This thread has been incredibly enlightening as someone just starting to navigate the financial aid landscape! I had no idea the CSS Profile was so critical for private school aid - my assumption was that FAFSA would cover all the bases. Reading about families losing out on substantial aid packages or even having to decline acceptances because they didn't know about CSS requirements is honestly terrifying. What strikes me most is how this information seems to be common knowledge among families who've been through the process, but completely unknown to first-time applicants and their parents. The fact that guidance counselors aren't consistently communicating these requirements is really concerning, especially for first-generation college students who don't have family members with this experience. I'm curious - are there any other "hidden" financial aid requirements that families should know about beyond CSS Profile and FAFSA? Reading about IDOC and noncustodial parent forms makes me wonder what else might be lurking that could trip up unsuspecting families. It seems like creating a comprehensive checklist for each target school is absolutely essential, but I'm worried about what I might not even know to look for. Congratulations on your daughter's Princeton acceptance! The fact that you're sharing this knowledge here will undoubtedly help other families avoid costly mistakes.

Wow, this is such an important thread! As a newcomer to this community, I'm both grateful and terrified after reading all these experiences. My daughter is a junior and we're just starting to research colleges, but I had absolutely no idea about the CSS Profile requirement. Like many others here, I thought FAFSA was the only financial aid form we'd need to worry about. The story about losing the Dartmouth opportunity really hit home - that's exactly the kind of nightmare scenario that keeps me up at night as we approach application season. It's incredibly frustrating that this critical information isn't being consistently communicated by high school guidance counselors. How are families supposed to navigate this successfully if we don't even know what we don't know? I'm definitely going to start creating that school-specific spreadsheet that was mentioned, tracking CSS Profile requirements, deadlines, and any additional forms needed. This thread has made it clear that assuming all schools have the same requirements is a dangerous mistake. Thank you @Zainab for sharing your daughter's Princeton story and congratulations on her acceptance! And thank you to everyone else who shared their experiences - both the successes and the cautionary tales. This is exactly the kind of real-world insight that can make or break a family's college dreams. I'll definitely be bookmarking this thread and sharing it with other parents at our school who are just beginning this journey.

As someone who works in financial aid at a WUE participating school, I wanted to add some clarity to this discussion. The confusion around FAFSA requirements for WUE often comes from schools bundling their financial aid processes together, even when programs have different requirements. A few important points that haven't been mentioned: 1. **Dependency Override**: If your parents absolutely refuse to provide financial information, you can request a dependency override at most schools. This is different from the Special Circumstances form mentioned earlier and might make you eligible for aid as an independent student. 2. **State-specific considerations**: California residents should know that some WUE schools give priority to students from certain states based on reciprocal agreements. This rarely affects eligibility but can impact the competitiveness. 3. **Renewal requirements**: Make sure to ask about WUE renewal requirements at each school. Some require maintaining a specific GPA, full-time enrollment, or yes - continued FAFSA submission even if it wasn't required initially. The bottom line is that while WUE itself is generally not need-based, schools often tie their administrative processes together. When in doubt, ask specifically: "Is FAFSA required ONLY for WUE eligibility, or for other aid that I might miss?" This helps separate the requirements and gives you better information for your decision.

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm a high school counselor and I constantly get questions about WUE and FAFSA requirements from students and families. The confusion is totally understandable because each school really does handle it differently. One resource I always share with families hesitant about FAFSA is the Federal Student Aid website's "FAFSA Myths" page - it addresses a lot of privacy concerns parents have. Many don't realize that the FAFSA data is actually protected under federal privacy laws and isn't shared with other government agencies for non-educational purposes. Also wanted to mention that some WUE schools have started offering "FAFSA completion workshops" specifically for families who are nervous about the process. These are often virtual now and can really help parents understand exactly what information is being requested and why. For students in this situation, I'd also recommend checking if your target schools participate in the Common Application's financial aid section - sometimes that can streamline the scholarship application process even if you're not doing FAFSA. Great job everyone sharing your experiences - this kind of peer-to-peer information sharing is invaluable for students navigating this process!

