I'm a financial aid counselor and want to add one crucial point that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure your niece applies for a dependency override at ALL the schools she's considering, not just her top choice. Each school evaluates these independently and some are much more lenient than others. Also, if any of the schools deny her override initially, she can appeal that decision! I've seen students get approved on appeal after providing additional documentation or a more detailed explanation. Don't give up after the first "no" - persistence really pays off in these situations. One last tip: when she writes her personal statement, encourage her to focus on the facts of her situation rather than getting too emotional. Schools want to understand the circumstances clearly, and a straightforward, chronological explanation tends to work better than a heavily emotional narrative.

As someone who works in college admissions, I want to emphasize something really important - your niece should start this process IMMEDIATELY with all her schools. Dependency overrides can take 4-8 weeks to process, and some schools have earlier deadlines for financial aid consideration than others. A few practical tips from what I've seen work: 1. When she calls the financial aid offices, ask specifically for the "dependency override coordinator" - not all front desk staff know the process well 2. Keep detailed records of who she talks to and when - get names and reference numbers 3. Submit everything via email AND regular mail with tracking - schools sometimes lose paperwork 4. Follow up weekly, not every two weeks - squeaky wheel gets the grease Her situation is absolutely appropriate for an override. The fact that her grandmother has been claiming her on taxes for years is actually really strong evidence. Most schools are reasonable about these cases - they just need proper documentation to protect themselves from fraud. Also, make sure she applies for state aid too if her state offers it. Some state programs have different dependency criteria than federal aid.

Great question about verification rates! From what I remember, the verification rate varies each year but it's typically around 30-40% of students who get selected. It sounds scary but it's really just confirming the info you already put on your FAFSA with documents like tax returns, W-2s, and bank statements. The key is responding quickly if you do get selected. As for additional forms - yes! Several of my schools required the CSS Profile (which costs money to submit, ugh), and a couple wanted their own institutional aid applications. Some also required separate scholarship applications with essays. The CSS Profile was the big one though - it's used by many private schools and some state schools for institutional aid. Check each school's financial aid website under "required forms" or "how to apply" - they usually have a checklist. One more tip: if you're applying to schools in different states, some state aid programs have earlier deadlines than the federal FAFSA deadline, so double-check those too!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's helping their younger sibling through this process right now! One thing I wish I had known earlier is that some schools have their own financial aid portals where you can check the status of your application even before they send out official aid packages. It's worth creating accounts on each school's student portal if you haven't already - sometimes they'll show "FAFSA received" or "under review" which can give you peace of mind that everything went through properly. Also, if you're planning to apply for any merit scholarships at your schools, don't wait! Many have deadlines in the next few months and some require separate applications. The financial aid office can usually tell you what scholarships you might be eligible for based on your academics/activities. Good luck with everything - you're definitely ahead of the game getting your FAFSA submitted this early!

I'm new to this whole FAFSA process (my oldest is a high school senior), and reading through this thread is honestly terrifying! We're planning to have two kids in college at the same time for a few years, but then it'll drop to one. I had no idea the SAI could jump so dramatically when the number of students changes. Is there anything families can do to prepare for this financially, or are we just at the mercy of the formula? Also, should we be timing our kids' college years differently to maximize aid? This seems like such a huge factor that nobody talks about during college planning!

This is such valuable information for families to know ahead of time! I wish someone had explained this to us when our first child started college. One thing I'd add to the excellent advice already given - consider looking into schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need and have strong endowments. These schools often have more flexibility in their institutional aid formulas and may not penalize families as harshly for the sibling graduation scenario. Also, some private schools have sibling discounts or family grants that can help bridge the gap when your aid drops. It's worth asking about these programs during the application process. The FAFSA formula is just one piece of the puzzle - don't let it discourage you from pursuing the best educational opportunities for your kids!

For anyone else dealing with this confusion - I went through the same panic last year! The CSS Profile data sharing acknowledgment is ONLY about financial information, not test scores. Your Score Choice settings remain completely separate and unaffected. One tip: if you're still worried, you can always log into your College Board account after submitting the CSS Profile to double-check that your Score Choice preferences are still set the way you want them. They'll show exactly which scores have been sent to which schools. This gave me peace of mind when I was applying! Also remember that even if a college has a policy requiring all scores, the CSS Profile acknowledgment doesn't automatically enforce that - it's still up to you to send them through the proper channels.

I went through this exact same worry when I was filling out my CSS Profile! The data sharing acknowledgment had me so paranoid that I almost didn't check it. But after doing a ton of research and even calling College Board (waited forever on hold), I can confirm what others have said - it's ONLY about the financial information in your CSS Profile. Think of it this way: the CSS Profile is a financial aid application, not a test score reporting service. That checkbox just allows colleges to use your family's financial data to determine your aid package. Your SAT Score Choice and AP score sending are handled through completely different systems within College Board. I actually made a spreadsheet tracking which scores I sent to which schools just to keep myself organized during the process. The CSS Profile never interfered with any of those decisions. Your Score Choice preferences will stay exactly as you set them!

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get this resolved? If you're still having issues, there's a lesser-known email address specifically for technical account issues: [email protected]. Include your name, the email you're trying to verify, and a brief description of the issue. They typically respond within 1-2 business days.

Great to hear you got it resolved! For anyone else still dealing with this issue, I wanted to add that some email providers (especially corporate/work emails) have less aggressive spam filtering than Gmail/Yahoo, which might explain why switching to your work email worked. Also, if you're using a school-issued email address, those often have whitelisted government domains that can help with delivery. The FAFSA system really needs to get these verification issues sorted out - it's causing so much unnecessary stress during an already overwhelming process!