FAFSA renewal for juniors in 2024-2025: Complete new application or simple renewal?

Yes, your son will need to complete a brand new FAFSA for 2024-2025. The FAFSA Simplification Act has completely overhauled the form and process, so there is no renewal option this year. Everyone - freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors - must complete the new FAFSA from scratch. The good news is that the new form is supposed to be simpler with fewer questions and the new SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation replacing the old EFC. Make sure you and your son both create FSA IDs if you don't already have them, as both the student and at least one parent/contributor need to provide information.

my daughter is a sophmore and we had to do the whole thing over. took FOREEVR because the website kept crashing in January. good luck lol

The 2024-2025 FAFSA is completely different from previous years. Everyone must file a new application regardless of grade level. Here are the key differences: 1. You'll use the Student Aid Index (SAI) instead of EFC 2. Direct data transfer from IRS for tax information 3. Different contributor rules (not just parents but potentially others who provide support) 4. New income protection allowances 5. Different asset calculations Make sure both you and your son create or update your FSA IDs before starting. For your tax documents, you'll use the direct IRS data transfer, which should make that part easier. For scholarships, it depends on the type - federal aid will be recalculated based on your new SAI, but private scholarships have their own renewal requirements.

yep new form for everybody. my son said his financial aid office told their whole campus to expect delays this year because of the new system. have u started it yet?

When I tried to submit our FAFSA in January, the site kept crashing and I couldn't get through to anyone on the Federal Student Aid phone line. After THREE WEEKS of trying, I finally found a service called Claimyr that got me connected to a live FSA agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. The agent was able to help me sort out our application issues and explained all the new changes. Worth checking out if you run into problems with the new application - saved me so much stress. Their website is claimyr.com if you need it later.

Same boat with my Senior next year!! SO nervous about getting everything right with the new system. My neighbor's kid lost half their aid package because they missed a question on the new form... 😬

To address some of the questions raised: Yes, you need to start planning now for the 2024-2025 FAFSA, especially since there have been processing delays. The official deadline isn't until June 30, 2025, but most colleges have priority deadlines much earlier (often February-March 2024). Regarding previous data - you will need to enter everything fresh. The good news is that the IRS Data Retrieval Tool is integrated more directly now, so tax information should be easier to import. For scholarships, remember that: - Federal aid (Pell Grants, subsidized loans, etc.) will be recalculated based on your new SAI - Institution-specific scholarships have their own renewal criteria - check with your son's financial aid office - Outside scholarships typically require separate renewal applications Also, the new contributor rules may affect your son's aid package differently than previous years, so be prepared for potential changes.

The impact of the SAI vs. EFC change depends on your specific financial situation. Generally: - Middle-income families with multiple children in college may see LESS aid (the "sibling discount" was reduced) - Lower-income families may see MORE aid due to increased income protection allowances - Families with more complex financial situations (divorce, multiple contributors) might see significant changes either way Since you mentioned being on the edge of qualifying, I'd recommend using one of the new FAFSA forecasting tools to estimate your SAI before submitting. The Federal Student Aid website has resources, or you can use tools from organizations like SwiftStudent or the College Board.

btw i heard they changed the name from EFC to SAI cuz too many parents thought "estimated family contribution" meant that was all they had to pay for college lol. now its just a number that doesnt mean anything specific