btw make sure ur kid logs into the studentaid website every few days after u submit. my application got stuck in processing cuz they needed more info but never emailed me about it!!

Just to clarify on deadlines - while the federal deadline is June 30, 2025, many states and institutions have much earlier deadlines for their own aid programs. Since you mentioned a February deadline, I'm guessing that was your school's priority deadline. Immediately after submitting the new FAFSA, I strongly recommend following up with the financial aid office directly to explain the situation. They may have institutional funds they can still provide or might be able to consider you for aid programs where deadlines can be extended in special circumstances. Having this conversation sooner rather than later maximizes your options.

I work at a financial aid office and we've seen this signature issue a lot this cycle. The problem is usually with the parent FSA ID not being fully verified OR the student and parent accidentally using the same email address during the FSA ID creation (even if the usernames are different). Double-check both of those things. If neither is the issue, then you'll definitely need to call FSA directly and have them help you troubleshoot.

Any update? Were you able to get the signature page working? I'm invested in your FAFSA journey now lol

To officially answer your question: You have two safe options: 1. Call FSA directly and have them remove the incomplete form (best option) 2. Ignore the emails if the submitted FAFSA shows as "Processing" with a confirmation number What you should NOT do is try to complete the incomplete form or submit a new one. That will definitely cause problems with your existing submission. The system is designed to catch duplicate submissions by the same student for the same aid year.

I spent 2+ hours on hold with FSA last week trying to fix a similar issue. When I finally got through, they told me incomplete applications automatically expire after 45 days anyway. So you could just wait it out if you don't want to deal with their phone system.

My daughter had this same issue last year when applying for fall 2024. What ended up happening was that when the FAFSA was processed, it actually pulled the correct income info directly from the IRS through the data retrieval tool, so her error was automatically fixed! Did you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when filling out the form? If so, it might correct itself.

One important thing to remember: after making the correction, you AND your parent will both need to re-sign the FAFSA with your FSA IDs. The correction isn't submitted until both signatures are applied. Many students miss this step and wonder why their correction wasn't processed.

This doesn't help your current situation, but for anyone with younger kids: this is why having a solid college funding plan BEFORE senior year is so important. We knew exactly what we could afford for each of our kids and only applied to schools within that budget, plus a few reach schools where we might qualify for merit aid. For your current situation, I'd suggest having your son pick his top 2 choices, then really press those financial aid offices for answers about potential changes. Be persistent! Ask to speak with financial aid directors, not just front-line staff.

Update based on the discussions: Here's what I recommend you do specifically: 1. Email the financial aid directors (not just the general office) at each school explaining your situation and concerns about post-May 1st changes. 2. Ask each school for a written statement of their policy regarding aid reductions after commitment. Specifically request that they confirm you could withdraw without penalty if aid is reduced by more than $1,000-$2,000. 3. For the top choice school, ask if they can expedite any verification processes to finalize the aid package before May 1st. 4. Get any verbal promises in writing via email - even if it's just you sending a follow-up email saying "As we discussed on the phone today, you confirmed that..." 5. Consider submitting a FAFSA appeal to Federal Student Aid if your financial circumstances have changed significantly since you filed. The new FAFSA has created unprecedented challenges this year, but most institutions are aware and trying to be accommodating.