Forgot to add schools on FAFSA submission - now locked out of adding them?

You don't need to submit a whole new application! This happens a lot. Log into studentaid.gov, go to your completed FAFSA, and click on "Make FAFSA Corrections." Then navigate to the "Schools" section where you can add up to 10 colleges. If you're still getting that error message, wait 1-2 business days after submission before trying again - sometimes the system needs to fully process your application first.

same thing happend to me last yr!! it was bc my dads tax info wasnt fully processed even tho they gave me a SAI. had to wait like a week b4 i could add schools. super annoying

Call the Federal Student Aid Information Center directly at 1-800-433-3243. They can help you add schools over the phone if the online system isn't working. They're the only ones who can override certain system restrictions.

After struggling with the same issue last month when trying to add schools to my son's FAFSA, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to a FAFSA agent in about 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. They called me back when an agent was available so I didn't have to stay on the line. The agent was able to add four schools to my son's application over the phone. There's a video that shows how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Saved me so much frustration!

THE WHOLE FINANCIAL AID SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!! I've been dealing with this garbage for 3 kids now and EVERY SINGLE YEAR something goes wrong. The website crashes, information disappears, verification takes MONTHS. And they expect us to trust them with determining our kids' futures??? The new FAFSA was supposed to be "simpler" but it's even WORSE than before. Call your congressperson and COMPLAIN because this is ridiculous!!!

One thing to note - if you're in a rush for those scholarship applications that need proof of FAFSA completion, you can often send them your FAFSA confirmation email as temporary proof while you work on adding the schools. I've worked with several scholarship committees and they understand these technical issues happen. Just explain the situation and send what you have, then update them once you get the schools added properly.

Btw random question but did your SAI end up being higher with the new formula? My sisters went up by like $3000 compared to what her EFC wouldve been and were freaking out since she might not qualify for some grants now

Update us when you're able to resolve this! And a pro tip for anyone reading this thread in the future: always add at least one school before submitting your FAFSA, even if you're not 100% sure where you'll apply. You can always add or remove schools later, but having at least one entered prevents this situation entirely.

So glad you got it resolved! That's a huge relief. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation, another option is to check if your state has a financial aid hotline - many states have dedicated FAFSA help lines during peak season that sometimes have shorter wait times than the federal number. Also, if you're a first-generation college student, your high school guidance counselor or local college access program might be able to help navigate these technical issues. The most important thing is don't panic - these glitches are frustrating but almost always fixable with persistence!