I'm in a really similar situation and wanted to share what I've learned from talking to multiple financial aid offices. Some schools are definitely more flexible than others with dependency overrides. I applied to 5 different colleges and got 3 different responses - one flat denial, one that wanted extensive documentation I didn't have, and one that worked with me on alternative evidence. The school that approved mine accepted things like: - My lease agreements and utility bills showing I'd been paying my own way - W-2s and pay stubs proving financial independence - A letter from my former high school guidance counselor explaining my situation - Bank statements showing I wasn't receiving financial support from parents It wasn't easy and took about 3 months to get approved, but it IS possible. Don't give up after one school says no - keep trying different ones. Also, smaller state schools seemed more willing to work with me than large universities. Hope this helps!

I went through this exact situation 3 years ago and want to offer some encouragement - it IS possible but you need to be strategic about it. Here's what worked for me: 1. Applied to 6 different schools specifically because I knew dependency overrides varied by institution 2. Focused on regional state universities and smaller private colleges - they tend to have more flexibility than large flagship schools 3. Built a comprehensive documentation package including tax returns showing zero parental support, rental agreements, employment records, and letters from my high school counselor and employer 4. Was completely honest in my personal statement about the situation without being overly emotional I got approved at 2 out of 6 schools. The key was treating it like a business case - showing clear evidence of complete financial independence rather than focusing on the emotional aspects of unsupportive parents. Also, start this process EARLY. Some schools want all override documentation submitted by February for the following fall semester. Don't let the difficulty discourage you - I'm now a senior graduating debt-free because I pushed through this bureaucratic nightmare. You can do this!

As someone who just went through the 2024-2025 FAFSA cycle with twins, I can confirm that the elimination of the sibling discount is as devastating as you fear. However, I want to share some hope based on our experience. While the federal formula won't help you, I discovered that many colleges are quietly implementing their own "equity adjustments" to counteract this policy change. When I contacted financial aid offices directly and explained our situation, several schools made substantial institutional aid increases - one increased aid by $12,000 per child specifically citing our multiple enrollment situation. Also, keep an eye on policy developments. I've been following several education advocacy groups, and there's genuine momentum building in Congress to restore the sibling adjustment. The College Board, NASFAA, and even some Republican legislators have voiced support for fixing this issue. While I can't promise changes will come before your twins start in 2026, the political pressure is building because stories like yours are becoming impossible to ignore. My advice: start building relationships with financial aid offices now, cast a wide net for applications, and don't be afraid to negotiate. The system may be broken federally, but individual schools still have discretion to help families like ours.

I'm a newer member here but wanted to share what I've learned from researching this issue extensively. While the federal FAFSA changes are discouraging, I've discovered that some colleges are being more flexible than others. I've been creating a spreadsheet of schools that still offer "sibling considerations" in their institutional aid calculations, and it's longer than I expected. Schools like Grinnell, Carleton, and several state honors colleges have told me directly that they still factor in multiple students when awarding their own aid, even if the federal formula doesn't. I've also learned that timing your FAFSA submission can matter more now - submitting early gives you better chances at limited institutional funds that might help offset the lack of federal sibling adjustments. And don't overlook schools with large endowments that can afford to be generous with aid. Sometimes a private school with good institutional aid ends up being more affordable than public options when you have multiple kids in college. The key seems to be doing the research early and being strategic about where your kids apply. It's more work than it should be, but there are still paths to make this financially manageable.

Hi Gabriel! I'm new to this community but your question hits so close to home - my family is in almost exactly the same situation with income around $190k, and I was having this exact same debate with my parents just last month! After reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, I'm completely convinced that filling out FAFSA is absolutely worth it, even for families in our income bracket. The real examples people shared here about merit scholarships requiring FAFSA on file were total game-changers for me - I had no clue this was even a requirement for non-need-based aid! What really sealed the deal for me was hearing about those $10k-15k scholarships that people actually received despite similar family incomes. When you think about potentially leaving that kind of money on the table just because you didn't want to spend 45 minutes on paperwork, it's really a no-brainer. I'm also applying to a mix of state and private schools, and it sounds like having FAFSA completed will keep all doors open for different institutional aid opportunities I didn't even know existed. Plus, learning about those middle-income initiatives and federal loan options gives me peace of mind even if we don't need them right away. This thread has been such a lifesaver - thank you for asking the question so many of us were wondering about! Definitely tackling my FAFSA this weekend now. Good luck with all your applications!

