Can I add a school to my FAFSA after submission? System says wait for corrections
I submitted my FAFSA for 2025-2026 last week and just realized I forgot to add State University to my school list! When I try to log in and make changes, the system tells me 'You must wait until your application is processed before making corrections.' My SAI calculation is still pending. Is there a workaround to add schools now, or am I missing something obvious? My counselor said I need to get my FAFSA to all schools ASAP for better aid packages, and I'm worried about missing priority deadlines for State University. Has anyone dealt with this before?
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Kiara Greene
Yes, you can add schools to your FAFSA even while it's processing, but you have to use a specific method. Go to the FAFSA.gov site and instead of clicking on "Make FAFSA Corrections," you need to select "Add or Delete a School Code." That function works separately from the general corrections feature. You'll need your FSA ID to access this. The school will receive your information within 3-5 business days after you add them.
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Isaiah Cross
•Thank you!!! I completely missed that option. I was only clicking on the "Make Corrections" button which kept giving me that processing message. I'll try the separate school code function right now.
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Evelyn Kelly
Same thing happend to me i just waited till it processed... took like 9 days and then i added 2 more schools. not sure if theres a faster way but it worked fine for me
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Isaiah Cross
•9 days?? That feels like forever when you're worried about deadlines. Glad it worked out for you though. I'm going to try the other method mentioned above and see if it works.
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Paloma Clark
The "Add or Delete a School Code" function should work for you even while your original application is processing. But if you're still having trouble, another option is to contact the financial aid office at State University directly. They can sometimes pull your FAFSA information using your name, DOB, and SSN even if you haven't listed them yet. I've seen schools do this as a workaround when students are facing tight deadlines.
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Isaiah Cross
•That's really helpful to know! I'll definitely keep that as a backup plan if the online method doesn't work. State University has a priority aid deadline coming up in just 2 weeks, so I'm feeling the pressure.
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Heather Tyson
I tried for HOURS to add a school to my FAFSA last week and kept getting error messages no matter what I did!! The system is so frustrating. I ended up having to call the Federal Student Aid helpline but was on hold FOREVER. Eventually gave up and just waited until my application processed. Good luck!!!
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Raul Neal
•If you need to reach FSA by phone without those crazy wait times, check out Claimyr.com - they'll hold your place in line and call you back when an agent is available. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Saved me hours when I had issues with my dependent verification forms last month.
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Jenna Sloan
The system is DESIGNED to be confusing! They make it complicated on purpose so fewer people complete the process successfully. I had to add schools last year and discovered there are actually THREE different ways to do it: 1. Add/Delete School Code option (works during processing) 2. Make FAFSA Corrections (only works after processing) 3. Submit a new FAFSA with just the new schools (not recommended but possible) The fact that they don't clearly explain this anywhere is typical government inefficiency. Good luck!
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Isaiah Cross
•Wow, I had no idea there were actually three different methods! The whole system really is confusing. I'm still waiting for the Add/Delete School function to work, crossing my fingers.
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Christian Burns
this might sound dumb but are you sure you're clicking on the 2025-2026 FAFSA and not accidentally trying to modify your 2024-2025 form? i did that last year and was totally confused for days lol
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Isaiah Cross
•Not a dumb question at all! I just double-checked and I'm definitely on the 2025-2026 application. Thanks for the suggestion though - that would have been an easy mistake to make.
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Paloma Clark
Just wanted to follow up - were you able to add State University using the separate Add/Delete School Code function? If that's still not working, call the school's financial aid office directly and explain the situation. They deal with this all the time and can usually help you out. For future reference, you can add up to 10 schools initially and then swap them out for others later if needed.
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Isaiah Cross
•Yes! I finally got it to work using the Add/Delete School Code function. It was hidden in a completely different section than I expected. Thank you all for your help! For anyone else with this problem - look for the small link specifically for adding schools, not the main corrections button.
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Mei Chen
Great to hear you got it sorted out! For future students who might run into this same issue, I wanted to add that timing can really matter with FAFSA school additions. Even though the Add/Delete School Code function works during processing, it's still best to include all your potential schools on your initial submission if possible. Some schools have earlier priority deadlines than others, and every day can count when it comes to aid packaging. Also, don't forget that you can always remove schools later if you decide not to apply there - better to include too many initially than to stress about adding them later!
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Chloe Green
•This is such valuable advice! I wish I had known about the priority deadline differences between schools when I was applying. It's really smart to cast a wide net initially and then narrow it down later. Thanks for sharing this tip - it could save other students a lot of stress and potentially help them get better aid packages.
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