For anyone reading this thread who may be applying to schools a year or more form now - this is KEY. The best thing I think I brought to my kids’ college app process was my investment of time into finding out everything I could about financial aid and how it affects divorced parents in particular. I knew I couldn’t force the NCP to do what he needed to do, though I certainly tried to make him aware of the importance of his role as best I could. So I did everything possible to make sure my kids would have options. A couple of full tuition merit schools were on their lists, for example. I studied the NCP waiver process, even asked her GC about what might be required if NCP refused to do his part.
This is a huge part of the college app process for FA eligible divorced families and if the parents don’t know to do it, the kids have to take it on, and the earlier the better.