FAFSA changes by schools in June making college decision impossible - any recourse?

ya same boat here. my daughter got into rutgers & penn state but the financial aid is still "tentative" according to both schools. deposit deadline is in 3 weeks!! how r we supposed to know which one is actually cheaper??

This is definitely frustrating but not unusual with the new FAFSA rollout. Schools can make "professional judgment" adjustments, but they can't reduce your federal aid like Pell Grants. What they're likely referring to is institutional aid (scholarships from the school itself) or possibly adjustments to Parent Plus loan eligibility. You have two options: 1. Contact financial aid offices at all schools and explicitly ask if they anticipate any negative adjustments to the current package. Get it in writing if possible. 2. Make the best decision with current information, but request a written statement that any major negative changes would allow you to withdraw without penalty.

I'm a financial aid counselor at a community college, and I can confirm this is a real issue this year because of the FAFSA delays. Schools are rushing to get aid packages out before May 1 deadlines, but many are sending "estimated" packages that may change. When they make changes in June, it's usually due to: - Verification issues they discover later - Professional judgment reviews (for special circumstances) - Final SAI adjustments from the Department of Education My advice: Ask each school for a "Financial Aid Change Policy" in writing. Many schools have policies that if aid decreases substantially after you've committed, you can appeal or even withdraw without penalty.

ur son shud just pick the school he likes best and figure out the $$ later tbh. thats what my kid did. financial aid is always changing anyway even during the 4 years. just commit somewhere and deal with it

This is why the new FAFSA process is causing so many headaches. I've been trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid for weeks with questions about our application and verification concerns, and it's impossible to get through. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to reach a live agent at Federal Student Aid after wasting hours on hold. They have this service where they wait on hold for you and call when an agent is available. Watched their demo video (https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ) and it worked exactly as described. The agent confirmed that schools are allowed to make adjustments through June based on verification results or professional judgment, but they should be communicating this clearly in their award letters. If they're not clearly marking awards as "estimated" or "subject to verification," that's problematic.

I work in admissions (not financial aid) but I can tell you that many schools are aware of this problem and are being more flexible with deposits this year. Have you directly asked each school what happens if your aid package changes significantly after May 1st? Some schools are allowing deposits to be refunded in these cases or offering payment plans to help bridge unexpected gaps. Also, don't forget that you can appeal financial aid offers! If one school is your son's clear favorite but another offered better aid, it's worth sending an appeal letter to the preferred school with the competing offer.

The whole FAFSA process is a JOKE this year!!! My son's SAI score changed THREE TIMES between February and April!!! How are schools supposed to give accurate packages when the government keeps changing the numbers?? And now we're supposed to commit thousands of dollars when they might change everything in June? The system is BROKEN.

my cousins kid is having same problem and their college said if theres a "significant change" after may 1st theyll let them out of the deposit and enrollment. maybe ask if all ur schools will do that?? worth a try

This doesn't help your current situation, but for anyone with younger kids: this is why having a solid college funding plan BEFORE senior year is so important. We knew exactly what we could afford for each of our kids and only applied to schools within that budget, plus a few reach schools where we might qualify for merit aid. For your current situation, I'd suggest having your son pick his top 2 choices, then really press those financial aid offices for answers about potential changes. Be persistent! Ask to speak with financial aid directors, not just front-line staff.

Update based on the discussions: Here's what I recommend you do specifically: 1. Email the financial aid directors (not just the general office) at each school explaining your situation and concerns about post-May 1st changes. 2. Ask each school for a written statement of their policy regarding aid reductions after commitment. Specifically request that they confirm you could withdraw without penalty if aid is reduced by more than $1,000-$2,000. 3. For the top choice school, ask if they can expedite any verification processes to finalize the aid package before May 1st. 4. Get any verbal promises in writing via email - even if it's just you sending a follow-up email saying "As we discussed on the phone today, you confirmed that..." 5. Consider submitting a FAFSA appeal to Federal Student Aid if your financial circumstances have changed significantly since you filed. The new FAFSA has created unprecedented challenges this year, but most institutions are aware and trying to be accommodating.