different fields. They suggested asking the agent to review all the financial data during the same call to confirm everything is correct.
Just an update for anyone finding this thread later - I had the same issue in January and finally got it resolved. The key is getting a case number when you call FSA. Don't hang up without getting one! Then if you get disconnected or need to call back, you can reference that case number and won't have to start over explaining everything. Also, the "under review" status is actually good in this situation - it means a human is looking at it rather than just the automated system.
Aria Park
That's good progress! The payment plan is a smart backup. One additional suggestion - make sure to check if your school has emergency grants available. Many institutions have funds specifically for situations like yours where there's a gap between expected aid and current charges. These grants often don't need to be repaid and can help bridge the timing gap while your reevaluation is being processed. Also, verify that your reevaluation will actually make a significant difference in your SAI score. With the new FAFSA formula for 2025-2026, income changes affect your aid differently than in previous years. The financial aid office should be able to give you an estimate of how your revised SAI might impact your total aid package.
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Ethan Anderson
•Thank you! I hadn't thought about emergency grants. And to be honest, I have no idea how much my SAI might change - the financial aid counselor we initially spoke with just said we should definitely apply for reevaluation based on my dad's job loss, but didn't give any estimates. I'll specifically ask about the potential impact on my SAI when I follow up tomorrow.
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Alexander Zeus
When my cousin had this happen, his mom went to the Dean of Students office and explained the situation. Apparently they have some power to intervene in these cases and can put a hold on the administrative drop while things get sorted out. Might be worth trying that angle too.
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