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i filled out fafsa last year and they gave me the run around for WEEKS trying to get ahold of someone on the phone!!! had a question about my dads tax info (im 22 and they still wanted his info even tho i dont live with him???) and kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold for like 2 hours. so annoying
The dependent/independent status rules can be frustrating. At 22, you're still considered dependent for FAFSA purposes unless you meet one of the independence criteria (married, veteran, have dependents, etc.). The phone issues are unfortunately common - I've found that calling very early in the morning (right when they open) sometimes helps. Or you could try that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier if you're still dealing with this issue.
Thank you all SO much for the helpful information! I feel much more prepared now. I'll definitely apply as soon as the 2025-2026 FAFSA opens in October, and I'll make sure to have all my documents ready in case I get selected for verification. It sounds like with my situation as a single parent with $43k income, I should qualify for some Pell Grant funding, which is really encouraging. I'll also check with Michigan's higher education agency about state grants and look into each school's institutional aid options. This has been incredibly helpful!
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED!! My kid had a 4.2 GPA and got National Merit recognition and these greedy colleges still expect us to pay $25K+ per year. It's criminal what they're charging for education. And don't get me started on textbooks and all the extra fees they tack on AFTER you commit. Our generation could work summer jobs to pay for college but now kids graduate with mortgage-sized debt. And the "financial aid" is a joke - mostly loans that will take decades to pay off.
Also, don't forget that the contribution formulas have changed significantly with the shift from EFC to SAI. If your income or assets have changed notably since last year's application, you might see quite different results. Pay special attention to the asset reporting sections, as some categories are weighted differently now. And if you have multiple children in college simultaneously, be aware that the SAI calculation no longer provides the same reduction for multiple students that the old EFC system did. This has caught many families by surprise.
One final tip: if you're missing the priority deadline for your school, submit the FAFSA anyway as soon as possible. Late submission is better than no submission. Some schools have rolling financial aid distribution and may still have funds available, even if you miss their priority date.
quick question - did anyone notice if their aid amount changed after the system came back online? just wondering if they recalculate stuff during these updates??
UPDATE: My information is back! Just wanted to let everyone know that my dashboard and SAI calculation reappeared this morning. Looks like it was just maintenance after all. Thanks for all the helpful info and keeping me from totally freaking out!
QuantumQuasar
just wondering why cant you ask another counselor at your school to download the reports for you temporarily while waiting?? thats what we did when our new person started
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Ethan Clark
•Unfortunately, I'm the only college/career specialist at our school. We have general counselors, but none of them have access to the Arizona College Connect portal either - that's specifically my role. I'm essentially replacing someone who retired last year, and their access was deactivated.
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Yuki Sato
Just checking back - were you able to reach someone at the Arizona Commission using that phone number? Sometimes it helps to call right when they open at 8:30am to get through. Let us know if you need other strategies!
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Ethan Clark
•Yes! Success! I called first thing this morning and actually spoke to a real person. Turns out they had my email slightly wrong in their system (they added an extra dot in my school email), so the invitation was bouncing. They fixed it and resent the invitation, and I now have access to our school's FAFSA reports. THANK YOU everyone for your help! For anyone else having this issue, definitely call directly rather than relying on email.
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