FAFSA deadline confusion - can I still apply for 2024-2025 aid?

You can definitely still apply! The June 30, 2025 federal deadline is for the entire 2024-2025 academic year. While you've missed most schools' priority deadlines (usually Feb-March), you can absolutely still submit and receive federal aid. You might miss out on some school-specific grants, but you'll likely still qualify for Pell Grants and federal loans based on your family income. Contact your school's financial aid office ASAP and explain your situation. Many schools reserve some funds for late applicants, especially first-year students. Complete your FAFSA today - it takes about 30-45 minutes if you have your parents' 2022 tax info ready.

your fine for federal but screwed for most school scholarships those deadlines were months ago good luck getting anything decent this late

YOU NEED TO APPLY RIGHT NOW!! I waited till May last year to submit my FAFSA and got ZERO institutional aid, just federal loans and a tiny Pell Grant. My SAI was actually pretty low too (like 3500) but all the good money was GONE!!! The financial aid lady basically laughed when I asked about scholarships in June. She said "those decisions were made in March" ugh so mad at myself!!! Sorry for the doom and gloom but just being honest about my experience. Definitely apply today and then CALL YOUR SCHOOL constantly until you get someone helpful.

Let me clarify a few things about late FAFSA applications: 1. Federal aid (Pell Grants, work-study, direct loans) is still available until June 30, 2025 2. State aid deadlines vary - some states have already closed applications for 2024-2025 3. Institutional aid (school-specific scholarships and grants) typically follows priority deadlines With a household income of $68K, you'll likely qualify for some Pell Grant funding and definitely for federal loans. The new FAFSA uses the Student Aid Index (SAI) instead of the old EFC calculation, which may work in your favor. Complete your application immediately, then contact your school's financial aid office with your confirmation number. Ask specifically about any remaining institutional funds and explain any special circumstances. Some schools hold back a portion of their aid budget precisely for situations like yours. Don't delay - each day matters at this point in the cycle.

I went through this exact nightmare last summer! I applied for FAFSA in late June and trying to reach anyone at Federal Student Aid was IMPOSSIBLE. I'd wait on hold for 3+ hours only to get disconnected. After wasting days trying, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me jump the phone queue and got me connected to an FSA agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Once I actually talked to someone, they were able to expedite my application processing and I had my SAI score within 48 hours. This let me get everything to my school's financial aid office before they finalized awards. Still didn't get institutional scholarships, but at least qualified for federal aid.

Everyone keeps talking about 'priority deadlines' but what I learned working in admissions is that many schools actually have multiple rounds of financial aid awards. The first round goes to early applicants, but there's often a second or even third round in May/June for incoming freshmen. My advice: submit FAFSA today, then email AND call your financial aid office explaining you're an incoming freshman who just realized you missed the deadline. Be super polite but persistent. Ask specifically: "Am I still eligible for any institutional grants or scholarships at this point?" Also, check if your school has a separate scholarship application. Some colleges have institutional scholarships that aren't tied to FAFSA deadlines!

The FAFSA this year has been a COMPLETE DISASTER!!! So many people had problems with the new form rollout that schools have been more flexible with deadlines. You're actually not even that late compared to many students who couldn't get their applications processed because of all the glitches. When you call, definitely mention the "FAFSA simplification issues" - financial aid officers know exactly what you're talking about and might be more sympathetic.

Quick question - are you an independent student or dependent? If you have special circumstances that might qualify you for a dependency override (such as estrangement from parents), that's something to discuss with your financial aid office. It could significantly impact your aid eligibility.

Don't forget to check if your school has a CSS Profile requirement in addition to FAFSA! Some private colleges require both for institutional aid consideration.

So did you get your FAFSA submitted? Any update on your situation?

That's such great news! I'm so glad your financial aid office was understanding. It really shows that being proactive and explaining your situation can make a huge difference. Your experience will probably help other students in similar situations feel more confident about reaching out even when they think they're "too late." Keep us updated on how everything works out once you get your SAI back - it'll be helpful for future students who find themselves in the same boat. Sounds like you're going to be just fine for your freshman year!