Quick follow-up question - does anyone know if I need to complete the CSS Profile for NJ schools as well? I'm applying to Princeton (longshot, I know) along with Rutgers and Rowan.

Just wanted to add that if you're planning to transfer between NJ schools later, you'll need to update your NJFAMS account with your new school information. I transferred from community college to a 4-year school mid-year and almost lost my TAG because I forgot to update my enrollment status in NJFAMS. The system doesn't automatically sync with your school changes like federal aid does. Also, keep your NJFAMS login info safe - I've seen people get locked out right before deadlines and it's a nightmare to recover your account during peak season!

As someone who's been helping families navigate FAFSA for years, I want to emphasize a few key points that haven't been fully covered yet. Your SAI of 5400 actually puts you in a pretty good position - you should definitely qualify for partial Pell Grant funding (likely around $2,000-3,500 depending on enrollment status) plus subsidized loan eligibility. One crucial thing to remember is that financial aid is often awarded on a first-come, first-served basis for institutional funds, so make sure your daughter submits all required documents to each school ASAP. Also, don't overlook merit-based scholarships that aren't need-dependent - many students focus only on need-based aid and miss out on merit opportunities. For your state school at $24k/year, you're looking at roughly $18,600 in demonstrated need. While the school may not meet 100% of that need, state universities often have decent aid programs for in-state students. Make sure to also check if your daughter qualifies for any state grant programs - these can add several thousand more in aid that isn't captured in the federal calculation. One last tip: if your financial situation has changed since you filed taxes (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), document everything for a potential appeal. Schools have more flexibility than people realize when circumstances warrant it.

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences here! I'm also navigating the FAFSA process for the first time with my son, and our SAI came back at 6100. Reading through all of your detailed explanations has been incredibly enlightening - I had no idea that the SAI was literally a dollar amount rather than just some abstract score. The tip about using Net Price Calculators is gold - I just spent the evening running numbers for all of his target schools and the variations are eye-opening. One school that seemed expensive actually came out cheaper after aid than a "bargain" state school. I'm also definitely going to look into our state's grant programs after seeing how much they helped some of your families. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone here had experience with schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need? I keep seeing this phrase pop up in my research but I'm not sure how to identify which schools actually follow through on this promise versus just claiming they do.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact situation! I returned to school after a 6-year break and had the same concerns about my old FSA ID. Everyone here has given you spot-on advice - definitely stick with your original account! I was so worried about outdated information causing problems, but when I logged back in, the system actually made it really easy to update everything. It walked me through each section where I needed to make changes (address, phone, employment status, etc.). The whole process was much smoother than I anticipated. One thing that really helped me was calling my school's financial aid office before starting the FAFSA. They were able to give me a heads up about what to expect as a returning student and even let me know about some grants specifically for students like us who are coming back to finish degrees. Definitely worth a quick call! You should feel proud of yourself for taking this step to go back and finish your education. It takes real courage, and from reading all these responses, it sounds like you're going to be in good company with so many other successful returning students! Best of luck with everything! 💪

I'm another returning student who just went through this process! I took a 7-year break and was so nervous about my old FSA ID potentially causing issues. But everyone here is absolutely right - definitely use your existing account! When I logged back in last month, I was amazed at how user-friendly the system was for updating outdated information. It literally guided me through each section that needed updates and even explained why certain information was important to keep current. One thing I discovered that might help you - if you're worried about your account security after being away so long, you can update your security questions and password right after you log back in. That gave me peace of mind that my account was fully secure with my current information. Also, don't stress too much about the 5-year gap - the financial aid office at my school told me they see returning students all the time, and many have been away even longer than we have! You're definitely not alone in this situation. Good luck with your return to school - it's such an exciting step and you should be proud of yourself for deciding to go back and finish what you started! 🎓