I'd recommend sending a polite but direct email to each financial aid office with:\n1. Your full name and student ID\n2. FAFSA submission date (1/16) and processing date (3/28)\n3. Confirmation number from your FAFSA\n4. A specific request for confirmation that you'll still be considered for all aid programs\n\nKeep the email professional but mention you've been anxiously waiting due to the lengthy processing time. Financial aid officers are overwhelmed right now, but most are being understanding about the nationwide delays.

This is exactly what I needed - a template for what to include in my emails. Thank you so much for the specific guidance!

When I was doing my FAFSA I got confused about the same thing! But then my friend told me that this year you sign first then enter all the tax stuff after. Apparently on the old FAFSA you did it the other way around. Just go with it, it'll make sense once you get through that part.

Just to add some context - this change was part of the FAFSA Simplification Act that's been rolling out in phases. The signature-first approach actually helps prevent identity theft since you're verifying who you are before entering all your sensitive financial data. The Department of Education didn't communicate this change very well though. After you sign, you'll still enter all your tax info from your 1040 and W-2, plus any untaxed income and assets.

I herd Biden canceled all student loans but the supreme court said no. so unfair!!! my friend said they might try again with a different approach but nobody knows when

One more thing to consider - interest rates on federal student loans are fixed for the life of the loan. If you took out loans several years ago when rates were higher, and you now have good income (but not good enough to pay them off quickly), refinancing with a private lender might give you a lower rate. HOWEVER, this is generally not recommended because you permanently lose all federal benefits (forgiveness options, income-driven plans, hardship deferments, etc.). Based on your situation, I'd strongly recommend staying in the federal system and getting on the SAVE plan. Your credit score will recover as you continue making on-time payments and as the loan age increases.

My daughter's FAFSA sat for months then suddenly started moving too. I think they're processing them in batches or something. Her school actually extended the deposit deadline from May 1 to May 15 because so many students were still waiting on financial aid packages. Might be worth asking your schools if they're offering any extensions.

Did you have any special circumstances on your application? My son's application got stuck in processing because we had a recent divorce situation and had to submit extra verification documents. The system never notified us - we only found out when we called the school directly.

One other option to explore is a CSS Profile, which some private colleges use in addition to FAFSA. Unlike FAFSA, the CSS Profile considers more nuanced financial situations and may take into account that you're helping support multiple households. It costs money to submit ($25 for first school, $16 for each additional), but fee waivers are available for eligible students. The CSS Profile gives a more complete picture of financial circumstances and may result in better institutional aid at schools that use it. Check if your daughter's college accepts it.

If I can add one more thought - make sure your daughter talks directly with her school's financial aid office. While FAFSA rules are strict, many schools have institutional funds they can distribute at their discretion. Having your daughter meet in person (not just email) to explain her situation might help. Financial aid officers often have some flexibility with school-based scholarships and grants even when federal aid is limited. Sometimes it takes persistence and building a relationship with the financial aid office to access all available resources.