something else nobody mentioned if your twins are going to different schools make sure you put both schools on BOTH of their fafsas! my friend didnt do this and it messed up her kids sai scores!!

That's actually not correct information. Each student should only list the schools they're applying to on their own FAFSA. The FAFSA calculates the Student Aid Index (SAI) based on family information, not which schools are listed. The schools listed simply determine who receives the FAFSA data. However, what IS important is that you complete both FAFSAs consistently with the exact same parent information. Any discrepancies between the two applications could trigger verification. Many parents find it easiest to complete both applications in the same sitting to ensure consistency. For twins applying to college simultaneously, also look into: 1. Twin-specific scholarships (yes, they exist!) 2. Sibling discounts at private universities 3. CSS Profile if applying to private schools (this form does consider multiple children more favorably than FAFSA) Most importantly, contact the financial aid offices directly at your top choice schools and inform them of your twin situation. Some schools have discretionary funds they can use in these cases.

My neice just went thru this!!! Have your granddaughter apply for nursing-specific scholarships RIGHT NOW. Her scool prolly has some but also check Johnson & johnson, Tylenol, AfFLAC, they ALL have nursing scholarshps. Also check with local hospitals somtimes they pay tuition if she agrees to work there after gradution!

I want to add one more important consideration: sometimes the financial aid packages at the more expensive school actually work out better in the long run, especially for specialized programs like nursing. Community colleges are excellent for many students, but direct-admit nursing programs often have better clinical placements, NCLEX pass rates, and job placement services. I'd recommend asking the financial aid office about these specific questions: 1. Are there second-year scholarships available once she's in the nursing program? 2. What's the NCLEX pass rate compared to alternative programs? 3. Do they have dedicated nursing scholarships not included in the initial package? 4. Can they provide statistics on job placement rates and starting salaries for their nursing graduates? Make your decision based on the full picture - sometimes the program with the higher upfront cost provides better long-term value, especially in healthcare fields.

Since you specifically mentioned nursing, I wanted to add that nursing students at community colleges often qualify for special aid programs beyond the standard FAFSA offerings. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) offers Nursing Workforce Development programs that provide funding specifically for nursing students, including those in associate degree programs.\n\nAdditionally, many hospitals and healthcare facilities offer tuition assistance or loan repayment programs for nursing students who commit to working with them after graduation. These opportunities are especially common for community college nursing programs since they're designed to address local healthcare workforce needs.\n\nSo not only can you apply for FAFSA, but you may have additional funding sources available specifically because you're pursuing nursing at a community college. I'd recommend speaking with both your school's financial aid office and the nursing department coordinator about these opportunities.

Oh wow, I had no idea about the nursing-specific programs! That's really helpful information. I'll definitely talk to the nursing department about those options too. Thank you so much!

If you're struggling to get through the FSA phone line, seriously try Claimyr.com - it saved me days of frustration. They connect you with an agent without you having to wait on hold. Their video demo (https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ) shows exactly how it works. With all these FAFSA delays, getting actual answers from a live agent made a huge difference for us.

thanks will check it out! anything to avoid more time on hold listening to that awful music lol

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.