I'm new to this community but your situation is exactly what I've been dreading as I start the FAFSA process for my first child next year. Reading through all these responses has been both incredibly helpful and deeply concerning about what families are facing with these formula changes. The $8,400 increase you're experiencing sounds absolutely devastating, especially when your core financial situation hasn't changed. From everything shared here, it's clear that the elimination of the sibling-in-college adjustment is likely the primary factor rather than the free lunch program change. The fact that your contribution was previously divided between two students and now applies fully to just your daughter could easily explain most of that massive jump. I wanted to add that some financial aid offices have started offering "formula change impact consultations" where they'll walk you through exactly how the new SAI calculation differs from your previous EFC. This can help identify if there were any processing errors and gives you specific talking points for appeals. Also, check if your state has any "college affordability crisis" grants that were created specifically in response to these federal changes. Several states launched emergency programs this year to help bridge the gap for families hit hard by the new formulas. The advice about Claimyr and the special circumstances review for the multiple-student elimination sounds like your best bet for meaningful relief. I'm definitely taking notes on all these resources for my own future reference. Thank you for being so open about your struggle - it's helping families like mine prepare better for what's coming. I'm really hoping the appeals work out and your daughter can continue her education. You're an amazing advocate for her future!

I'm so sorry you're going through this incredibly stressful situation! As someone new to this community, I've been reading through all the responses and I'm honestly shocked by how widespread these massive SAI increases are this year. Based on everything shared here, it really sounds like the elimination of the sibling-in-college adjustment is the primary culprit behind your $8,400 jump rather than the free lunch program change. Having your family contribution go from being split between two students to applying fully to just your daughter could easily explain most of that increase - it's such a significant policy change that wasn't clearly communicated to families. I wanted to add a couple suggestions that might help: - When you contact the financial aid office, ask specifically about "professional judgment due to federal formula changes" - some schools have streamlined this process given how many families are affected - Look into whether your daughter's school offers emergency financial assistance for continuing students - many have expanded these programs this year - Check your state's higher education website for any bridge grants created specifically for families impacted by FAFSA changes The advice about using Claimyr to reach FSA and requesting the special circumstances review for the multiple-student policy elimination sounds really promising. Several people here seem to have had success with that approach. Your dedication to fighting for your daughter's education is inspiring. This whole situation shows how broken the communication was around these major policy changes. Families shouldn't have to discover massive aid reductions after the fact when they've been budgeting based on reasonable expectations. I'm really hoping the appeals process works out for you!

I'm new to this community but have been reading through this entire thread and wanted to jump in with a suggestion that might help! Since you've been having such trouble getting through to your financial aid office by phone, have you tried using their online appointment scheduling system if they have one? Many schools switched to appointment-based systems during COVID and still use them because it's more efficient than phone calls. Also, I noticed someone mentioned checking studentaid.gov for verification issues - make sure you're also checking the "My Federal Student Aid" mobile app if you have it. Sometimes notifications show up there that don't appear on the website right away. One more thing - if your school uses a student portal system like Banner or PeopleSoft, there's often a "holds" section that will show you exactly what's preventing your account from moving forward. Academic holds, administrative holds, missing transcripts, etc. all show up there and it might give you specific information about what's causing the delay. Your Pell situation really does sound normal based on everyone's responses here. The 15.9% lifetime usage means you have tons of eligibility left, and taking a semester off definitely doesn't hurt you. The waiting is the absolute worst part, but it sounds like you're being super proactive about following up. Good luck getting through to them soon!

I'm new to this community but have been following this thread and wanted to share something that might help! I went through a very similar transfer situation two years ago - took a semester off between schools and panicked about my Pell eligibility too. One thing I discovered that nobody mentioned yet is to check if your new school requires a "Transfer Student Financial Aid Supplement" form. Some schools have this additional form that's separate from your FAFSA, and it's not always obvious that it's required. I spent weeks wondering why my aid wasn't processing, only to find out there was this one extra form buried in their transfer student checklist that I'd completely missed. Also, since you mentioned orientation is coming up soon - definitely attend any financial aid information sessions they offer during orientation, even if your package isn't finalized yet. The financial aid staff at those sessions often have more flexibility to address individual cases on the spot, and they can sometimes expedite processing for students who are present and engaged. Your unused Spring Pell from your previous school absolutely carries over - the federal system tracks your annual eligibility regardless of which institution you're attending. At only 15.9% lifetime usage, you're in excellent shape there. The administrative delays are super frustrating but very common for transfers. Keep pushing to reach them, but don't panic about your actual eligibility - that part should work out fine once they get caught up on processing!

