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Welcome to everyone who's new to this process! As someone who just went through this with my son last year for an electrical apprenticeship program, I can't stress enough how worth it the FAFSA application is. Even if you think your income is too high, APPLY ANYWAY! One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - many community colleges offer technical programs that are often cheaper than standalone technical institutes, and they usually have more established financial aid offices to help you navigate the process. My son ended up doing his electrical program through our local community college and saved thousands compared to the private technical school he was originally considering. Also, don't overlook work-study opportunities! My son got a work-study position helping maintain the college's facilities while learning electrical work - it was basically paid practice time that reinforced what he was learning in class. The skilled trades desperately need workers right now, so there are often more scholarship opportunities available than people realize. Your kids are choosing careers with incredible job security and earning potential. The FAFSA process might seem daunting, but it's absolutely worth doing to help them start their careers with less debt!
Thank you for sharing your son's success story! The community college route is something I definitely need to explore more - I hadn't really considered that option but it makes total sense that they might be more affordable and have better established financial aid support. The work-study opportunity your son got sounds perfect, especially for hands-on learners who benefit from practical application while they're studying. I'm curious - when you were comparing costs between the community college program and the private technical school, was it a significant difference? Also, did the community college program have the same kind of industry connections and job placement support as the private schools? I want to make sure we're looking at all our options before making a decision. Thanks again for the encouragement about applying for FAFSA regardless of income - that seems to be the consistent message from everyone here!
Hi everyone! I'm a newcomer to this community and found this thread incredibly helpful - thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences! I'm in a very similar situation with my daughter who's interested in pharmacy technician certification. After reading through all these responses, I feel so much more confident about the FAFSA process. I had no idea that technical programs could qualify for federal aid, and hearing about actual Pell Grant amounts and success stories has been eye-opening. A couple of questions for the group: Does anyone have experience with healthcare-related technical programs specifically? I'm wondering if there are any industry-specific scholarships or grants we should be looking into beyond the standard FAFSA. Also, I noticed several people mentioned checking multiple schools - is it common for financial aid packages to vary significantly between different technical institutes for similar programs? I'm definitely going to verify accreditation, check the College Scorecard website, and contact our state's workforce development office based on all the great advice here. This community has been such a valuable resource for understanding that trade and technical education have just as many financial aid opportunities as traditional college paths. Thank you all for creating such a supportive environment for families navigating these decisions!
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So glad to hear you got it working! Your success story is really valuable for others facing the same issue. The browser choice detail is particularly interesting - I've noticed Edge sometimes handles government forms better than Chrome or Firefox. For future reference, it might be worth adding that some families have also had success using Internet Explorer (if still available) or the browser's "compatibility mode" for older government systems. Thanks for following up with the solution - this will definitely help other students and families who find this thread!
That's such a relief to hear it worked out! I'm new to navigating FAFSA stuff and this whole thread has been super educational. The browser compatibility tip is really helpful - I never would have thought different browsers could make such a difference with government forms. It's also reassuring to know that persistence pays off even when the system seems completely broken. Thanks for sharing the successful outcome - it gives hope to others dealing with similar frustrations!
This is such a valuable thread! As someone who's been through similar struggles with my family's FAFSA, I wanted to add that if you're still having issues, try accessing the FSA ID creation page during off-peak hours (like early morning or late evening). The system seems less glitchy when fewer people are using it. Also, make sure your parent has all their documentation ready before starting - having the exact address from a utility bill, bank statement, or other official mail can really help with the verification process. The browser cache clearing tip mentioned earlier is crucial too - I've seen that fix so many random technical issues with government websites!
Great point about the off-peak hours! I wish I had known that earlier - we were probably trying during the busiest times when everyone else was also working on their FAFSAs. The documentation tip is spot on too. Having everything organized beforehand definitely made the final successful attempt go much smoother. It's amazing how many little technical tricks can make or break these government systems. This whole experience has taught me to always have a backup plan when dealing with federal aid websites!
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No separate applications needed for federal aid! The FAFSA is your one-stop application for Pell Grants, federal loans, and work-study. However, there are a few exceptions: - State grants sometimes require additional forms (check your state's higher education website) - Some schools require the CSS Profile for institutional aid (mainly private colleges) - Scholarships usually have separate applications But for the basic federal aid package including Pell Grants, the FAFSA is all you need. Just make sure she responds quickly if they request verification documents.
Thank you so much! This makes me feel a lot better about her situation. I'll share all this with her tonight.
Your cousin is in a really good position! An SAI of 1285 with multiple siblings in college puts her in excellent territory for financial aid. At State University with $22k annual costs, she'll likely see her out-of-pocket expenses drop significantly. Here's what to expect: - Strong Pell Grant eligibility (probably $5,000-6,000 range) - Subsidized federal loans with better terms - Potential state grants depending on your state - Work-study opportunities The key thing is that having multiple siblings in college simultaneously really helps lower the family contribution expectations. Make sure she's listed all her schools on the FAFSA and watches for any verification requests in her email. The financial aid packages should start arriving with acceptance letters in the coming months. She's definitely not screwed - quite the opposite!
