Just wanted to chime in as someone who literally just finished this whole process last week! After reading through all these responses, I'm definitely in the "do the MPN first" camp. I completed my MPN on a Tuesday morning (took about 25 minutes), got the confirmation email, and then accepted my loans on my school portal that same afternoon. Everything processed super smoothly and my disbursement is already scheduled for next week. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - make sure you're logged into the correct FSA ID account when you do the MPN! I know it sounds obvious, but my roommate accidentally used her mom's FSA ID (they share a computer) and had to start the whole thing over again. Also, if you're planning to do this over the weekend like you mentioned, just be aware that the studentaid.gov site sometimes does maintenance on Sunday evenings, so maybe aim for Saturday or early Sunday to be safe!

Just wanted to share my recent experience since I literally went through this same exact situation two weeks ago! I was so stressed about the timing too, but after reading through the financial aid website and calling my school's office, I ended up doing the MPN first and it was definitely the right call. The whole process took me about 30 minutes on a weekday morning, and I got the confirmation email immediately. Then I accepted my loans on my school's portal that same day and everything synced up perfectly - no delays or issues at all. My disbursement is already scheduled and I got a notification from my school within 24 hours. I think doing the MPN first just eliminates any potential bottlenecks since it's a federal requirement anyway. Plus, having that confirmation in hand made me feel way more confident when clicking "accept" on those loan amounts! You've got plenty of time before next Friday, so don't stress too much about it.

As a new member to this community, I wanted to express my gratitude for this incredibly informative discussion! I'm also a grandparent (currently helping with two grandchildren's college expenses) and had been completely confused about how my contributions might affect their financial aid. The clarity around the recent FAFSA changes - particularly that grandparent-owned 529 plans and direct institutional payments no longer negatively impact aid calculations - is exactly what I needed to hear. Sean, your approach of being strategic about timing and structuring your support really resonates with me. I've been doing a mix of 529 contributions and direct tuition payments, but I was always worried I was somehow hurting their chances for aid. It's such a relief to know that under the current rules, these methods actually work in the students' favor. The technical insights about CSS Profile considerations and the distinction between different types of financial support have been eye-opening. I'm definitely going to review how my contributions might be viewed by schools that use institutional aid formulas beyond just FAFSA. Thank you all for creating such a supportive environment where we can share our experiences and learn from each other. This is exactly the kind of community resource that makes navigating these complex financial aid waters so much more manageable!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found such a comprehensive discussion about grandparent contributions and FAFSA! I'm in a very similar situation - I'm a retired teacher who wants to help my two grandchildren with college expenses, but I've been paralyzed by fear of accidentally hurting their financial aid eligibility. Sean, your background as a tax professional gives me so much confidence in the advice being shared here. The clarification about the 2025-2026 FAFSA rules regarding grandparent-owned 529 plans and direct institutional payments is exactly what I needed to hear. I've been sitting on the sidelines, wanting to help but afraid to act. I'm particularly interested in the strategic timing aspects that have been discussed. One of my grandchildren is a high school senior who will be applying for aid this year, and the other is a sophomore. Should I be thinking about when to make contributions to maximize their aid eligibility across different years? Also, the distinction between CSS Profile and FAFSA treatment of grandparent support is something I hadn't considered at all. My granddaughter is looking at some private schools that likely use CSS Profile, so I'll need to research that further. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and knowledgeable community. It's wonderful to see grandparents helping each other navigate these complex waters while supporting our grandchildren's educational dreams!

As another FAFSA newcomer, this entire thread has been incredibly helpful! My daughter and I just submitted her application yesterday and seeing that "Cannot calculate SAI" message this morning had me convinced we'd done something terribly wrong. Reading everyone's experiences here - especially hearing that it took exactly 3 business days for most people - is such a relief. It's amazing how something so normal in the process can sound so alarming when you're going through it for the first time. I'm bookmarking this thread to share with other parents in our school's college prep group who will inevitably go through the same panic. Thank you all for being so generous with your advice and reassurance - it really makes this intimidating process feel more manageable!

