FAFSA financial strain with multiple kids at same university - anyone got success requesting additional aid?

YES! Absolutely reach out to the financial aid office directly. This is called a "professional judgment review" or sometimes a "special circumstances appeal." My daughter got an additional $12,000 per year after we explained our situation (medical expenses not captured on FAFSA). Here's what worked for us: 1. Write a formal letter explaining SPECIFICALLY why the FAFSA doesn't accurately reflect your ability to pay (multiple children in college simultaneously is a valid reason!) 2. Provide documentation for everything (birth certificates for all children, acceptance letters, etc) 3. Be polite but persistent - financial aid offices are overwhelmed 4. Follow up weekly until you get an answer The SAI calculation does technically account for multiple students in college, but not adequately for most families. Don't give up hope!

lol good luck. we tried this with my son last yr and they basicly told us to take out more parent plus loans!! the financial aid system is RIGGED against middle class families esp with multiple kids. they expect us to go into massive debt while giving full rides to others with lower incomes even tho we STRUGGLE just as much!!!

My sister went through this exact thing last year! She has triplets (can you imagine???) and their EFC was insane. She scheduled an appointment with the financial aid director (not just a counselor) and brought in a detailed budget showing exactly why the expected contribution was impossible. Two of the three kids ended up getting merit scholarships that weren't initially offered. The key was being super organized and having specific numbers ready.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I work in university admissions, and this is a common situation. While it's absolutely worth appealing (use the term "professional judgment review"), I want to set realistic expectations: 1. If this is a highly selective private university, they may have limited additional funds by this point in the cycle 2. Having six children absolutely warrants consideration, but the 2024-2025 FAFSA already factors in household size in the SAI calculation (though not adequately) 3. Merit scholarships are separate from need-based aid, so also inquire about additional merit opportunities One strategy: sometimes if both siblings attend the same university, there are specific "sibling discounts" not advertised. Ask specifically about this as well.

Your paying for TWO kids at same school?? I can barely afford my ONE son's tuition lol. Didn't the FAFSA ask how many kids you have in college? Thought that was supposed to help but guess not. Maybe try calling different times of day? When I had FAFSA problems I always called super early like right when they opened and got through easier.

Have you tried Claimyr for getting through to the financial aid office? I spent DAYS trying to reach someone at my daughter's university about a similar situation, kept getting disconnected or sent to voicemail. Used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through in 15 minutes to an actual person! They have a video demo showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ It basically holds your place in the phone queue so you don't have to listen to that awful hold music for hours. After I finally talked to someone, they had me submit a professional judgment review and we got $8,000 more per semester based on our family circumstances.

I successfully negotiated additional aid for my daughter last year through a professional judgment review. The key to our success was framing it as *extraordinary circumstances* rather than just complaining about the cost. Two children at once plus four other dependents definitely qualifies as extraordinary! Be aware that each school handles these reviews differently - some have formal committees that meet monthly, others leave decisions to individual counselors. Try to find out your specific school's process. Also, consider looking into external scholarships. Many local organizations offer scholarships that aren't income-based. My daughter received $3500 from our local Rotary Club which helped bridge the gap.

wait i just remembered something! my cousin's kids got extra scholarships from their alumni association because both her daughters went to same school! ask if they have legacy scholarships or sibling scholarships!! sometimes those aren't automatic and you have to apply separately!!

One thing I forgot to mention in my original response - timing matters! The financial aid cycle has a rhythm to it. Early in the cycle (January-March), schools often have more institutional aid available. By April-May, many schools have allocated most of their funds. However! If you're willing to be strategic, some additional aid becomes available in late summer (July-August) when students who committed end up not attending. This creates a last-minute pool of funds that schools can reallocate. In your professional judgment appeal letter, emphasize that having both children attend simultaneously creates a temporary but extreme financial burden that isn't adequately captured by the SAI calculation. Provide a month-by-month cash flow analysis if possible, showing how the expected payments would exceed your disposable income.

I went through a similar situation with my daughter at a private university last year. Here's what I learned: definitely pursue the professional judgment review, but also ask specifically about "enrollment management" funds. These are discretionary funds that admissions offices sometimes use to secure students they really want. Since you have twins both accepted to the same school, you actually have some leverage - they want both students to enroll! When I met with the financial aid director, I brought a simple one-page comparison showing what our family could realistically contribute versus what the SAI expected. I also mentioned that we were considering other schools (even if you're not, it shows you have options). The key phrase I used was "demonstrated financial need beyond what the federal formula captures." Don't apologize for your situation - frame it as the school helping you make their institution financially viable for your family. We ended up getting an additional $6,000 per year through a combination of institutional grants and work-study increases. Also, check if they have emergency or hardship funds available. Some schools have separate pools of money for exactly these situations that aren't widely advertised.