I'm also new to this community and just encountered this exact same issue! Submitted my FAFSA last week and have been unable to add 4 additional schools for my son's applications due to that frustrating "College selection unavailable" error. I was getting really worried that I had somehow corrupted my submission. This thread has been incredibly helpful - it's such a relief to learn this is a widespread system maintenance issue rather than user error! Based on everyone's success stories, I'm planning to try the Claimyr callback service tomorrow morning since multiple people have reported getting through to FSA agents in 20-30 minutes versus the hours I've spent on hold with no results. I'll also be checking each school's website tonight for those direct FAFSA request forms that Giovanni and others mentioned - what a brilliant workaround I never would have considered! It's really disappointing that Federal Student Aid didn't provide clear advance notice about this maintenance period when so many families are dealing with critical deadlines, but this community has provided more practical solutions than any official source. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's made such a difference for newcomers like me who were feeling overwhelmed by this system outage!

I'm also new to this community and just hit this exact same frustrating wall! Submitted my FAFSA for my daughter last Tuesday and have been trying to add 5 additional schools ever since, but keep getting that "College selection unavailable" error. I was honestly starting to think I had somehow broken the system or missed a critical step. This entire thread has been such a lifesaver - I can't believe how much more practical information I've found here than on any official FSA communication! Learning that this is a system-wide maintenance issue affecting everyone (not something I did wrong) is an enormous relief. The fact that Federal Student Aid didn't send clear notifications about this outage when families are dealing with such time-sensitive deadlines is really disappointing. Based on all the detailed success stories shared here, I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr callback service first thing tomorrow morning - hearing that so many people got through to FSA agents in 20-30 minutes instead of the hours I've wasted on endless hold is incredibly encouraging. I'm also going to spend tonight systematically checking each of my daughter's target schools' websites for those direct FAFSA request forms that Giovanni discovered and others have confirmed actually work. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to share their real experiences and working solutions. This community has provided more helpful guidance and reassurance than any official source, and it's comforting to know that schools are being flexible with deadlines given this widespread system problem!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! Just to make sure I'm totally clear: 1. Income = 2023 tax year (for 2025-2026 FAFSA) 2. Assets = Current values as of today 3. Rental property = Current market value minus remaining mortgage 4. Retirement accounts = NOT included 5. Primary home = NOT included I think I've got it now. Going to work on getting my asset documentation together so I can submit an accurate application.

One more tip that might help - if you're unsure about the exact current value of assets like your rental property, it's better to use a reasonable estimate based on recent comparable sales or property tax assessments rather than delay your application. You can always provide documentation during verification if needed. The key is being consistent and honest about your reporting method. Also, don't forget that if you have any business or farm assets, there are special rules for those too depending on the size of the business. Good luck with your application!

As someone who just went through this exact same process with my daughter at SUNY Cortland, I can confirm what others have said - this is totally normal! The "offered" status for NY state aid is just how the system works until enrollment verification happens a few weeks into the semester. One thing I'd add that I don't think anyone mentioned yet: make sure to check that your daughter's program of study is correctly listed in both her SUNY portal and her TAP application. We discovered late in the game that there was a mismatch between what was on file with the school versus what was submitted to HESC, and it caused a delay in her TAP disbursement even though everything else was correct. Also, if you're still having trouble getting through to the financial aid office, try reaching out via their online student portal messaging system if they have one. Sometimes those messages get responded to faster than phone calls, especially during peak season like this. Hang in there - it really does work out in the end, even though the waiting and uncertainty is nerve-wracking!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! I'm currently dealing with the same exact situation for my son at SUNY Purchase - his TAP and SUNY Tuition Credit are both showing "offered" status and I was completely panicking thinking we had missed some acceptance deadline or messed something up. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief, especially learning that this is just how NY state aid works - staying in "offered" status until enrollment is verified a few weeks into the semester. I wish the schools would explain this more clearly instead of leaving families to guess what's happening! The residency verification issue that so many people mentioned is something I never would have thought to check. I'm definitely calling the registrar's office first thing Monday morning to make sure we don't have any hidden holds. And I'm starting that documentation spreadsheet today - such a brilliant idea for keeping track of all these calls and conversations. Thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences and practical tips. This kind of knowledge sharing makes navigating this confusing system so much more manageable!

As someone who works in financial aid, I want to emphasize how important it is to stay on top of your student portal! So many students miss crucial verification requests or updates because they're not checking regularly. @KhalilStar did exactly the right thing by going back and checking after getting that advice. Also, for future reference, most schools have their financial aid timelines posted on their websites - usually buried in the FAQ section but super helpful for planning. And don't be afraid to ask for deadline extensions if you need them - we'd rather work with you than have you make uninformed financial decisions!

Coming into this thread late but wow, what a great example of how this community supports first-gen students! Reading through all these responses really highlights how confusing the FAFSA process can be when you're navigating it for the first time. The distinction between FAFSA processing and actual aid package creation is something I wish was explained more clearly on the official websites. It's so easy to assume "processed" means "approved for X amount" when really it's just the beginning of the process. Really appreciate everyone who shared practical tips like checking student portals for verification requests, calling early in the morning to avoid hold times, and reaching out to first-gen support offices. This is exactly the kind of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing that makes such a difference!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful to have stumbled upon this incredibly thorough discussion! I'm currently filling out my first FAFSA for my daughter and dealing with a very similar situation - we own 45 acres that we lease to a neighbor for cattle grazing. Like so many others here, I was completely stuck on whether to classify this as farm business or investment property, especially since we also file Schedule F but have minimal involvement in the actual operations. Reading through all these real-world experiences has been absolutely invaluable. The material participation test that everyone keeps referencing has been the key insight for me - it's not about what tax forms you file with the IRS, but about whether you're actually making day-to-day farming decisions. Since we just collect lease payments while our neighbor handles all the livestock management, pasture rotation, and cattle care decisions, we clearly don't meet the material participation threshold. The explanation from the financial aid professional about tax classification versus FAFSA classification serving different purposes was particularly enlightening and explains why filing Schedule F doesn't automatically determine the FAFSA treatment. What really gives me confidence is seeing the consistent advice throughout this thread from multiple families who've successfully navigated this exact situation. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource - this discussion has convinced me that investment property classification is definitely the right approach for our passive grazing lease!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add my perspective since I'm currently going through this exact same situation! We have 55 acres that we lease out for corn production, and like everyone else here, I was completely confused about the FAFSA classification despite filing Schedule F. This thread has been absolutely incredible - the material participation test that everyone keeps mentioning finally made everything click for me. Since we're essentially just landlords collecting lease payments while our tenant farmer makes all the planting, harvesting, and management decisions, we clearly don't qualify as materially participating in the farm operation regardless of our tax filings. What I found most helpful was the insight from the financial aid professional explaining that tax classification and FAFSA classification serve completely different purposes. That really clarified why filing Schedule F doesn't automatically make it a farm business for financial aid purposes when you're not actually running the day-to-day operations. The consistency of advice throughout this discussion from families who've successfully navigated this process gives me so much confidence. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such an invaluable resource for newcomers like me trying to decode these complex FAFSA rules! This has definitely convinced me that investment property classification is the right approach for our situation.