As a complete newcomer to this FAFSA process, I can't tell you how relieved I am to find this thread! My family just submitted our application two days ago and when that "Cannot calculate SAI" message popped up yesterday, I was absolutely convinced we had somehow messed up the entire thing. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge comfort - it's clear this is just a normal part of the waiting period, even though the wording makes it sound like a major error. The consistent 3 business day timeline that so many of you have mentioned gives me hope that we'll see our SAI calculated soon. Thank you all for sharing your stories and advice - it's exactly what anxious first-time parents like me need to navigate this overwhelming but important process!

This thread has been a lifesaver! I'm dealing with almost the identical situation - separated for 16 months, no legal paperwork, and my daughter desperately needs financial aid. After reading all these responses, I feel like I finally have a roadmap. I'm going to complete the FAFSA with my husband's info (ugh, that conversation will be fun) and then immediately reach out to her college choices about professional judgment reviews. Quick question for those who've been through this - when you contacted the financial aid offices, did you call or email first? I want to make sure I approach this the right way and don't miss any deadlines while waiting for responses. Also, did anyone have luck getting fee waivers for application fees based on the separated spouse situation? Just trying to cover all my bases since this whole process is already so expensive!

I'm in a nearly identical situation and this entire thread has been incredibly helpful! My daughter is a high school senior and I've been separated from my husband for about 20 months (also no legal separation filed). He's not her biological father and contributes absolutely nothing to her expenses or college planning. After reading everyone's experiences, I'm feeling much more confident about the process. It sounds like the consensus is: complete the FAFSA with spouse info initially, then immediately contact each college's financial aid office for professional judgment reviews with documentation of the separation. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned - I spoke with my daughter's high school counselor yesterday about this exact issue, and she mentioned that some colleges are more generous with professional judgment reviews than others. She recommended prioritizing applications to schools known for being flexible with these situations. Has anyone else heard this or have experience with certain types of schools (public vs private, etc.) being more accommodating? Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences - knowing there's a path forward makes this whole stressful process feel manageable!

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read as someone brand new to the FAFSA and college financial aid process! Oliver's success story about securing that 20% sibling discount and saving $12K annually is truly inspiring - it really shows how much families can achieve when they know to advocate for themselves beyond the initial federal aid package. As a complete newcomer, I had no clue that universities have these separate institutional scholarship programs and sibling discounts that aren't advertised prominently. The consistent advice here about calling financial aid offices directly rather than just accepting what's posted online is such valuable insight that I never would have thought of on my own. I'm definitely bookmarking this entire discussion because the practical strategies shared here - asking specifically about family grants, sibling discounts, and special circumstance appeals - are pure gold for families like mine who are just starting to navigate this complex system. It's frustrating that these programs are so hidden, but I'm grateful for communities like this where real families share what actually works. My kids are still a few years away from college, but this conversation has completely changed my approach to financial aid planning. Instead of just hoping federal aid will cover everything, I now know there's a whole world of institutional opportunities to explore. Thank you everyone for being so generous with your experiences - you're making this overwhelming process much more manageable for newcomers like me!

This entire discussion has been absolutely eye-opening for me as someone completely new to the college financial aid process! Oliver's incredible success in securing a 20% sibling discount and saving $12K annually is such an inspiring example of what's possible when you know to advocate for yourself beyond just the FAFSA results. As a newcomer, I had no idea that universities have these separate institutional aid programs and sibling discounts that operate independently from federal aid. The consistent advice throughout this thread about calling financial aid offices directly rather than just relying on online information is such valuable insight that I never would have considered on my own. I'm definitely taking detailed notes on all the practical strategies shared here - asking specifically about family grants, sibling discounts, legacy programs, and special circumstance appeals. It's honestly frustrating that these opportunities aren't more transparently advertised, but I'm so grateful for supportive communities like this where families share real strategies that actually work. My own kids are approaching college age, and this conversation has completely transformed my understanding of the financial aid landscape. Instead of just accepting whatever the initial package offers, I now know there's a whole world of institutional scholarships to explore through direct communication with financial aid offices. Thank you everyone for being so generous in sharing your experiences and practical advice - you're making what seemed like an overwhelming and financially impossible challenge much more manageable for families like mine who are just starting this journey!