Multiple children in college affects FAFSA aid - Can withdrawing my application help my daughter get more?

This is a really common question! The multiple-in-college multiplier used to significantly increase aid eligibility when more than one family member was in school, but with the FAFSA Simplification Act, this has changed with the 2024-2025 form and beyond. With the new Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation, having multiple students in college doesn't automatically increase your daughter's aid like it used to. Each student is now considered separately, and your enrollment won't necessarily boost her eligibility. So withdrawing your application might not actually help her get more aid. The calculations are more individualized now.

THE FAFSA IS A COMPLETE SCAM NOW!!! They promised the "simplified" version would be better but it's WORSE! My three kids are all in college and we get LESS aid than when just one was enrolled in 2022. The new SAI formula is designed to save the government money, not help families. The multiple student benefit is basically GONE.

Here's what's actually happening with the new FAFSA: 1. The old system (before 2024-2025) divided the Expected Family Contribution by the number of family members in college 2. The new SAI calculation doesn't do this automatic division anymore 3. Each student is evaluated more individually based on their portion of family income Withdrawing your application won't necessarily increase your daughter's aid because the formulas don't work that way anymore. The system now looks at each student's individual situation rather than simply dividing family responsibility. What WILL help is if your daughter appeals her aid package directly with her school's financial aid office. Have her explain any special circumstances and ask for a professional judgment review.

I had same problem with my son last yr. The new FAFSA is total mess. We tried calling FSA for like 3 days straight and kept getting disconnected!! So frustrating trying to get answers about this stuff.

I was in the exact same boat! My daughter and I were both applying for aid, and her package seemed really low. I was convinced I was hurting her chances, but when I talked to her financial aid counselor, they explained that it was actually other factors affecting her award: 1. The school's own formula for institutional aid (separate from federal aid) 2. The timing of when we submitted (we were late) 3. Some missing documentation they needed for verification So don't automatically assume it's because you're both in school. There could be other issues with her specific application or the school's available funding. Definitely appeal and ask for a detailed breakdown of how her aid was calculated.

my mom n me both in school this year and i got way less than last year but my friends who r only students in their family got more?? the system makes no sense FR

If you do decide to appeal your daughter's financial aid package (which I recommend), here's what she should bring to her financial aid office: 1. Documentation of any changes in family financial circumstances 2. Comparison information about her friend's package (if they're willing to share) 3. A clear, polite letter explaining why she needs additional assistance 4. Proof of any unusual expenses your family has 5. Her Student Aid Index (SAI) number from her FAFSA Be sure to emphasize that you're willing to accept additional loans, not just grants, as this makes it easier for the school to adjust the package. And remember: withdrawing your FAFSA application won't automatically increase her aid under the new system.

Just so u know, some colleges still DO consider multiple family members in college when giving out THEIR OWN aid (not federal). So even tho the FAFSA doesnt help anymore with that, the college itself might adjust her institutional scholarships if they know you're also in school. WORTH ASKING SPECIFICALLY about their multiple-in-college policy for SCHOOL FUNDS not just federal!!

After seeing your SAI number (8426), I can tell you that your daughter should definitely appeal. With an SAI that low, she should qualify for significant aid at most schools. The fact that her friend with a higher SAI (9700) got more aid suggests there might be an error or missing information in your daughter's application. One possibility: Did you complete the CSS Profile if her school requires it? Some private colleges require both FAFSA and CSS Profile, and they use the CSS for their institutional aid decisions. If you only did the FAFSA and her friend completed both, that could explain the difference.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm a junior at community college planning to transfer next year, and reading about the new FAFSA changes is honestly terrifying. My mom was thinking about going back to school too, but now I'm wondering if there's any point since it won't help my aid anymore. @Anastasia Popova - definitely check if your daughter's school requires the CSS Profile! That could be the missing piece. Also, when she appeals, make sure she mentions that you're both students - even if it doesn't help with federal aid, the school might have their own policies for families with multiple students like others mentioned. Has anyone dealt with transferring between schools after these FAFSA changes? I'm worried my aid package might be completely different at a 4-year university compared to what I'm getting at community college now.

Reading through all these responses, I wanted to add something that might help clarify the situation. I work as a financial aid counselor at a state university, and I see families struggling with these exact questions every day since the FAFSA changes. The key thing to understand is that withdrawing your FAFSA application won't help your daughter under the new system - but there are still several strategies worth pursuing: 1. **Appeal with documentation** - With an SAI of 8426, your daughter should be getting substantial aid. Bring proof of your enrollment status when she appeals, as some schools do still consider this for institutional funds. 2. **CSS Profile check** - This could be the smoking gun! Many private schools use CSS Profile data differently than FAFSA data for their own grant money. 3. **Timing matters** - Late applications often get less aid simply because funds are depleted, not because of eligibility issues. 4. **State aid programs** - Don't forget to check if your state has programs that still consider multiple family members in college. The bottom line: keep your FAFSA application active. It won't hurt your daughter's chances, and you deserve access to aid for your own education too. Focus the energy on appealing her package instead!