Hi Gabriel! I'm new to this community but found your post at exactly the right time - my family is in a very similar situation with income around $185k and I was having the same doubts about FAFSA. After reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, I'm completely convinced now that it's absolutely worth filling out! I had no idea that so many merit scholarships and institutional aid programs require FAFSA on file regardless of financial need. The real examples everyone shared here - those $8k-15k scholarships - really opened my eyes to what could be missed by not filing. What really struck me was learning about the middle-income initiatives that some schools have specifically for families like ours who fall into that gap between need-based aid and full-pay. Having FAFSA data on file seems to be the key to being considered for these programs. I'm also relieved to hear how much simpler the 2025-2026 FAFSA is compared to previous years. My cousin went through this process a few years ago and made it sound absolutely terrible, but if it really only takes 30-45 minutes now with the IRS data retrieval tool, that's totally manageable for the potential benefits. Thanks for starting this thread - it's been a game-changer for so many of us navigating this process for the first time! This community is amazing for getting real advice from people who've actually been through it. Definitely filling out my FAFSA this weekend!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this detailed thread! I'm just starting the FAFSA process with my daughter for fall 2025, and honestly, I had no idea about these major formula changes until reading everyone's experiences here. Like so many others, I always assumed our family income around $78k put us in that frustrating "too much for aid but not enough to easily afford college" zone. Reading about the expanded Pell Grant eligibility and how the income protection allowance increases are actually helping middle-income families is such a relief! The complexity around different tax years being used for siblings and how even small income variations can impact eligibility is mind-blowing - it really shows how much more strategic this process has become. Your story about calling to verify rather than panicking about unexpected aid is exactly the guidance I needed. I'm submitting our FAFSA next week and will definitely approach any surprising results with cautious optimism rather than immediate fear. Thank you for sharing your journey and providing that crucial update - real experiences like this are infinitely more valuable than trying to decode the confusing official documentation!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my heartfelt thanks for this incredibly informative thread! I'm just beginning the FAFSA journey with my first child starting college in fall 2025, and I had absolutely no awareness of these significant formula changes until discovering this discussion. Like so many others have shared, our family income of around $79k had me convinced we were stuck in that awful middle ground - making "too much" for meaningful aid but nowhere near enough to make college costs manageable without serious financial strain. Learning about the expanded Pell Grant eligibility and increased income protection allowances is genuinely life-changing information for families like ours. The detail about different tax years being used for siblings really highlights how much more complex but potentially beneficial this new system can be. Your experience of calling to verify rather than assuming error is such practical advice that I'll definitely follow when we receive our aid package. I'm planning to submit our FAFSA in the coming weeks and will approach any unexpected aid with informed optimism rather than panic, thanks to the wisdom shared here. This community is already proving invaluable for understanding what feels like navigating a completely transformed financial aid landscape. Thank you for sharing your complete journey with the update - these real family experiences are so much more helpful than trying to interpret the official documentation!

Hey Oliver! I'm also a newcomer here but wanted to share something that might help. I just went through the FAFSA process myself and had a similar panic when my SAI came back higher than expected. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to check if you accidentally reported any cash value of life insurance policies as assets. I made this mistake initially - included a whole life policy my parents have that has some cash value, not realizing it shouldn't be counted. That alone was inflating our SAI by several thousand dollars! Also, if your parents contribute to any HSAs (Health Savings Accounts), make sure those aren't being counted as regular savings/investment assets. They should be excluded just like retirement accounts. The fact that you have your brother in college should definitely be helping your SAI, but double-check that you both filled out that section consistently. Sometimes small discrepancies between siblings' applications can cause issues. I know it's stressful, but like others have said, focus on merit-based opportunities and schools where your stats shine. With a 3.8 GPA, you should definitely have options! Don't let that SAI number discourage you from applying broadly.

Hey Oliver! I'm new to this community but your situation sounds exactly like what happened to me last year. That SAI of $40k with your family's income is definitely in the realm of possibility, but there are definitely some things worth double-checking. The biggest thing I'd suggest is going through your asset reporting section with a fine-tooth comb. That $35k investment account could be contributing significantly to your SAI - parent assets are assessed at around 5.64% after allowances, but if you accidentally reported it as a student asset, it gets hit at 20% which would be a massive difference. Also make sure you didn't include any retirement accounts (401k, IRA, pension funds) in your assets - I see this mistake ALL the time and it can inflate your SAI by tens of thousands. One thing that really helped me was using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to re-import all the tax information. It eliminates any chance of typos in income figures, which can really add up. Don't get too discouraged about the high SAI though! I ended up getting decent aid packages from several schools despite having a similar situation. Focus on schools where your 3.8 GPA puts you in their top 25% of applicants - that's where the merit money tends to be. And definitely pursue that professional judgment appeal for your dad's reduced hours. Many schools are understanding about recent changes in family financial circumstances. You've got this! The FAFSA is just the starting point, not the end of the story.