FAFSA application keeps failing to save and losing data on college selection page - urgent help needed

I ran into this exact problem with my son's FAFSA last week. Incredibly frustrating! Try these steps that worked for us: 1. Use ONLY Chrome in incognito mode 2. Make sure your browser is fully updated 3. Turn off any ad blockers or extensions completely 4. Input data in smaller chunks - save after EACH screen 5. Don't leave the application idle for more than 5 minutes Also, check that your daughter's FSA ID was created more than 3 days ago. Sometimes there's a processing delay that can cause these weird saving issues even though the system lets you log in.

same thing hapend to me try using a computer at ur local library sometimes its ur internet connection causin the problem 👍

This is a known issue with the studentaid.gov site that's been affecting quite a few applicants this cycle. Beyond the excellent troubleshooting suggestions already provided, here are some additional technical details that might help: 1. The college selection page specifically has been having database connection issues when saving large amounts of schools (more than 5-6 at once) 2. Try entering only 2-3 colleges at first, save, then add more in small batches 3. The system performs better during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) 4. Make sure you're entering the full SAI information for each school correctly 5. If you're still having issues after trying these steps, it may be time to contact FSA directly The technical bugs around the college selection page specifically relate to how the system validates your eligibility for each institution's aid programs simultaneously. It's an intensive process that's overtaxing their servers this application cycle.

After spending HOURS fighting with the FAFSA website, I finally got through to someone at Federal Student Aid who told me this saving issue is affecting thousands of applicants right now. They're "working on it" but who knows when it'll be fixed. The rep told me to keep trying different browsers and times of day, which isn't helpful AT ALL when you have work and school! The whole system is a joke. 🤬

Try Claimyr.com - it helped me get through to FSA after dealing with the same saving issues. They'll wait on hold with Federal Student Aid for you and call you back when an agent is on the line. Saved me hours of frustration. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ When I finally got through, the agent walked me through a specific process to clear my browser data and cookies specifically for the studentaid.gov domain (not just general clearing). That fixed my saving issues immediately.

Have you tried using a completely different device? My nephew had the exact same issue - tried everything on his laptop with no success. Then he used his mom's iPad and the FAFSA form saved perfectly. Sometimes it's just weird compatibility issues with certain devices. Also, make sure your daughter's name and SSN exactly match her Social Security card - even small discrepancies can cause saving errors.

why are u even doing fafsa? scholarships are way better my cousin got full ride and didnt even bother with fafsa just sayin

UPDATE: We called Federal Student Aid this morning about this exact issue. They confirmed it's a known bug with the latest update to the FAFSA portal. The temporary fix they're recommending is to: 1. Log out completely 2. Clear ALL browser data (history, cookies, cache) 3. Restart your computer entirely (not just the browser) 4. Log back in using Microsoft Edge specifically (they said it's working better than Chrome right now) 5. Complete each section, then click the specific "Save" button before continuing (not just the Continue button) They said they're deploying a patch next week, but this workaround is helping most users get through the college selection page. Hope this helps!

did u make sure ur typing the college codes right? my daughter kept having issues bc she was entering wrong codes for some schools lol. also make sure the student isnt trying to fill out the parent section or vice versa, we got confused about which sections were for who. good luck!!! 🍀

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! My daughter and I have been struggling with this for the past week. What finally worked for us was a combination of several suggestions I've seen here: 1. Used Microsoft Edge (as suggested by @Danielle Campbell - thank you!) 2. Made sure to wait the full 3+ days after creating the FSA ID 3. Added colleges in small batches of 2-3 at a time instead of all at once 4. Used the library computer when our home internet was acting up The key thing that made the difference was being super patient with the saving process. We would click "Save" and then literally wait 30-60 seconds before doing anything else, even if it looked like nothing was happening. The system seems really slow to process right now. Also wanted to mention that we called our daughter's high school counselor who said they've been getting tons of calls about this exact problem. She recommended trying to complete the application during off-peak hours (we did ours around 6 AM on a Saturday and it worked much better). Hang in there - I know how stressful this is when deadlines are looming!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating issue! As someone who works in IT support, I can offer a few additional technical suggestions that might help: 1. Try temporarily disabling your antivirus software while completing the FAFSA - sometimes security software can interfere with form submissions 2. Check if your router has any parental controls or security settings that might be blocking certain scripts on the studentaid.gov site 3. If you're using a VPN, try disconnecting it completely before attempting the application 4. Make sure JavaScript is enabled in your browser settings - the FAFSA relies heavily on it for the saving functionality Also, I've noticed that the FAFSA system seems to perform better when you're connected directly via ethernet cable rather than WiFi, if that's an option for you. One last thing - if you continue having issues after trying all these suggestions, consider reaching out to your daughter's prospective colleges directly. Many financial aid offices are aware of these technical problems and may be able to provide extensions or alternative submission methods for students experiencing these system failures. Good luck getting through this process! The technical issues are definitely not your fault, and I hope one of these community suggestions helps you get it resolved.

