Once you receive the aid packages, don't be afraid to appeal if the amounts seem insufficient. Many schools have a financial aid appeal process, especially if your financial situation has changed since filing taxes (job loss, medical expenses, etc.). You can sometimes get thousands more in aid just by asking and documenting your circumstances. Also, Parent Plus loans have an origination fee (around 4.2% currently) that gets deducted from the loan amount. So if you need $10,000 for costs, you'd need to borrow about $10,420 to end up with the full $10,000 after fees. Important to factor into your planning.

Just wanted to add one more tip from our experience last year - make sure your son accepts any aid offers by the deadlines! Some schools have pretty strict cutoff dates (usually May 1st but can vary), and if you miss them, they can withdraw the offer even if it's just grants or scholarships. Also, if he's considering multiple schools, don't feel pressured to accept the first aid package that arrives. It's totally fine to wait and compare all offers before making a decision. Some families create a spreadsheet comparing the total cost after aid at each school - makes it easier to see the real differences. One last thing about Parent Plus loans - the interest rate is fixed but tends to be higher than undergraduate direct loans (currently around 7.28%). So if your son qualifies for any additional direct loans in his name, those might be a better option to max out first before going the Parent Plus route.

One more important point: make sure your son fills out the CSS Profile if any of his schools require it (many private colleges do). The CSS Profile has different procedures for handling non-filing parents/step-parents, and sometimes more flexibility. Each school using CSS Profile can set their own policies for how they handle these situations. Also, when you contact the financial aid offices, ask specifically about any institutional forms they might have for documenting special circumstances. Many schools have their own forms for situations exactly like yours that can help ensure your son gets properly evaluated for need-based institutional aid, not just federal aid.

I'm going through something similar right now with my stepson's FAFSA - his dad hasn't filed in years either and it's been such a stressful process! One thing that really helped us was creating a timeline and action plan. First, gather ALL income documentation your husband has - W2s, pay stubs, bank statements, anything showing what he earned. Second, have him request those Non-Filing Verification letters from the IRS ASAP using Form 4506-T (one for each year he didn't file). Third, contact every single school your son applied to and explain the situation - don't wait! Most schools have dealt with this before and some have internal forms that can help speed things up. The key is being super organized and persistent. Yes, it will likely delay things by 4-8 weeks, but your son WILL still get aid. The schools want to help, they just need the proper documentation. Don't panic - you've got this! Your son's hard work won't be wasted because of this bureaucratic mess.

the emails are scary but don't freak out too much! the same thing happened to me and my son still got his pell grant and everything. i think its just their way of letting us know someone accessed the account even if it was u

I'm new to all this FAFSA stuff with my first kid starting college next year, and this thread is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time! It sounds like these false alarm emails are pretty common, but I'm definitely going to follow the advice about taking screenshots of everything and checking the SAI regularly. @Javier Cruz - that story about the numbers changing without notification is my worst nightmare. Did you end up having to appeal or resubmit anything when that happened? I feel like I need to become a FAFSA detective just to make sure nothing gets messed up!

Just wanted to update - I successfully added my daughter's new school through the correction process! It was actually easier than I expected. Her SAI stayed the same (as you all mentioned), and I called the financial aid office to confirm they received everything. They're now working on her aid package. Thank you all for your help!

So glad to hear everything worked out for you! This thread is really helpful - I'm bookmarking it because I have a feeling we might run into similar issues next year when my youngest applies. The step-by-step instructions from Connor were particularly useful. It's reassuring to know that adding schools after processing isn't as complicated as it seemed initially. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and cleared up the misinformation!

THIS THIS THIS!!!! The sticker price means NOTHING. My daughter got a $58k/yr private college for less than our $22k/yr state school after scholarships. The whole system is backwards. Apply EVERYWHERE and ignore the published prices until you see the actual aid package.

Your daughter's accomplishment of earning an associates degree through dual enrollment is incredible and will be a huge financial advantage! With an SAI of 11577, you're right that it won't qualify for maximum federal aid, but don't despair yet. Each college will create their own aid package, and many have generous institutional scholarships for transfer students with associate degrees. A few practical next steps: First, use each college's net price calculator on their website - input your actual financial info and it'll give you a much better estimate than the SAI alone. Second, when the aid packages arrive, don't be afraid to negotiate. Financial aid offices often have additional funds for students they want to enroll. Third, look beyond just federal aid - many states have grant programs, and your daughter may qualify for merit scholarships based on her academic achievement. The dual enrollment savings alone probably puts you ahead of most families, even with a higher SAI. You've got this!