As a newcomer to this community and the FAFSA process, I just wanted to add my voice to thank everyone for this incredibly comprehensive discussion! I'm starting my daughter's FAFSA application next week and was feeling really overwhelmed about all the potential pitfalls. Isabella, your question about marital status verification was spot-on - it's exactly the kind of detail that seems straightforward but could obviously cause major issues if handled wrong. The collective wisdom here has been amazing - from the practical document organization tips to the reassurance about the IRS Data Retrieval Tool handling consistency automatically. I especially appreciated Ali's insider perspective from working in financial aid and learning that verification is often random rather than punitive. It's also encouraging to see how many other first-time parents are going through this together! This community has transformed what felt like a daunting process into something much more manageable. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so generously!

As a newcomer to this community and the FAFSA process, I want to echo what so many others have said - this discussion has been absolutely invaluable! I'm just beginning to research financial aid options for my son who will be applying to college next year, and I was completely unaware of important details like the IRS Data Retrieval Tool and how critical consistency between documents is. Isabella, thank you for asking such a thoughtful question that clearly resonated with so many of us first-time parents! The responses from everyone, especially the practical tips about document organization and the reassuring insights from Ali who works in financial aid, have really helped demystify what seemed like an overwhelming process. It's wonderful to see how supportive and knowledgeable this community is - I feel so much more confident about tackling the FAFSA when our time comes. Looking forward to learning more and hopefully contributing my own experiences once we're through the process!

Just want to echo what everyone else has said - your daughter definitely starts the FAFSA first! I went through this exact same confusion with my son last year. The process has actually gotten a bit more streamlined, but it's still confusing the first time through. One thing that really helped us was doing a "practice run" where we logged into both our FSA ID accounts the day before we planned to start the actual application, just to make sure everything was working properly. We discovered my account had some verification issues that would have caused delays if we'd found out during the actual process. Also, don't worry too much about the new SAI vs. EFC differences - the colleges will handle most of that conversion for you. Focus on getting accurate information entered and submitted on time. The most important thing is meeting those priority deadlines you mentioned! Good luck with the process - it sounds like you're being really thoughtful about getting it done right!

I just went through this exact same process with my daughter two months ago and can definitely confirm what everyone has said - your daughter needs to start the FAFSA first! The whole process was much less intimidating once we actually got started. Here's what worked for us: We planned it for a Sunday afternoon when we both had plenty of time. My daughter started the application, and about halfway through (maybe 45 minutes in), she reached the section where she needed to add me as a contributor. She entered my name and email, and I got the invitation email within about 20 minutes. One thing that really helped was having our 2023 tax documents pulled up on a separate device while we worked, since the IRS data retrieval didn't work perfectly for us and we needed to manually enter some information. Also, make sure you're both logged in with your respective FSA IDs before starting - we had a minor hiccup when mine needed to be re-verified. The new SAI system is definitely confusing compared to the old EFC, but honestly, as long as you enter your information accurately, the system handles the calculations. Don't stress too much about understanding every detail of the changes. You're being smart to get this done before the priority deadlines. Good luck - you've got this!

I've been following this thread because I'm dealing with a similar FAFSA correction nightmare! The "Unable to Complete This Action" error has been haunting me for 6 days now while I try to fix my parent's income information. Reading everyone's experiences and solutions here has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea that contacting my school's financial aid office directly was even an option! I'm definitely going to email them tomorrow with screenshots and documentation while also trying the early morning login approach tonight around 2-3am. The combination of off-peak hours + incognito browsing + disabling browser extensions sounds like my best bet. It's both frustrating and reassuring to know so many of us are dealing with this buggy system. Thanks to everyone for sharing your workarounds and keeping the rest of us sane during this stressful process!

I'm having the exact same issue! Been trying to correct my dependency status for over a week now and getting that same "Unable to Complete This Action" error every single time. It's so stressful because I know this could completely change my aid eligibility. I've tried everything - different browsers, clearing cache, different devices, waiting days between attempts - but nothing works. Reading through all these responses is giving me so much hope though! I had absolutely no idea that I could contact my school's financial aid office directly while dealing with this system error. That's such valuable advice! I'm definitely going to email them first thing tomorrow with screenshots of the error and documentation of what I'm trying to correct. I'm also planning to try the early morning approach tonight around 2-3am, plus using incognito mode and disabling my browser extensions like some people suggested. It's both frustrating and comforting to see so many others dealing with this same buggy system. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and solutions - you're keeping me sane during this nightmare process!