I just went through this exact nightmare with my son's FAFSA last month! The saving issues on the college selection page were driving us both crazy. Here's what finally worked after trying everything else: 1. Complete the application during the absolute earliest hours - we had success around 5:30 AM when server traffic is lowest 2. Use a wired internet connection instead of WiFi if possible (huge difference!) 3. After selecting each college, wait for the little spinning wheel/loading icon to completely disappear before adding the next one 4. Don't use browser back buttons AT ALL - only use the FAFSA navigation buttons 5. Keep a separate document with all your college codes and information so you don't have to look anything up while in the application The most important thing we learned is that the system is just overwhelmed right now. We actually had to attempt it on three different days before it finally went through completely. Don't give up - thousands of families are dealing with this same technical mess and you're definitely not alone! Also, if you haven't already, screenshot each completed page before moving to the next one. That way if it crashes again, you'll have a reference for all the information you entered.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this incredibly frustrating issue! As a parent who just went through the FAFSA process with my oldest last year, I completely understand how stressful this can be, especially when you're worried about deadlines. Based on all the helpful advice shared here, it sounds like this is a widespread technical issue that's affecting many families right now. Here are a few additional things that helped us when we encountered similar problems: 1. Try using your phone's hotspot instead of your regular internet connection - sometimes the issue is actually with your ISP's routing to the studentaid.gov servers 2. If you have access to a different computer entirely (maybe borrow one from a friend or relative), that can sometimes work when your own device won't cooperate 3. Keep a detailed log of exactly when you're attempting the application - if you can identify a pattern of when it works vs. doesn't work, that info could be helpful if you need to contact FSA Most importantly, please don't let your daughter get too discouraged! This is a system problem, not anything you're doing wrong. Many colleges are aware of these technical difficulties and are being flexible with deadlines for students experiencing these issues. You've got this - hang in there! The community here has provided so many great solutions that I'm confident one of them will work for you.

I'm having this exact same problem with my twin daughters' FAFSA applications! We've been stuck on the college selection page for over a week now. Reading through all these suggestions has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea this was such a widespread issue. We're going to try the Microsoft Edge + early morning approach this weekend, along with adding colleges in small batches instead of all at once. The tip about waiting for the loading icon to completely disappear before moving on is something we definitely weren't doing. Has anyone had success contacting their state's financial aid office for guidance? I'm wondering if they might have additional workarounds or be able to provide deadline extensions for students experiencing these technical difficulties. Thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences and solutions - it's such a relief to know we're not the only ones dealing with this nightmare!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! My family went through something very similar last month, and I completely understand how overwhelming this can feel when deadlines are approaching. After reading through all the excellent advice here, I wanted to add one more suggestion that worked for us: try completing the FAFSA on a completely different network. We had been struggling for days at home, but when we took our laptop to a local coffee shop and used their WiFi, the application suddenly worked perfectly. Sometimes the issue is actually with how your home internet provider routes traffic to the studentaid.gov servers. Also, I noticed you mentioned your daughter's FSA ID is only 2 days old. Based on our experience, that 3+ day waiting period that @Danielle Campbell mentioned seems to be really important. Even though the system lets you log in, there might be some background processing that hasn't completed yet. The combination of waiting another day for the FSA ID to fully process, using Microsoft Edge in the early morning hours (around 6 AM worked for us), and adding colleges in small batches of 2-3 at a time should hopefully get you through this. Don't let your daughter get too discouraged - this is definitely a system problem, not anything you're doing wrong. You've got this!