As someone who just went through this exact situation last year, I can confirm what others are saying - withdrawing your FAFSA won't help your daughter under the new system. My son and I were both students, and I initially thought the same thing you did. What actually made the difference for us was discovering that his school had a separate "Family Educational Commitment" form that wasn't mentioned anywhere obvious. It's worth asking the financial aid office if they have any supplemental forms or considerations for families with multiple students, even if the federal formula doesn't account for it anymore. Also, double-check that both of your FAFSA applications list the correct number of household members in college. I made an error on mine initially and it affected both our calculations until we corrected it. The new FAFSA interface makes some of these details easy to miss compared to the old version. Don't give up on your own education! You both deserve the opportunity to learn and grow, and there may be more aid options available than you realize once you get through the appeals process.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what I learned from my own experience with multiple family members in college under the new FAFSA rules. My sister and I were both applying for aid this year, and we ran into similar confusion about whether having two students would help or hurt our individual packages. After speaking with three different financial aid offices and doing a lot of research, here's what I discovered: the new Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation is much more individualized than the old Expected Family Contribution (EFC) system. The automatic "family contribution divided by number of students" benefit is essentially gone at the federal level. However, what everyone here is saying about institutional aid is absolutely correct! Two of the schools I applied to still have their own policies for families with multiple students in college. One school gave me an additional $2,000 "sibling enrollment grant" that had nothing to do with my FAFSA results. @Anastasia Popova - definitely keep your FAFSA application and focus on appealing your daughter's package. With an SAI of 8426, she should qualify for significant aid. The CSS Profile missing piece that others mentioned could very well be the answer. Also ask specifically about any institutional grants for families with multiple students enrolled simultaneously. The system is definitely confusing right now with all these changes, but don't let that discourage either of you from pursuing your educational goals!

As someone who just navigated this exact situation with my own family, I want to echo what others have said - definitely don't withdraw your FAFSA application! The new system is frustrating, but withdrawing won't help your daughter's aid package. I made the same mistake initially and actually DID withdraw my application thinking it would boost my son's aid. It didn't make any difference at all, and then I had to scramble to resubmit everything when I realized I still needed aid for my own classes. The CSS Profile suggestion from others is spot on - that's often where the real difference lies for private schools. Also, when your daughter appeals, make sure she specifically asks about: 1. Any verification documents they might still need 2. Professional judgment reviews for special circumstances 3. Work-study opportunities if grants aren't available 4. Merit scholarships she might have missed The appeal process can take a few weeks, so start it as soon as possible. Most schools are understanding about the confusion around the new FAFSA changes - you're definitely not the only family dealing with this! Good luck with both of your educational journeys. Don't let this financial aid frustration derail either of your goals!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - my son is starting college next year and I'm considering going back to finish my degree. After reading all these responses, it's clear that the FAFSA changes have really complicated things for families with multiple students. The consensus seems to be that withdrawing your application won't help your daughter under the new SAI system, but there are definitely other avenues worth exploring. The CSS Profile missing piece that several people mentioned could be huge - I had no idea that private schools often require both forms and use them differently. What really stands out to me is how many people found success with the appeals process and asking specifically about institutional grants for multiple students. It sounds like even though the federal formula changed, individual schools are still trying to help families in these situations. @Anastasia Popova - I hope you were able to check on the CSS Profile requirement! With your daughter's SAI being so low (8426), it definitely seems like there might be aid she's missing out on. Keep us posted on how the appeal goes - your experience could help other families dealing with the same confusion about these new FAFSA rules.

As someone who works in financial aid administration, I want to address the excellent question about staying current with these changes. The best official resource is the Federal Student Aid website (studentaid.gov), which has updated guidance on the FAFSA Simplification changes. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) also publishes helpful updates for families navigating these transitions. What I'm seeing in this thread perfectly captures what we're dealing with in our office daily - families who were expecting the old "multiple students = more aid" formula to still work. The reality is that each school now has much more discretion in how they distribute their institutional funds, which is why the appeal process and direct communication with financial aid offices has become so crucial. @Anastasia Popova - your situation is exactly why we always recommend families appeal when the aid package seems inconsistent with similar circumstances. With your SAI and the potential CSS Profile gap others identified, there's definitely room for adjustment. Don't give up on your own educational goals either - many schools are creating new policies to support adult learners returning to school! The key takeaway for everyone: the new system requires more proactive advocacy, but aid is still available for those who know how to navigate it effectively.

As a newcomer to this community, I've been reading through this entire discussion with great interest since I'm facing a very similar situation with my own family. My twin daughters are both starting college next fall, and I've been considering going back to school myself to finish my nursing degree. What's really struck me from all the responses here is how dramatically the FAFSA landscape has changed with the new SAI system. The fact that the old "multiple students = divided family contribution" benefit is essentially gone at the federal level is something I had no idea about when I started researching our options. @Anastasia Popova - I'm really hoping you've been able to check on that CSS Profile requirement by now! The consensus from everyone here seems clear that withdrawing your FAFSA won't help your daughter's aid package, but there are definitely other avenues worth pursuing. Your daughter's SAI of 8426 should qualify her for substantial aid, so something is definitely off with her package. This thread has been incredibly educational for those of us trying to understand these new rules. It sounds like the key strategies now are: 1) Appeal with documentation, 2) Check for CSS Profile requirements, 3) Ask specifically about institutional grants for multiple students, and 4) Research school-specific policies rather than relying on federal formulas. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this kind of real-world insight is invaluable for families navigating this confusing new system!

As someone who just joined this community and is starting to research financial aid options for my family, this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm in a similar boat - considering returning to school while my daughter prepares for college, and I had no idea about these FAFSA changes. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear that the new SAI system has completely changed the game for families with multiple students. The fact that withdrawing your application won't help your daughter under the new formula is such important information that I never would have known otherwise. @Anastasia Popova - I really hope you've had success with the CSS Profile check and appeal process! Your daughter's low SAI should definitely qualify her for more aid than she received. Have you been able to get any updates from her financial aid office? What's really encouraging is seeing how many people found success through the appeals process and by asking specifically about institutional grants for multiple students. It sounds like even though the federal system changed, schools are still trying to find ways to help families in these situations. For those of us just starting this journey, this thread has provided such a clear roadmap: keep all FAFSA applications active, check for CSS Profile requirements, prepare thorough documentation for appeals, and ask specifically about school-specific policies for families with multiple students. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences!