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my son and i had to do the fafsa thing 3 times before it worked right lol. the new system is so confusing compared to last year!! but we finally got it working when we both made separate accounts. good luck!!!
UPDATE: I called the Federal Student Aid number this morning using that Claimyr service someone mentioned (which actually worked!). The agent confirmed I need to have my incorrect FSA ID deactivated before creating a new parent one. She took care of it on the spot and said I can create the new parent ID tomorrow (there's a 24-hour waiting period). Then my daughter needs to create her own student ID, and she'll start the application and add me as a contributor. Thanks everyone for the help - would have been completely lost without your advice!
Wait are we supposed to be filling out for 2025-2026 already? I thought we were still doing 2024-2025??
The current FAFSA application cycle is for 2024-2025 academic year. The 2025-2026 FAFSA won't open until October 2024. The original poster likely meant the 2024-2025 application that's currently available.
Quick update for everyone on this thread: Federal Student Aid just announced on their Twitter account yesterday that they've identified the parent signature bug and are rolling out a fix this week. They recommend NOT creating a new application, but instead waiting for the fix. If your deadline is imminent, they suggest having your school financial aid office submit a case number through their professional portal. This should prioritize your application.
This is really helpful information! I'll contact my daughter's financial aid office tomorrow to see if they can submit that case number. Do you know if there's anything specific I should ask them to do? Should I be getting some kind of confirmation number from them?
Yes, ask them specifically for a "FAFSA Signature Exception Request" and make sure they give you a case confirmation number. Keep that number for your records. Some schools are also providing temporary confirmation letters that you can use for scholarship applications while waiting for the official FAFSA to process.
I went through this exact situation 2 years ago when my overtime pushed us above the Pell threshold. The most successful approach for us was completing BOTH: 1. A special circumstances appeal with the financial aid office (got $1500 in university grants) 2. Applications to external nursing organizations like the American Association of Colleges of Nursing scholarship program Also, look into whether your state has a nursing shortage initiative - many states provide forgivable loans (effectively grants) if your daughter commits to working in that state for 1-2 years after graduation. Our daughter got $5000/year this way.
One option nobody's mentioned yet is the AmeriCorps Education Award. If your daughter can fit in a summer service program with AmeriCorps (many have healthcare placements), she could earn around $6,495 towards her education costs. It's not technically a grant, but functions similarly. Also, make sure to check your daughter's specific subsection of nursing for specialized grants. Pediatric nursing, geriatric care, and mental health nursing all have separate grant foundations that many students don't know about.
Have you considered whether accelerating graduation is actually worth it financially? Sometimes taking an extra semester with full financial aid coverage is cheaper than paying for summer classes out-of-pocket or with loans. Calculate the difference between: 1. Cost of summer classes + potential loan interest 2. Income you'd earn by graduating early 3. Cost of an extra fall/spring semester (which would be covered by your full aid package) Many students assume graduating early always saves money, but that's not always true when full aid is involved.
Another option worth exploring: some schools allow you to take summer classes at a community college and transfer the credits. Community colleges are typically much cheaper, and some have their own summer aid programs. Just make sure the credits will transfer to your degree program by checking with your academic advisor first.
Anastasia Popova
just wondering but does ur dad live with u? my parents r divorced and i had THE WORST time trying to get my dad to do his part. ended up having to go to his house and literally sit there while he filled it out. the whole system is designed for traditional families i swear
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Malik Robinson
•He does live with me, but he works crazy hours so we're rarely home at the same time. I think I'm going to have to catch him on his day off and just make him sit down and do it while I'm there. You're right about the system assuming traditional family situations - I can't imagine how much harder this would be if my parents were separated.
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CosmicCadet
One important thing to know - if your dad's email is gmail, there's a known issue with FAFSA invites going to the "Promotions" or "Updates" tab instead of the main inbox. Have him check ALL tabs in gmail. Also, once this is resolved, your SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation typically takes 3-5 business days if there are no verification issues. Make sure your school's financial aid office knows you've been dealing with technical issues so they can note it in your file if you end up cutting it close to their deadline.
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Malik Robinson
•This is super helpful! His email is actually gmail, so that could definitely be the problem. I'll have him check all the tabs. I'm going to email my school's financial aid office today to let them know about these issues. Hopefully they'll be understanding if my final application comes in right at the deadline. Thanks for the advice!
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