Just wanted to add my experience as another data point - I had an SAI of around 9,200 last year (so similar to yours) and while I didn't get any Pell Grant money, I was still able to get some decent aid packages. My state school offered me about $3,000 in need-based grants plus subsidized loans, and the private college I applied to gave me over $15,000 in institutional aid (though their tuition was way higher too). So don't get too discouraged by missing the Pell cutoff! Your SAI is still in a range where many schools will consider you for aid. I'd definitely recommend applying to a good mix of schools like you mentioned, because the aid offers can vary wildly even with the same SAI. Also, make sure you're looking at the total cost of attendance vs. just tuition when comparing offers - sometimes the "more expensive" school ends up being cheaper after aid. Good luck with your applications! The waiting for aid packages is definitely stressful but hopefully you'll get some pleasant surprises.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that some schools have their own internal appeals process if your family's financial situation has changed since the tax year used for FAFSA (2022 for 2024-25). This is called "Professional Judgment" and can sometimes result in a recalculated SAI that's more favorable. Also, with an SAI of 8,742, you'll definitely qualify for federal subsidized loans where the government pays the interest while you're in school - that's still a significant benefit even without grant money. The loan limits are $5,500 for freshman year (with up to $3,500 being subsidized based on need). Don't forget about your state's 529 education savings plans either - if your family has one, those withdrawals for qualified education expenses won't count as income on next year's FAFSA, which could help lower your SAI for sophomore year onwards.

This thread has been incredibly helpful and validating - thank you to everyone sharing their experiences and strategies! As a current college sophomore dealing with this exact situation (parents make $82k but refuse to contribute while my SAI is $11,200), I wanted to add a few things that have helped me: 1. Look into becoming an RA (Resident Advisor) if your school offers it - many provide free room and board plus a small stipend, which can save $8-12k per year. 2. Check if your state has any "last dollar" scholarship programs - some states have created programs specifically to cover remaining costs after federal aid for students meeting certain criteria. 3. Don't overlook work-study positions in academic departments - they often pay better than dining hall jobs and look great on resumes. The most frustrating part is explaining to people why I have so much debt when my parents "make good money." The system literally assumes financial support that doesn't exist for thousands of us. I'm definitely interested in the advocacy efforts discussed here - we need to turn our shared frustration into organized action for policy reform. This broken system has gone unchanged for far too long while affecting so many students' futures.

This entire thread is absolutely infuriating and validating at the same time! I'm currently a freshman dealing with this exact nightmare - my parents make around $78k but told me "we're not a college fund, figure it out yourself" while still claiming me as a dependent. My SAI is over $10,000 which might as well be a million dollars since I get zero family support. What really gets me is that I've been essentially supporting myself since I turned 18 - paying my own car insurance, phone bill, groceries when I'm home, everything - but somehow I'm still considered financially dependent on people who actively refuse to help with education costs. Meanwhile I'm working 20+ hours a week just to cover basic expenses while watching classmates stress about their aid packages when their parents are still helping them. I've already started applying for every tiny local scholarship I can find (thanks for all the tips in this thread!) and I'm definitely going to try the professional judgment appeal route with documentation of my financial independence. It's just so maddening that we have to fight this hard against a system that makes completely false assumptions about family dynamics. The advocacy discussion here gives me hope though - if this many students are dealing with the same broken system, we should definitely be organizing to push for actual policy reform rather than just finding creative workarounds for fundamentally flawed dependency criteria.

This has been such an incredibly helpful thread! I'm a transfer student working on my FAFSA and had this exact same confusion about my mom's Associate's in Criminal Justice. I kept going back and forth between "completed college" and "did not complete college" because I wasn't sure if Associate degrees were considered "real" college completion. Reading through everyone's experiences and the professional advice from financial aid counselors has completely cleared this up for me. It's so reassuring to see that EVERY single person who's dealt with this question has confirmed that Associate degrees absolutely count as "completed college" - no matter the field of study or when it was earned. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where students can get real answers to these confusing FAFSA questions. This community has saved me from hours of additional stress and second-guessing!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm a newcomer to this community and just started my FAFSA application yesterday. I was completely stumped on this parent education question - my mom has an Associate's in Physical Therapy Assistant and I had no idea if that qualified as "completed college." After reading through all these detailed responses from students, parents, and financial aid professionals, I now have complete confidence that her degree absolutely counts as "completed college." What really stands out to me is how consistent everyone's answer has been - every single person confirms that ANY Associate degree counts, regardless of the field or when it was earned. I love seeing how this community comes together to support each other through these stressful FAFSA questions. It's such a relief to find clear, definitive answers instead of more confusion. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and expertise - you've saved me from countless hours of worry and second-guessing!