After trying FSA customer service for 5 days straight with no luck (kept getting disconnected), I used the Claimyr service someone recommended in another thread and got through in under 15 minutes! The agent confirmed the signature email was sent in error and fixed the SAI calculation issue while I was on the phone. Totally worth it when you're on a deadline! Check out their demo video if you're struggling to get through: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The FSA agent told me that about 30% of all 2024-25 FAFSAs are experiencing this SAI calculation issue. It's simply a glitch in their new system that requires manual review by an agent.

To answer your earlier question about what to tell your son's financial aid office: Just tell them he received an erroneous signature request email for 2023-24 despite aid already being disbursed, AND that his 2024-25 FAFSA shows as processed but has an SAI calculation error. Mention that you're working with FSA to resolve it. Most aid offices can place a temporary override in their system that will hold his classes and housing assignment while this gets resolved. They can also sometimes estimate his aid package based on last year's information if the SAI calculation delay continues. After an FSA agent fixes the SAI calculation issue, it typically takes 3-5 business days for the corrected SAI to appear on the StudentAid.gov dashboard, and then another 1-2 weeks for schools to receive and process the updated information. This is definitely one of the most common FAFSA issues this year due to the rollout of the new system.

I think we also need to address the elephant in the room - many schools deliberately make their financial aid processes confusing to discourage appeals and maximize revenue. I've worked at institutions where this was an explicit (though unwritten) strategy. Parents: The most effective things you can do are: 1. Always appeal your initial offer if it seems insufficient 2. Ask specifically about separate institutional scholarships not included in your initial package 3. Request a breakdown of how your SAI was calculated 4. Compare offers between schools using the same categories (some schools categorize loans as "aid" to make packages look better) 5. Look for the total out-of-pocket cost, not just the "percentage of need met" Schools should provide all this information upfront, but many don't because transparency can cost them money.

I really appreciate all these insights. Just to summarize what I'm hearing: 1. Text message reminders seem universally popular 2. Clear, jargon-free checklists with explicit deadlines 3. Short, focused videos explaining specific aspects of the process 4. Better website organization with financial aid info easy to find 5. Direct parent communication options (separate from student communication) 6. One-on-one support options for parents who need personalized help 7. Transparent breakdown of costs and aid types This is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping for. I'm going to bring these suggestions to our next department meeting. Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences!

uhh not to make things worse but my friend lost her entire financial aid package because of an error like this that never got fixed. she had to drop out for a semester. just saying you should prepare a backup plan maybe??

Update: I just helped another student with this exact issue last week. It turned out to be a parent FAFSA signature problem. Even though the FAFSA showed as complete, one parent's electronic signature wasn't properly recorded in the CPS system. The solution was to have the parent log in to studentaid.gov using their FSA ID, navigate to the submitted FAFSA, and re-sign electronically. Within 72 hours, the error cleared and the student's aid was reinstated. This is a known issue with the latest FAFSA processing system - the signature appears complete on the student view but hasn't properly registered in the school's interface.

One more thing to be aware of for 2025-2026 FAFSA: they're now using information from your 2023 tax return (called prior-prior year). So you don't need to wait until you file 2024 taxes - you'll be using information you already filed. Also, with the simplified FAFSA, fewer assets are counted against you compared to previous years. The new Student Aid Index calculation is a bit more generous for middle-income families in many cases.

You all have been SO helpful! I'm going to make sure we start college apps this fall, submit CSS Profile in October for any private schools, and then FAFSA immediately when it opens in December. I'll mark January 15th as an important deadline to watch for those merit scholarships too. I feel much better prepared now. This timing question was really stressing me out!

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I'd recommend contacting Purdue's financial aid office directly. They often have preferred lender lists with organizations they've vetted, and sometimes there are university-specific loan programs or emergency funds that aren't widely advertised. Additionally, since you're an Indiana resident, see if your student qualifies for any state-specific programs through the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. Also, be sure to complete the CSS Profile if Purdue uses it in addition to the FAFSA - it can sometimes unlock institutional aid that the FAFSA doesn't.