Hey Ryan! I'm also a first-time FAFSA parent and just wanted to add one more reassuring perspective. My daughter is in a very similar situation - she's 16, works at Target making about $7,800/year, and has around $2,800 in her savings account. I was absolutely panicking about this same issue a few weeks ago, but after talking to our high school guidance counselor and reading through all these helpful comments, I feel so much better about it. The key thing that helped me was understanding that the FAFSA is really designed to help families, not punish students for working part-time jobs. One practical tip: when your daughter creates her FSA ID, make sure she uses an email address she checks regularly and remembers the username/password. We had to reset my daughter's twice because she forgot her login info! Also, the system will time out after about 20 minutes of inactivity, so have all your documents ready before you start. You're clearly being a thoughtful parent by researching this ahead of time. The fact that her 2023 income is under that $7,600 threshold is such a win! Don't stress too much - you've got this!

Hi Ryan! I'm new to this community but not new to the FAFSA stress - just went through this exact same situation with my oldest last year. Reading through all these responses brought back memories of my own panic about my son's part-time job at a grocery store! I wanted to add something that really helped ease my mind: the Federal Student Aid website has a really helpful tool called the "FAFSA4caster" that lets you estimate your Student Aid Index before you actually file. You can plug in your daughter's income and assets along with your family information to get a rough idea of how everything will factor in. It's not 100% accurate, but it gave me peace of mind to see the actual numbers before we committed to filing. Also, since your daughter's 2023 income is under that $7,600 protection allowance, you're in such a good spot! Her work ethic is going to serve her well in college, and it sounds like the financial impact will be minimal. The FAFSA can definitely feel overwhelming as a first-timer, but you're asking all the right questions and getting great advice here. One last tip: once you submit, don't be surprised if it takes a few days to process. We kept checking obsessively, but it's totally normal for there to be a delay. Good luck with everything!

To summarize what others have said: 1. You need to submit applications first, then get acceptances, before receiving official aid packages 2. Check for college-specific financial aid deadlines 3. Look at net price calculators for estimates (imperfect but helpful) 4. Consider calling financial aid offices directly for preliminary guidance 5. Don't forget about CSS Profile for private schools 6. Remember that merit scholarships can significantly change the equation Hope your son gets some good options with affordable prices!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this process recently! While you're waiting for acceptances and official aid packages, don't overlook state schools if your son hasn't already included some. Even with a higher SAI that doesn't qualify for federal grants, many state universities offer significant in-state tuition discounts and have their own merit-based scholarships that can make them very affordable compared to private schools. My nephew was in a similar situation last year - no federal grants but ended up at our state flagship with a combination of merit aid and lower base tuition that made it cheaper than private schools even with their aid packages. Worth considering as safety options while you're building that college list!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share a quick tip that helped us when my stepson had a similar issue last year. His negative SAI should have qualified him for maximum Pell, but it wasn't showing up in his aid package either. When I called the school, I learned that their financial aid system processes federal aid in batches, and they only run those batch updates twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays in his case). So even if all his paperwork was complete, we had to wait for the next batch processing date for the Pell Grant to actually appear in his online portal. The financial aid counselor was able to confirm that his Pell Grant was approved and would appear after the next batch run, which gave us peace of mind while we waited. Maybe ask Virginia State about their batch processing schedule when you call Monday - it could explain the timing delay even if everything else is in order. With everything your family has been through losing his mom, you're doing such an important thing advocating for him. That -1500 SAI definitely means he should get the full $7,395, so don't give up until you see it reflected in his aid package. Wishing you both the best!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what happened with my sister's aid package last month since it sounds exactly like your situation! She had a negative SAI of -1400 and her initial financial aid offer from her state university showed loans and state grants but absolutely no Pell Grant listed. When I called on her behalf, it turned out the school had flagged her application for something called "Unusual Enrollment History" verification because she had briefly enrolled at a community college three years ago but withdrew before completing any courses. Even though she never received any federal aid from that previous enrollment, their system flagged it as needing review before processing her Pell Grant. The financial aid office had sent a letter requesting documentation about her previous enrollment, but it went to an old address and we never received it. Once we provided a simple letter explaining the circumstances of her withdrawal from the community college, her full Pell Grant was added to her package within 5 business days. When you call Virginia State on Monday, definitely ask if there are any flags in their system related to previous college enrollments, even brief ones or schools where your nephew might have just applied but never attended. Sometimes these administrative holds can delay federal aid processing without any clear communication about what's needed. You're being such an amazing advocate for your nephew during an incredibly difficult time after losing his mother. With that -1500 SAI, he absolutely deserves every penny of that maximum Pell Grant. Keep pushing until you get answers - this community is here to support you both!

That's great news that two schools are being accommodating! Just wanted to add for anyone else in this situation - make sure to keep documentation of all your communications with the schools about deadline extensions. I learned this the hard way when one school's financial aid office didn't have a record of the verbal extension they gave me over the phone. Having emails saved me from missing out on a scholarship. Also, some schools have separate priority deadlines for need-based aid vs merit scholarships, so double-check those dates too since they might be different from the general FAFSA deadline.

As someone who just went through this maze with my own kid, I can't stress enough how important it is to be proactive with school communications! Each financial aid office really does handle these situations differently. A few tips from our experience: When you call schools, ask to speak specifically with a financial aid counselor (not just the front desk) and get their direct email/extension. Some schools have online portals where you can submit documentation about your situation too. Also, don't forget to check if any of your daughter's schools have their own institutional aid forms that don't require FAFSA completion - these can sometimes bridge the gap for scholarships while you're waiting. The CSS Profile schools especially might have separate processes. Good luck with everything! The new FAFSA system definitely has a learning curve but it sounds like you're handling it well by being proactive with the schools.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! My SAP appeal for 150% PACE was just approved yesterday, so I'm literally at the very beginning of this waiting process. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been both reassuring and anxiety-inducing - it's clear that timelines can vary wildly depending on the school. The three-step breakdown that several people mentioned (manual coding, applying aid to account, then refund processing) is incredibly helpful. I had no idea there were multiple departments involved after the initial approval, which explains why financial aid offices give such vague timelines when we ask. I'm definitely going to use all the strategic advice from this thread - asking specifically which step my aid is in, whether it's been "released for disbursement," and contacting both financial aid AND the bursar's office. Getting everything documented in emails instead of phone calls is brilliant too. The emergency aid suggestion is something I never would have known to ask about, but even a small advance would help cover rent and groceries while waiting for the full refund. Emma, I really hope you've gotten some concrete answers by now! Please keep us posted on what works - those of us just starting this process are learning so much from everyone sharing their experiences and timelines.

I'm currently dealing with this exact situation too! My SAP appeal for 150% PACE was approved just this morning, so I'm literally starting this waiting game today. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful - it's both reassuring to know I'm not alone and concerning to see how much the timelines vary. The three-step process breakdown that Chloe shared is eye-opening. I had no idea it involved manual coding, then applying aid to the account, then separate refund processing through different departments. That really explains why they can't give us concrete dates when we ask. I'm taking notes on all the strategic questions everyone has suggested - asking which specific step my aid is in, whether it's been "released for disbursement," and checking with both financial aid AND the bursar's office. The advice about documenting everything in emails rather than phone calls is something I definitely plan to do from the start. The emergency aid option that several people mentioned is completely new to me, but even a small advance would help so much with basic expenses while waiting. Emma, I hope you've gotten some answers by now! All of us who are just starting this process are really benefiting from everyone sharing their experiences and what actually works when dealing with the financial aid offices.