As a newcomer to this community and someone currently struggling through my first FAFSA application, I can't express how grateful I am to have found this discussion! I was literally stuck on the exact same "parent spouse" question for my son's application and was starting to panic that I was missing some crucial detail. Reading through everyone's explanations has been such a relief - it's incredibly validating to see that this confusing terminology trips up practically everyone! The Parent A/Parent B approach that so many people have mentioned is brilliant and makes infinitely more sense than the official FAFSA language. I'm also taking detailed notes on all the amazing practical advice shared here, especially about using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, maintaining consistent parent order for future years, and having all tax documents organized beforehand. What really strikes me is how this supportive community has transformed what felt like an isolating struggle against bureaucratic confusion into a shared learning experience where we can all help each other succeed. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences - you've made this intimidating process feel so much more approachable for newcomers like me!

As a newcomer to both this community and the FAFSA process, I cannot thank everyone enough for this incredibly detailed and helpful discussion! I'm currently working on my first FAFSA application for my daughter and was completely stuck on this exact "parent spouse" terminology. Like so many others here, I was convinced I was missing some crucial piece of information and was getting really stressed about potentially entering something wrong. Reading through all these explanations has been such a huge relief - it's amazing to see that literally everyone gets confused by this wording! The Parent A/Parent B approach that multiple people have suggested is absolutely brilliant and makes so much more sense than the official bureaucratic language. I'm also taking extensive notes on all the practical tips shared throughout this thread - the advice about using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, keeping parent order consistent for future applications, organizing tax documents beforehand, and saving FSA ID information safely. It's incredible how this supportive community has transformed what initially felt like an overwhelming and isolating bureaucratic nightmare into a shared learning experience where we can all help each other navigate these confusing processes. This discussion has given me so much more confidence to tackle the rest of our application. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and knowledge - you've truly made this intimidating process feel manageable for newcomers like me!

Update us when you finally hear back! I'm curious how long it actually takes for you. And definitely check spam folders - my daughter's confirmation went to her promotions tab in Gmail and she almost missed it.

As someone who just went through this process with my daughter, I can definitely relate to the anxiety! The system really has been unreliable this year. One thing that helped ease my mind was creating a simple checklist to track what we'd submitted and when. I kept screenshots of the final submission page and made note of any confirmation numbers. Also, if it helps, our financial aid counselor mentioned that the "silent rejection" issue was more common with the pilot version last year - the current system is better about showing error messages, though still frustratingly slow. The waiting is the worst part, but it sounds like you're doing everything right by checking both the dashboard and email regularly!

As a newcomer to this community, I can't express how relieving it's been to read through this entire thread! I'm currently on day 18 of waiting after my FAFSA switched to "processed" status, and honestly I was starting to think something had gone terribly wrong with my application. @Miguel Ramos your complete journey from confusion to resolution gives me so much hope! The verification flag issue really shows how many invisible steps happen behind the scenes that we're never told about. And wow, that spam folder discovery - I literally ran to check mine immediately and found TWO emails from my school's financial aid office that I completely missed! One was just informational, but the other was asking me to confirm my enrollment status. Crisis averted thanks to your experience! @QuantumQuasar that timeline breakdown should be required reading for every FAFSA applicant! Having a realistic expectation of 2-8 weeks total processing time completely changes my stress level. Before this, I was operating under the assumption that "processed" meant "done" - had no idea schools then needed weeks to review and package everything. @Pedro Sawyer the enrollment deposit insight is incredibly valuable! I submitted mine about 10 days ago, so hopefully that moves me up in their queue. It's frustrating that these processing priorities aren't communicated transparently, but at least now I understand why some friends heard back way faster than others. This whole financial aid system really does feel like a black box, but finding this community has made such a difference in managing the anxiety. Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your real experiences - it's exactly the kind of honest information that's impossible to find in official resources! 🙏

