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This is EXCELLENT news! I'm so glad she was persistent and asked to speak with someone more senior. That often makes all the difference. The documentation she gathered sounds perfect - especially the therapist letter. Looking forward to hearing the final outcome!
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not to get off topic but make sure ur checking if schools require css profile too! my cousin missed out on so much $$$ because he only did FAFSA and didnt realize his private college needed css profile too for their institutional aid!!
That's a good reminder - thankfully we did complete the CSS Profile for the private schools as well. Those extra questions were so detailed, but I guess it helps them determine institutional aid better.
I'd like to add a few more points about that -1500 SAI: 1. Always look for the "gift aid ratio" - what percentage of your package is free money (grants/scholarships) versus loans/work. With your SAI, you should expect at least 80-85% gift aid at most institutions. 2. Private colleges using the CSS Profile can sometimes offer more to students with low assets but moderate income than to those with very low income but some assets, even with the same SAI. This is because they collect more detailed financial information. 3. Keep in mind that your SAI only accounts for your financial situation when you applied. If anything has changed (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), you can request a professional judgment review. 4. Some selective private colleges have policies to meet 100% of demonstrated need with no loans for families under certain income thresholds. With your SAI, these could be worth considering even if they seem expensive initially.
This is incredibly helpful. We've had some medical expenses since filing the FAFSA - is that something we could bring up during an appeal process? Also, how do we find out which private colleges have those 100% need-met policies?
Yes, absolutely bring up the medical expenses in an appeal! That's exactly the kind of circumstance that qualifies for professional judgment. Keep all documentation of those expenses. For colleges that meet 100% of need without loans, you can search for "no-loan financial aid policies" or "meets full need colleges." Some examples include Amherst, Bowdoin, Brown, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Swarthmore, and Yale, but there are several dozen others with strong aid policies. Many have income thresholds (like under $65K or $100K) where they guarantee no loans in the package.
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has anyone tried those income share agreements?? my cousin did one where he doesn't pay anything now but gives like 3% of his income after graduation for 5 years. sounds better than loans tbh
Income Share Agreements (ISAs) are available at some schools, but I'd approach with caution. They may seem appealing since there's no interest, but if you end up with a high-paying job after graduation, you could pay back significantly more than with traditional loans. They also have less regulation and consumer protections than federal loans. They're typically only available for specific programs or schools, so you'd need to check if your institution offers them. I'd recommend exhausting federal loan options first, as they have income-driven repayment plans that can also cap payments based on what you earn, plus potential loan forgiveness programs.
oh i didnt think about paying more if i get a good job. thx for explaining!
Thank you all SO MUCH for the advice! I've made a plan based on everyone's suggestions: 1. Accept all my federal loans from FAFSA 2. Visit financial aid office in person next week to discuss: - Professional Judgment review (since my dad lost his job) - Emergency aid funds - Parent PLUS loan application (worth trying even with their credit issues) - Payment plan options 3. Look into state aid programs 4. Apply for more scholarships I'll update once I know more! This has been incredibly helpful.
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am i the only one whos parents refused to provide their info for fafsa?? my dad said its "invasive" and wont give me his tax info so now i cant even apply for financial aid. anyone know if u can do fafsa without parent info somehow??
This is actually a common situation. You have a few options: 1. Apply for a "Dependency Override" - but these are rare and only granted in extreme circumstances (abuse, abandonment, incarceration, etc.) 2. Complete the FAFSA without parent information - you'll only be eligible for unsubsidized loans, not grants or need-based aid 3. Talk to your school's financial aid office about professional judgment - they sometimes can adjust your aid if parents refuse to provide info I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with your financial aid office to discuss your specific situation.
thx i guess ill call the financial aid office but doubt theyll help. so frustrating that we need parent info even when they dont pay for anything 🙄
Thank you all SO MUCH for all this advice! I think I understand the process now: 1. First, my mom and I both need to create FSA IDs 2. Gather all our financial documents 3. Set aside several hours when we're both available 4. Complete the form on studentaid.gov 5. Double-check all numbers match exactly with our tax forms 6. Submit well before my school's deadline (I'll verify what that actually is) I'm still nervous but feel way more prepared now. Will let you all know how it goes! 🙏
Perfect summary! One last tip: after you submit, log back in after 3-5 days to check your Student Aid Report (SAR). This shows all your entered information and your calculated SAI. Review it carefully for any errors. If your application is selected for verification (about 30% are), you'll see that notification here too. Good luck!
u got this! just dont wait til last minute, site always crashes then lol
Victoria Charity
Yes, you should report ALL income, even if it was below the filing threshold. There's a difference between "didn't file because I wasn't required to" and "had zero income." If you made less than $400 in self-employment income, you weren't required to file a tax return, but you should still report that amount on your FAFSA. Be honest about the small amount of income from selling crafts. When you get your Verification of Non-filing Letter, you'll also want to provide a signed statement explaining your situation - that you were separated (though not legally divorced), lived separately from your spouse, had minimal income from selling crafts, and weren't required to file taxes. Transparency is always the best approach with financial aid.
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Evan Kalinowski
•Thank you for clarifying! I'll definitely include the craft income and provide that explanation with my verification letter. I appreciate everyone's help - this has made the process much less intimidating.
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Jasmine Quinn
this whole system makes me so angry!!! why do they make it so complicated?? its like they WANT to deny people financial aid by creating all these impossible hoops to jump through...
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Oscar Murphy
•While I understand your frustration, the verification process is actually designed to ensure aid goes to those who truly need it. The good news is that the FAFSA has been simplified somewhat for the 2025-2026 application year, though specific situations like the one described here still require some extra steps.
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