Hey Christopher! Just wanted to chime in as another first-gen student who went through this same panic last year 😅 Everyone's advice here is spot on - the federal portal is basically useless for tracking actual aid awards. What helped me was creating a spreadsheet to track when each of my schools said they'd release aid packages, because every school has different timelines (some as late as May/June). Also, don't be afraid to call the financial aid offices if you haven't heard anything by their stated deadlines - they're usually super helpful and understand that first-gen students need extra guidance. You've got this! The waiting is the hardest part but it sounds like you did everything right with your FAFSA submission.

Hey Christopher! Just wanted to add some reassurance as someone who works with financial aid - you're absolutely on the right track! The fact that your FAFSA shows "Processed" means the hardest part is done. One thing that might help ease your anxiety: you can actually check your Student Aid Report (SAR) on studentaid.gov to see your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or Student Aid Index (SAI) if you used the new FAFSA. This will give you a better idea of what aid you might be eligible for while you wait for school packages. Also, keep in mind that schools are still adjusting to the new FAFSA timeline this year, so some may be running a bit behind their usual schedules. You're doing great navigating this as a first-gen student - don't hesitate to reach out to your schools' aid offices if you need updates! 🌟

Another tip: GET THE MOBILE APP!! Both of you! It makes connecting accounts so much easier. I tried doing everything through the website last year and it was a disaster. The app walks you through everything step by step. Trust me on this.

As someone just starting this process with my daughter, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the separate account requirement and was about to make the same mistake of trying to use my old account for everything. Quick question - when you mention the mobile app, is that the "Federal Student Aid" app or something else? I want to make sure I download the right one. Also, @Liam Fitzgerald, thanks for explaining the SAI changes - I hadn't heard about those updates and it sounds like they could actually benefit some families compared to the old EFC system.

This is such a relief to read! I've been panicking for the last two days thinking I was doing something wrong. The sign-in button has been completely unresponsive for me too, and I tried all the usual troubleshooting steps. It's so frustrating that they don't put clear notices on the website when they're doing maintenance - would save everyone so much stress! I'm going to try again now that others are saying it's working, and I'll definitely contact my school's financial aid office first thing tomorrow to let them know about the delays. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - this thread has been a lifesaver!

Just went through this exact same frustration last week! The greyed-out sign-in button issue seems to happen pretty regularly during their system updates. I'm glad to see from the recent comments that it's working again now. For anyone who might face this in the future, I found that having multiple backup plans really helps - like having the financial aid office contact info saved, taking screenshots for documentation, and even trying different devices/networks. The FAFSA system can be so unreliable during peak times, but at least this community is great at sharing solutions and supporting each other through these stressful situations!

This thread is so helpful! As someone who's about to start this process with my youngest, I'm bookmarking all these solutions. Quick question - for those who had to call FSA, about how long did the actual fix take once you got through to an agent? My daughter's application deadline is coming up fast and I want to know if this is something that can be resolved in one call or if it requires multiple follow-ups.

Thanks for this detailed thread! I'm going through the exact same issue with my son right now. The "account already established" error is driving me crazy. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like the PSAT connection might be our problem too - he definitely created some kind of College Board account for testing. I'm going to try the Claimyr service to get through to FSA and see if they can merge accounts like they did for Andre's daughter. Really appreciate everyone sharing their solutions - this community is a lifesaver!

This whole situation is so stressful! I'm dealing with something similar - my family's income changed significantly after we filed our taxes, and I've been waiting weeks for my school to process my appeal. Reading through all these responses is really helpful though. I had no idea about the distinction between SAI adjustments and the official Professional Judgment workflow in the new system. I'm going to try calling my financial aid office tomorrow and specifically ask for a "preliminary professional judgment decision letter" like Diego suggested. It's such a relief to know that other people are going through this too and that there are actually people getting their appeals processed now. Fingers crossed we can all get this sorted out before the May 1st deadline!

As someone who just went through this exact situation last month, I can confirm that the professional judgment functionality is finally working! My school processed my appeal two weeks ago after months of delays. Here's what helped me get it resolved: I scheduled an in-person appointment with my financial aid counselor (instead of just calling) and brought printed copies of all my documentation. Being able to sit down face-to-face made a huge difference - they were able to walk me through exactly what they needed and give me a realistic timeline. I also made sure to emphasize my enrollment deadline multiple times during the meeting. The whole new FAFSA system has been a nightmare, but don't lose hope! If your school still says they can't process it, ask them specifically what functionality they're waiting for, because the system capabilities have been rolling out in phases and they might not realize everything is available now.