Good steps! When you speak with them again, be very specific about the financial gap and what you need. Sometimes saying

Hey MoonlightSonata! I'm glad you took action and called Fairfield's financial aid office. That shows real maturity in handling this stressful situation. While you're waiting to hear back from them, I'd also suggest reaching out to your other accepted schools ASAP - not just your second choice. Sometimes schools have additional aid available later in the cycle as other students decline their offers. Also, don't forget to ask about payment plans or work-study opportunities that might help bridge any remaining gap. You're absolutely making the right moves by exploring all your options before committing to a financial burden that could impact you for years. Keep us posted on how things develop!

One last suggestion - create a folder (physical or digital) with these categories: 1. Academic achievements (honor roll, awards, etc.) 2. Extracurricular participation proof (certificates, programs) 3. Community service documentation 4. Test scores 5. Notable projects or work samples Start collecting everything now, even if it seems minor. By senior year, you'll have a comprehensive portfolio to reference when filling out applications. The number one reason students struggle with applications is they can't remember or document their achievements from 9th-10th grade. Also, check if your state has any early commitment programs. Some states like Indiana, Oklahoma and Florida have programs where 7th-8th graders can commit to certain requirements and guarantee state aid later.

As a financial aid counselor, I want to emphasize something that hasn't been mentioned yet - start teaching your son about financial literacy NOW. Many students get to college with no understanding of student loans, interest rates, or how debt impacts their future. Consider having him read books like "The Complete Guide to Paying for College" or even age-appropriate resources about budgeting and saving. When scholarship/aid decisions come up in a few years, he'll be equipped to make informed choices rather than just taking whatever is offered. Also, if he's strong in math, look into actuarial science or finance programs - many have excellent scholarship opportunities and high earning potential that can offset college costs through future income rather than just aid. One more thing - start visiting college campuses now, even casually. It helps kids understand what they're working toward and can motivate them to stay focused on academics. Plus, demonstrated interest at some schools can actually impact merit aid decisions later!

**EDITED TO ADD:** After being on hold for nearly an hour, I finally got through to the CA Student Aid Commission. For students who have both parent and student with SSNs but are having FAFSA submission issues, they said students can submit the CA Dream Act Application as a backup. They will still need to complete the FAFSA by June 30th and submit an Application Conversion Form (G-55), but this ensures they won't miss Cal Grant eligibility. Hope this helps!

As a California parent who just went through this nightmare with my twins, I wanted to share what finally worked for us after days of submission errors. We kept getting the "cannot continue processing" error even though everything was complete. What saved us was calling the Federal Student Aid hotline at 1-800-4-FED-AID and specifically asking them to check for "backend data corruption" on our applications. Turns out there was some kind of glitch with how our tax information was being processed that wasn't visible to us. The agent fixed it on their end and we were able to submit immediately after. For anyone still struggling - make sure to mention "backend data corruption" when you call. The first-level support didn't know what that meant, but when I got transferred to a technical specialist, they knew exactly what to look for. Both my kids' applications went through within minutes after the fix. Also documenting everything is crucial - I took screenshots every step of the way showing our completed applications with timestamps, which the agent noted in our file as proof of our attempts before the deadline.

One last piece of advice: Your financial circumstances and aid eligibility can change from year to year. After your first year, if you find your SAI is too high and you're not receiving enough aid, you can always request a Professional Judgment review (sometimes called a Special Circumstances review) from your school's financial aid office. Common situations that might qualify for reconsideration include: - Loss of income or employment - Extraordinary medical expenses - Change in parent marital status - Support of extended family members The financial aid office has discretion to adjust your aid based on these circumstances, even if they aren't reflected in your FAFSA.

Welcome to the wonderful world of annual FAFSA renewals! 😅 I know it feels overwhelming as a new student, but you've got this. Everyone here has given you excellent advice already. One tip I'd add: start gathering your documents early each year. I create a "FAFSA prep" checklist in September that includes getting tax transcripts, updating my FSA ID security info, and making sure my parents have their tax documents ready. This way when October 1st rolls around, I'm not scrambling to find everything. Also, don't be discouraged if your first renewal feels almost as complicated as your original application - by your third year, you'll be flying through it! The pre-populated fields really do make a huge difference once you get used to the process. Good luck with your first year of college! The financial aid paperwork is tedious but so worth it when that aid money hits your account. 🎓

something no one mentioned is that sometimes cheaper schools actually end up more expensive? my brother transferred from a private school with a big scholarship to a state school thinking it would be cheaper but he got way less aid at the public school so his out of pocket was higher. make sure u run the actual numbers.

I'm new to this community but going through something similar with my daughter. One thing I learned from our financial aid counselor is to make sure you understand the "Return to Title IV" policy if your son does transfer mid-semester. If he withdraws after completing less than 60% of the semester, he might have to pay back some of the federal aid he's already received. This could create an unexpected financial burden on top of everything else. The school's financial aid office should be able to calculate this for you based on when he would withdraw. Also, some schools have "academic fresh start" programs where students can essentially reset their GPA after a certain period - might be worth asking about if he does transfer to a new school. Wishing you and your son the best during this stressful time!