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THIS 100%!!! My sister went to one of these "FAFSA consultants" and do you know what their big secret advice was? APPEAL YOUR AID PACKAGE! Like that's some kind of hidden knowledge lol. Total waste of $250 for advice that's literally on every college website.
One thing I haven't seen mentioned: these FAFSA optimization services rarely understand the nuances between different colleges' institutional methodology. The federal methodology (FAFSA) is only part of the equation. Many private colleges use institutional formulas that consider assets differently. What works to maximize federal aid might not help (or could even hurt) at certain private schools. This is why one-size-fits-all FAFSA services often disappoint - they're not customized to your specific college list.
We had a similar problem and figured out it was because my daughter's and my accounts got linked incorrectly. Call FSA directly at 1-800-433-3243 and explain the issue. They told us sometimes when you restart an application after deleting one, the system doesn't fully reset the parent-child relationship in their database. Only their tech team can fix this on the backend. Took us 4 calls to get someone who understood the issue though.
4 calls?? That's insane! Did you just keep calling until you got someone helpful? I'm wondering if I should just try the Claimyr service someone mentioned above to save time.
Yes, exactly. First 3 people just kept telling us to clear cache and try again. Super frustrating! I'd definitely try that service if you can. Wish I had known about it earlier. The fourth person immediately recognized the database linkage issue and escalated it. Fixed within 24 hours after that.
Thanks for sharing your experience - that's really helpful to know. I'll have my daughter try the alternative contributor method that the financial aid officer suggested first, and if that doesn't work, I'll definitely use Claimyr to get through to FSA. At this point, I just want this resolved before her deadline!
One more thing - if you've verified all the information is correct but still get the error, try having your son go back to the "Manage Contributors" section rather than starting a new invite. Sometimes there's an option there to resend an existing invitation which works better than creating a new one. Also, make sure you're logging into studentaid.gov directly rather than clicking through from an email link which can sometimes cause problems.
Just to follow up - if you do get an error message, look for a specific error code (usually something like ERR-XX-XXXX). Those codes can help the FSA helpline identify exactly what's causing the issue if you need to call them. Also, if you're getting close to your son's priority deadline, remember that many schools will work with you if you can show you've been attempting to complete the FAFSA. Document your attempts (screenshots of errors) just in case.
my cousins app got rejected 3 TIMES for signature issues!! first electronic then paper then they said the signatures didn't match?!?! what does that even mean lol. financial aid office at his school finally had to help. maybe try that if the mail thing doesn't work
The signature verification system is a COMPLETE JOKE. My daughter and I had to submit FOUR TIMES because they kept saying our signatures "didn't match" their records. What records?? I've never given them my signature before this FAFSA! The whole system is designed to make it harder for deserving students to get aid.
just wonderin if u ever got this fixed?? im having same problem now and need to know how long before they approved yours after you mailed signatures???
Update: We mailed in both the signature page and application summary with tracking. It took exactly 11 days before we got the email confirmation that everything was processed. My son's SAI score is now showing in his account. So much stress for something that should be simple!
Daniel Rogers
anyone know if colleges accept aid appeals this late? my fafsa also got delayed and now the package i got isn't enough but idk if its too late to appeal
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Victoria Scott
•Most schools accept appeals throughout the year, especially if there are special circumstances or if information has changed since you submitted the FAFSA. Contact the financial aid office directly about their appeal process - it's usually just a form and some supporting documentation.
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Emily Parker
Based on what you've shared, this does sound like normal processing delays rather than something wrong with your FAFSA. The 2023-2024 FAFSA rollout has been particularly challenging with significant delays. In my experience working with families this year: - Some schools are taking 4-6 weeks to process corrected FAFSAs - Many schools are extending their financial aid deadlines in recognition of these delays - Financial aid offices are extremely overwhelmed with the backlog I still recommend calling, but approach the conversation with understanding that the staff are likely doing their best under difficult circumstances. Ask if they've extended deadlines due to FAFSA delays, and if they have a process for holding your daughter's place until the corrected FAFSA arrives.
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Justin Evans
•Thank you for the reassurance! I'll definitely be understanding when I call. It helps knowing this is happening to lots of families and not just us.
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