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As someone who's been lurking here for a while but finally created an account because this thread is SO helpful - thank you everyone for breaking down these confusing rules! I'm in a similar situation with divorced parents but mine never remarried, which I thought would make things simpler... turns out it doesn't! My dad claims me on taxes but my mom pays for most of my day-to-day expenses. From reading all your responses, it sounds like I need to focus on who claimed me for 2023 taxes specifically. One thing I'm still confused about - if the supporting parent determination is based on who provides more than 50% of support, but the tax dependency might not match that, which one takes priority for Excelsior? @Kolton mentioned submitting an affidavit when these don't align, but I'm wondering how often HESC actually accepts those explanations vs just going with the tax return info? Also, has anyone successfully appealed an Excelsior denial? I'm worried I might be borderline on the income limit and want to know if there's a realistic path forward if the initial application gets rejected. Thanks again to everyone who's shared their experiences - this community is literally saving my sanity during application season! 💙
Welcome to the community @Andre! I'm new here too but this thread has been a lifesaver for understanding these confusing rules. From what I've gathered reading everyone's experiences, it seems like the tax dependency is usually the starting point for Excelsior, but HESC will consider additional documentation if the actual financial support doesn't match up. @Kolton's affidavit approach sounds like a good strategy when these don't align. I'm in a somewhat similar boat - still trying to figure out if my family's income puts us over the $135k AGI limit. The good news from what others have shared is that it's worth applying even if you're borderline, since they do sometimes consider special circumstances. As for appeals, I haven't gone through that process personally, but I've heard they can take forever to process. Hopefully someone else here has experience with that? Good luck with your application! At least we're all figuring this out together. The documentation requirements sound intense but everyone who's gotten through it says it's worth the effort if you qualify.
Hey everyone! I just went through this exact same process last year and wanted to share what finally worked for me after months of confusion. The biggest breakthrough was when I realized that for Excelsior, you need to look at THREE things in this order: 1. Who claimed you as a dependent on 2023 taxes (this is usually the default) 2. Who actually provided more than 50% of your financial support during 2023 3. If these don't match, you can submit documentation to prove the actual support situation In my case, my parents alternated tax years but my mom consistently paid for housing, food, and health insurance (the big expenses), so she was clearly my supporting parent even when my dad claimed me on taxes. For the income calculation, make sure you're looking at Line 11 on Form 1040 (Adjusted Gross Income), NOT the total income. This made a huge difference for my family since my stepdad has significant retirement contributions that lowered our AGI below the $135k threshold. Also, don't stress too much about the NY residency requirement - I talked to my school's career services and they said there are tons of good opportunities throughout the state, plus there are provisions for deferrals if you can't find work immediately. The documentation process is tedious but totally manageable if you stay organized. Start gathering everything now and apply even if you're not 100% sure about eligibility. The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised! Good luck @Sasha and everyone else applying! This community has been so helpful for navigating these confusing rules. 🍀
This is such a clear and helpful breakdown @Emma! I'm new to this community but have been following this thread closely as I navigate my own Excelsior application with divorced parents. Your three-step approach makes so much sense - starting with the tax dependency as the default but being able to document the actual support situation if it's different. That gives me hope since my situation is similar to yours where the parent who claims me on taxes isn't necessarily the one providing the most day-to-day support. The tip about looking specifically at Line 11 (AGI) instead of total income is huge! I hadn't realized how much retirement contributions and other deductions could lower that number. I'm definitely going to double-check my family's 2023 tax returns with this in mind. Thanks for the reassurance about the NY residency requirement too. I've been so stressed about committing to stay in NY after graduation, but you're right that there are opportunities throughout the state and some flexibility if needed. Question for you - when you submitted documentation about the actual support situation, what format did that take? Was it just a letter explaining the circumstances or did you need specific forms/receipts? This whole thread has been incredibly helpful for a confusing process. Thanks for sharing your successful experience! 🙏
Sara Hellquiem
This is such a frustrating situation that so many blended families face! I went through something similar when my partner and I got married mid-year. The FAFSA system really doesn't handle these life transitions well. One thing that helped us was creating a detailed timeline showing when we got married vs. the tax year in question, plus documentation of our separate household expenses during 2023. When we met with the financial aid office, having all that paperwork ready made it easier for them to understand our situation. Also, don't forget that your household size increased when you got married - that can sometimes help offset some of the income impact on your SAI calculation. Hang in there, it's worth pushing through the frustration to get your daughter's aid sorted out!
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Dylan Evans
•This is really helpful advice, thank you! I hadn't thought about documenting our separate household expenses from 2023. That's a great idea to show the financial aid office that we weren't actually supporting each other during that tax year. I'll definitely put together a timeline and gather all that documentation before meeting with them. It gives me hope that there might be some flexibility in the system after all!
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Miguel Diaz
I'm a financial aid administrator and want to add one more important tip - when you submit your FAFSA with your husband's 2023 tax info, make sure to check the "unusual circumstances" box if your school's application has one, or mention in any additional information sections that your marriage occurred after the tax year. This flags your application for potential review. Also, keep copies of your marriage certificate and both of your 2023 tax returns handy - you'll likely need these when speaking with financial aid offices. The good news is that most aid administrators are familiar with this scenario and have processes in place to help families navigate it. Don't let the initial shock of the higher SAI discourage you from exploring all your options!
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Grace Durand
•This is exactly the kind of insider knowledge we need more of! Thank you for explaining about the "unusual circumstances" box - I had no idea that existed. It's reassuring to hear from someone who works in financial aid that this situation is common and there are actual processes to help. I'll definitely mention our post-tax-year marriage in any additional information sections and have all those documents ready. It's been such a stressful process not knowing if there was any flexibility in the system, so knowing that aid administrators are familiar with this gives me a lot of hope!
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