I'm so sorry you're going through this incredibly frustrating experience! As someone who just helped my nephew with his FAFSA last month, I completely understand how stressful this can be when you're worried about deadlines. Reading through all the amazing advice here, it sounds like you have a really solid action plan now. The combination of waiting for the FSA ID to fully process (that 3+ day rule seems crucial), using Microsoft Edge during early morning hours, and adding colleges in small batches should hopefully solve this for you. One thing I'd add that helped us: make sure to completely close and reopen your browser between each attempt, not just clear the cache. Sometimes there are session conflicts that persist even after clearing browser data. Also, if you're still having trouble after trying all these technical solutions, definitely reach out to your daughter's high school guidance counselor. Ours was incredibly helpful and actually had a direct contact at our state's Department of Education who could expedite technical support requests for students experiencing these system failures. Your daughter shouldn't feel discouraged - this is clearly a widespread system issue affecting thousands of families right now. The fact that you're being so persistent and seeking help shows what a supportive parent you are. You'll get through this!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue with my daughter's FAFSA! We've been stuck on the college selection page for almost a week now and it's been so incredibly frustrating. Reading through all these suggestions has given me so much hope though - I had no idea this was affecting so many families. We're definitely going to try the combination approach that seems to be working for everyone: waiting a few more days for her FSA ID to fully process (hers is also only 2 days old), using Microsoft Edge during early morning hours, and adding colleges in small batches instead of all at once. The tip about waiting for the loading icon to completely disappear before moving on is something we absolutely weren't doing. Has anyone tried the Claimyr service that was mentioned earlier? I'm really tempted to use it because those hold times with FSA are just impossible with our schedules, but I want to make sure it's legitimate before giving them our information. Thank you to everyone who's shared their experiences and solutions - it's such a relief to know we're not alone in this and that there are so many different approaches to try!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this nightmare! My son and I went through the exact same thing just two weeks ago and I completely understand the frustration and stress this causes, especially with deadlines looming. After reading through all the incredible advice here, it looks like you have a really comprehensive plan to tackle this systematically. The combination of waiting for the FSA ID to fully process (that 3+ day processing time seems to be crucial even though you can log in), using Microsoft Edge during off-peak hours, and adding colleges in small batches of 2-3 at a time has been successful for so many families here. One additional tip that helped us: when you do get to the college selection page, double-check that you're entering the Federal School Codes (not CEEB codes) for each institution. We were accidentally mixing up code types which caused some saving errors. Most schools list their Federal School Code prominently on their financial aid pages. Also, keep a notepad document open with all your information so you're not switching between tabs or windows while in the application - that seemed to help with the saving issues too. Your daughter shouldn't feel discouraged at all - this is clearly a widespread technical problem affecting thousands of students right now, not anything you're doing wrong. With all these strategies from this amazing community, I'm confident you'll get through it soon!

I'm so sorry you're going through this incredibly frustrating situation! As a parent who just completed my son's FAFSA application last month, I can completely relate to the stress and exhaustion you're feeling right now. Reading through all the excellent advice shared here, it really sounds like you have a solid action plan with multiple approaches to try. The combination that seems to work best for most families is: waiting the full 3+ days for FSA ID processing, using Microsoft Edge during early morning hours (5:30-6:00 AM), adding colleges in small batches of 2-3 at a time, and being very patient with the saving process (waiting 30-60 seconds after each save). One thing I'd add from our experience: try using your phone as a mobile hotspot for internet instead of your regular home WiFi. We discovered that some ISPs have routing issues with the studentaid.gov servers, and switching to mobile data completely resolved our saving problems. Also, if all else fails, remember that many colleges and state financial aid offices are aware of these widespread technical issues and are being flexible with deadlines. Don't hesitate to reach out to them directly if needed. Your daughter should know this is absolutely not her fault - it's a system-wide problem affecting thousands of families. With all these community-tested solutions, I'm confident you'll get through this soon. Hang in there!