my parents wouldnt give me their tax info for fafsa and i couldnt get financial aid. sucked big time. dont be that parent.

something nobody mentioned - the new FAFSA for 2025-2026 is way different from previous years. they changed a lot of stuff and now use something called the SAI instead of EFC. plus there's different rules about which parents need to provide info depending on if they're married or divorced. maybe double check the new requirements?

wait so if im starting college this fall and will be filling out my first FAFSA, will this affect me too? im so confused about all this loan stuff

One important thing to add - if you're concerned about the interest capitalization that happened during consolidation, you might want to make small extra payments (even $20-50/month) that go directly to principal once you start working toward PSLF. This can help reduce the overall size of your loan despite the capitalization. Also, keep an eye on the PSLF waiver programs. The Biden administration has been regularly extending and modifying these waivers to help more borrowers qualify, and there might be further adjustments that could benefit your situation.

Once you receive the aid package, compare it carefully to other schools' offers. Sometimes schools with higher sticker prices actually offer better aid packages, making them cheaper in reality. Also, don't forget to check for: 1. Merit scholarships (separate from need-based aid) 2. Department-specific scholarships in your daughter's major 3. Outside scholarships through local organizations 4. Tuition payment plans to spread costs If there have been significant changes to your financial situation since you filed the FAFSA (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), you can request a professional judgment review at the financial aid office.

After you get the aid package, you should schedule a meeting with a financial aid counselor at the school. They can explain exactly what's being offered and discuss options for covering any gap. Remember that the first package isn't always final - if you have competing offers from other schools, some institutions will adjust their packages to compete for top students.

hey not to hijack but my situation is kinda similar - do u have to do this correction thing even if you used the IRS data retrieval tool? i did that on mine last week but idk if it actually worked

UPDATE: I found the correction option! It was under the three dots menu on my dashboard just like someone mentioned. I'm going through the process now and using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Thank you all SO MUCH for your help! This community has been incredibly supportive when I had nobody else to turn to. I'll update again once my correction is processed to let others know how long it took.

I'm dealing with a similar situation but with a different problem. My son's university received our FAFSA but there's an issue with our income verification. We submitted additional documents three weeks ago and still nothing. The whole system seems backlogged. The most frustrating part is that every school seems to handle these delays differently. One school told us they'll issue a preliminary aid package based on the initial FAFSA while waiting for corrections, but another school (where my son wants to go) refuses to do anything until they have the final corrected version. It makes comparing offers impossible.

Just an update - I called Stockton's financial aid office directly this morning about a similar issue for my nephew. They told me they're aware of the FAFSA correction delays and ARE offering enrollment deposit deadline extensions on a case-by-case basis. You need to speak with a counselor though, not just the front desk staff. Ask specifically for an "enrollment deposit extension due to FAFSA correction delays.