This entire conversation has been so incredibly helpful and reassuring! I'm a newcomer to this community and currently dealing with my own FAFSA stress - I'm at about 10 days in Review status and was already starting to worry that something was wrong. Reading through everyone's experiences, from 1.5 weeks all the way up to 5+ weeks, has really opened my eyes to how much the new FAFSA system has changed processing times. The practical advice shared here is gold: taking screenshots for documentation, creating template emails, limiting obsessive status checking (definitely guilty of this!), and most importantly, proactively reaching out to school financial aid offices. I had no idea that schools were being so understanding about these delays when students communicate proactively! It's amazing how this thread has evolved into such a supportive community where people are sharing real experiences and actionable advice. I'm definitely going to follow the guidance here and contact my schools with my confirmation number and status screenshots. Thank you all for creating such a welcoming space for those of us navigating this frustrating but apparently very normal process!

As someone who just joined this community, I have to say this thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm currently at 6 days in Review status and was already starting to Google "FAFSA stuck in review" when I found this discussion. Reading through everyone's experiences - from 10 days to 5+ weeks - has completely changed my perspective on what's "normal" with the new FAFSA system. The practical advice here is amazing: taking screenshots, creating template emails for schools, and most importantly, being proactive in communication rather than just waiting and worrying. I had no idea that schools were being so understanding about these delays when students reach out with their confirmation numbers! It's incredible how this thread has become such a supportive resource for managing FAFSA anxiety. I'm definitely going to follow the advice here and contact my schools this week with my documentation, even though I'm still in the early stages. Thank you all for sharing your journeys and creating such a welcoming community for those of us trying to navigate this frustrating but apparently very common experience!

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis - sending you strength during this incredibly difficult time. As someone who recently went through a similar situation when my husband was diagnosed with a serious illness during our son's junior year, I want to share what worked for us and offer some hope. The advice here has been spot-on about the Professional Judgment process, but I wanted to add a few things that made a real difference for our family: 1. **Timing matters**: We found that contacting schools in January-February (right after FAFSA submission) gave us the best results, as financial aid officers had more time before the busy spring deadline season. 2. **Create a "medical hardship packet"**: We put together a standardized folder with all our documentation that we could easily customize for each school. It included our letter, medical records, employment documentation, and a simple financial comparison showing "before illness" vs "current situation." 3. **Ask about institutional aid**: Beyond adjusting federal aid calculations, many schools have their own emergency funds or hardship grants that aren't widely advertised. We received an additional $3,000 grant from one school's "President's Emergency Fund" that we never would have known about if we hadn't asked. 4. **Appeal if initially denied**: One school initially denied our request, but we provided additional documentation about ongoing treatment costs and they reversed their decision on appeal. The process took about 2 months total, but 4 out of 5 schools significantly increased our aid package. Your daughter's education is important, and schools understand that medical emergencies happen to good families. Focus on your treatment and know that this community is rooting for both of you. You've got this!

I'm so sorry to hear about your diagnosis - that must be incredibly scary and overwhelming, especially while trying to help your daughter with college applications. You've received amazing advice here, and I want to add my voice of encouragement that this process really can work in your favor. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to ask schools about their typical timeline for issuing revised aid offers after a Professional Judgment review. Some schools can turn these around in 2-3 weeks, while others might take 6-8 weeks or longer. Understanding this upfront can help you plan better and potentially influence your daughter's enrollment decision timeline if she's accepted to multiple schools. Also, when you're gathering documentation, consider including any correspondence about disability benefits if you've applied or plan to apply. Even if those haven't been approved yet, showing that you've initiated that process can help demonstrate the long-term nature of your financial situation change. Finally, don't hesitate to mention this situation in your daughter's scholarship applications too. Many private scholarships have provisions for students whose families are experiencing medical hardships, and it might open doors to additional aid beyond what the colleges provide. You're being such a strong advocate for your daughter during an incredibly difficult time. Focus on your treatment and recovery - the financial aid system has processes in place specifically for situations like yours, and it sounds like you're handling everything exactly right. Sending positive thoughts for your health journey and your daughter's college plans!