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so thankful I found this thread! I'm currently in week 2.5 of waiting after my FAFSA showed "processed" and was starting to spiral thinking I'd somehow messed something up. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly calming - especially realizing that what feels like forever is actually totally normal timing! @Miguel Ramos your entire story arc from panic to resolution is so reassuring! The verification flag twist really shows how many behind-the-scenes steps we're never told about. And that spam folder moment - I immediately checked mine after reading that and found an email from my school's student accounts office about setting up my payment plan. Would have completely missed the deadline without your tip! @QuantumQuasar that step-by-step timeline is exactly what every financial aid website should show upfront! Understanding that "processed" is really just step 2 of like 6+ steps completely reframes the waiting period. Before this I thought processed meant I should hear back within days, not weeks. The enrollment deposit processing priority insight from @Pedro Sawyer is such valuable insider info! I submitted mine last week so fingers crossed that helps speed things along. It's wild how much these little details matter but aren't communicated anywhere official. This community has been a lifesaver for understanding what's actually normal vs. what just feels scary when you're in the middle of it. Thank you all for sharing your real experiences so openly! 🙏

Your SAI of 3521 is actually really promising! I'm a financial aid officer at a state university, and I can tell you that families with SAIs in that range typically receive substantial aid packages. Here's what you can realistically expect: - Pell Grant: approximately $3,500-4,000 (the formula changes slightly each year) - State grants: varies by state but often $1,000-3,000 additional - Institutional aid: depends heavily on the specific school The great news is that your SAI puts you well within the range for need-based aid at most institutions. State schools will likely offer you the best value, but don't completely dismiss private colleges until you see their aid offers - some have very generous institutional aid for middle-income families. One critical tip: when those award letters arrive in the next few weeks, create a simple chart comparing only the FREE money (grants/scholarships) against total cost of attendance. Ignore loans initially since they're available everywhere. This will give you the clearest picture of actual affordability. Also, definitely look into your state's financial aid programs - many require separate applications with earlier deadlines than FAFSA. You don't want to miss out on additional free money! You're doing everything right by getting informed early. With your SAI, your son should have some solid options!

Your SAI of 3521 is actually really good news! I'm a parent who just went through this whole process with my twin daughters last year, so I totally understand the stress and confusion. With an SAI around 3500, your son should definitely qualify for partial Pell Grant funding - probably somewhere in the $3,000-4,000 range based on the current formula. Plus, depending on your state, there might be additional state grant money available. The thing that really helped me understand everything was realizing that your SAI is basically what the government thinks you can reasonably pay per year toward college costs. So if a school costs $25,000 total and you get $8,000 in grants/scholarships, your family would be expected to cover about $17,000 through a combination of your SAI contribution, work-study, and potentially some loans. My advice: when those award letters start coming in (usually March/April), make a simple spreadsheet with columns for each school showing Total Cost, Free Money (grants + scholarships only), and Net Cost. Don't include loans in your initial comparison since those are available everywhere. Also, definitely apply to a mix of schools if you haven't already - sometimes the aid packages can vary wildly between similar institutions. You might be surprised by which schools end up being most affordable after aid! Hang in there - the hardest part (waiting for FAFSA results) is behind you now! 🎓

As someone who works in financial aid, I want to emphasize that everyone giving advice about the 120-day return window is absolutely correct - this is critical timing! One thing I'd add is that when you contact your school's financial aid office, ask specifically for the "R2T4" (Return to Title IV) form or process. This is the official federal term for returning unused loan funds, and using this terminology will help the staff understand exactly what you need. Also, don't be surprised if they ask you to provide a written statement explaining why you're returning the funds (scholarship received, changed living situation, etc.). This is standard documentation they need for federal compliance. The good news is that returning unused subsidized loan funds within the window is a fairly routine process that most schools handle regularly, so once you get the right person on the phone, it should be straightforward!

I'm a new member here and just wanted to say how helpful this entire thread has been! My son is starting college next fall and I had no idea about the 120-day return window or the R2T4 process. This is exactly the kind of information that should be more widely known - it seems like schools don't always explain these options clearly during the financial aid process. I'm bookmarking this discussion and will definitely keep the R2T4 terminology and disbursement date details in mind when we navigate his loans. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and expertise!