One more thing to consider - even if your son gets accepted as a transfer student for fall, he might want to compare financial aid packages between his current school and potential new schools. Since you've already completed FAFSA, you'll be able to compare offers. Just make sure when adding the new school codes that you select to have your FAFSA information sent to them - it doesn't happen automatically just by adding them. Also, if he's considering State University, their transfer application deadline for fall was actually extended to June 15th this year (they normally close earlier). I know because my nephew just applied there as a transfer.

There's one critical point no one has mentioned yet. When you log into studentaid.gov to add more schools to your son's FAFSA, make sure you're updating the correct aid year (2024-2025). I've seen many parents accidentally modify the wrong year when making changes. Also, since your son will be transferring as a sophomore, make sure he understands how credit transfers work. Not all credits transfer equally between institutions, and this could potentially extend his time to graduation which has significant financial implications.

THIS SYSTEM IS SO BROKEN!! Why should students have to jump through 500 hoops just to get the loans they QUALIFY FOR?? My blood pressure goes up just thinking about my experience with this exact situation. The financial aid office acts like they're doing you a favor by processing your loans. IT'S LITERALLY THEIR JOB!!! Sorry for the rant but seriously - be prepared to be very persistent and don't take no for an answer.

One more thing - since we're already in July, ask specifically about their emergency loan programs too. Many schools offer short-term emergency loans to bridge the gap while federal aid is processing. This could help cover initial expenses until the federal loans come through. Also, double-check that your daughter doesn't have any holds on her account (library fines, parking tickets, etc.) as these can delay financial aid processing.

my brother went thru this last year and he said the most annoying part was each school formats their aid letters totally different so its super confusing to compare them side by side. some schools make loans look like scholarships if ur not reading carefully

also just fyi the timing on this stuff is so random. my daughters first school sent her aid package like 2 weeks after she got accepted but another one took until like april even tho she was accepted in january. dont panic if they all come at different times

When I finally got through to someone at the financial aid office, they told me the CSS profile is just a starting point and we'd have a chance to explain our specific financial situation after submitting. That made me feel better about the whole thing.

To address your concern about timing: most schools will send preliminary aid offers with your ED acceptance letter in mid-December. You'll typically have until May 1st to make your final decision, and schools understand that financial aid is a crucial factor. If the package is truly unworkable for your family, you can appeal or potentially be released from the ED commitment. For the CSS Profile specifically, just make sure you're reporting information exactly as it appears on your tax documents. For your rental property loss, enter it as a negative number. And don't forget to report the property value in the assets section as well. The most important thing is consistency with your tax returns.

The impact of the SAI vs. EFC change depends on your specific financial situation. Generally: - Middle-income families with multiple children in college may see LESS aid (the "sibling discount" was reduced) - Lower-income families may see MORE aid due to increased income protection allowances - Families with more complex financial situations (divorce, multiple contributors) might see significant changes either way Since you mentioned being on the edge of qualifying, I'd recommend using one of the new FAFSA forecasting tools to estimate your SAI before submitting. The Federal Student Aid website has resources, or you can use tools from organizations like SwiftStudent or the College Board.

btw i heard they changed the name from EFC to SAI cuz too many parents thought "estimated family contribution" meant that was all they had to pay for college lol. now its just a number that doesnt mean anything specific