Brooklyn, I'm so happy to hear you got your FAFSA submitted and that your financial aid office was understanding! This is exactly why I always tell students not to give up before even trying. Your proactive approach and honest communication about the situation made all the difference. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation - Brooklyn's experience perfectly illustrates that while missing priority deadlines isn't ideal, it's not necessarily the end of the world. Many schools do have processes in place for late applicants, especially incoming freshmen. The key is to act quickly, be honest about your circumstances, and don't be afraid to advocate for yourself. Thanks for sharing your positive update - it's going to help so many other students who find themselves in the same stressful situation!

This is such an encouraging thread to read! Brooklyn, congratulations on getting your FAFSA submitted and having such a positive response from your financial aid office. Your experience really highlights something important that often gets overlooked in all the deadline panic - financial aid offices are staffed by people who genuinely want to help students succeed. For anyone else who might be reading this in a similar panic: this thread is proof that while timing matters, it's not always make-or-break. The 2024-2025 FAFSA cycle has been particularly challenging with all the system changes and delays, so many schools have had to be more flexible than usual. The biggest takeaway here seems to be: submit your FAFSA immediately, then pick up the phone and have an honest conversation with your school's financial aid office. The worst they can say is no, but as Brooklyn discovered, they might surprise you with options you didn't know existed. Good luck to everyone navigating this process!

Brooklyn, this is such a fantastic update! Your success story is going to be so valuable for other students who find themselves in this same stressful situation. It's amazing how being honest and proactive can completely change the outcome - you went from thinking you might need a gap year to having real options for aid! Your experience also highlights something really important: financial aid offices understand that life happens and students make mistakes. The fact that they have a special consideration process for late applicants shows they're genuinely trying to help students succeed, not just stick rigidly to deadlines. I'm really curious to hear how things work out once you get your SAI back and have that follow-up conversation. Your journey from panic to relief in just a few days is proof that sometimes the situation isn't as dire as it initially seems. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone - you're probably helping a lot of stressed students realize they shouldn't give up hope!

Brooklyn, what an amazing turnaround! Your story perfectly shows why it's so important to actually talk to financial aid offices instead of just assuming the worst. I'm dealing with a similar situation myself - just realized I missed my school's March priority deadline and have been stressing for days thinking I'd lost all my aid opportunities. Your experience gives me so much hope! I had no idea that schools often have special consideration processes for late applicants, especially incoming freshmen. I've been putting off calling my financial aid office because I was embarrassed about missing the deadline, but your success story is the push I needed to just pick up the phone and explain my situation honestly. The fact that they were understanding and still have institutional aid available for demonstrated need cases is incredible. I'm definitely going to mention the FAFSA system issues this year too - that's such smart advice from earlier in this thread. Thanks for sharing your positive update and proving that sometimes our worst fears don't come true. Can't wait to hear how everything works out once you get your SAI results back!

This entire thread has been such a valuable resource! Brooklyn, your transformation from panic to success is exactly what so many students need to hear. The financial aid process can feel overwhelming, especially when you think you've made a critical mistake with deadlines. What really stands out to me is how this conversation shows that financial aid offices are often more flexible and understanding than students expect. The 2024-2025 FAFSA cycle has been particularly challenging with all the technical issues and system changes, so many schools have had to adapt their policies accordingly. For anyone else finding this thread later: the key takeaways seem to be 1) Submit your FAFSA immediately regardless of missed deadlines, 2) Call your school's financial aid office and be honest about your situation, 3) Ask specifically about late applicant processes and remaining institutional funds, and 4) Don't be afraid to mention the FAFSA system issues this year as context. Brooklyn's experience proves that while timing is important, it's rarely too late to explore your options. Financial aid officers want students to succeed - sometimes you just need to give them the chance to help you!

Brooklyn, this has been such an inspiring thread to follow! Your story really demonstrates that financial aid offices are often much more understanding and flexible than we expect, especially during this challenging FAFSA cycle with all the technical issues. I wanted to add one more tip for anyone else in a similar situation: when you do get your SAI back and have that follow-up conversation with financial aid, come prepared with specific questions. Ask about work-study opportunities, payment plan options, and whether there are any departmental scholarships you might still be eligible for. Some academic departments have their own scholarship funds that operate on different timelines than general institutional aid. Also, don't forget to check with your state's higher education agency about any remaining grant opportunities. Some states have rolling deadlines or emergency aid programs that might still be available. Your proactive approach and willingness to advocate for yourself really paid off. Thanks for sharing your journey - it's going to help so many students realize that a missed deadline isn't the end of their college dreams!