I'm in the exact same situation - submitted my FAFSA 9 days ago and was starting to panic that something was wrong! This thread has been such a lifesaver. I had no idea that the actual Pell Grant awards come from the individual schools, not directly from the FAFSA site. I've been refreshing studentaid.gov like crazy thinking I'd see a dollar amount or something. The timeline everyone is sharing is really helpful - sounds like 2-4 weeks is totally normal for the whole process. I'm definitely going to try calling my top choice schools next week if I still haven't heard anything. Also going to check that Federal Student Aid Estimator tool that was mentioned to get some idea of what to expect while I wait. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - makes this whole confusing process so much less stressful when you know you're not the only one going through it!

I'm going through this exact same thing! Submitted my FAFSA 5 days ago and have been constantly checking studentaid.gov thinking I was missing something. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea the schools are actually the ones who send out Pell Grant awards based on your SAI, not the FAFSA website directly. I've been refreshing that page like crazy expecting to see dollar amounts! The timelines everyone is sharing are really reassuring - sounds like 2-4 weeks is totally normal and I shouldn't be panicking yet. I'm definitely going to try that Federal Student Aid Estimator tool while I wait for my SAI to show up, and maybe call my top choice schools next week if I still haven't heard anything. It's so frustrating that they don't explain this process better upfront! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - makes me feel way less alone in this stressful waiting game.

I'm a first-generation college student and had similar concerns about privacy when I applied! What really helped me was understanding that financial aid officers are professionals who see thousands of applications - they're not judging your family's financial situation, they're just trying to get you the aid you need. I was initially embarrassed about our low income, but my financial aid counselor explained that this information helps them identify students who qualify for additional need-based grants and scholarships that aren't just federal aid. The privacy protections are real - I've never had any issues with my information being misused, and it's been worth it for the aid I received. Don't let privacy concerns prevent you from getting the financial help you deserve for college!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works at a college (not in financial aid, but close enough to know the process). The responses here are really accurate - schools get your ISIR with financial summary data but not your actual tax documents unless verification is needed. One thing I'd add is that if you're really concerned about privacy, you can always ask the financial aid office about their data security policies when you visit or call. Most are happy to explain how they protect student information and who has access to what. Also, remember that financial aid officers genuinely want to help you get the maximum aid possible - your financial information helps them do that job better, not judge your situation. The whole system can feel invasive, but it's designed to make sure aid goes to students who need it most.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation! Just submitted my daughter's FAFSA for 25-26 and our SAI estimate went from around -$400 last year to $980 this year. Same income, same assets, everything identical. It's so stressful because we were counting on similar aid to what we got for 24-25. Reading through all these comments is both reassuring (that we're not alone) and terrifying (that this seems to be happening to a lot of families). I think I'm going to try that Claimyr service someone mentioned to actually get through to FSA and get some answers. Has anyone had luck with the special circumstances appeals at their schools? I'm wondering if the formula change itself could be grounds for an appeal, especially for families who were budgeting based on previous years' aid packages.

I'm also new to navigating FAFSA (my son is a high school senior), and this thread has been incredibly helpful but also concerning! It sounds like many families are experiencing these unexpected SAI increases despite no changes in their financial situation. One thing I'm wondering - for those who have already gone through this process, how much did the final processed SAI differ from the initial estimate? And did the schools end up adjusting their aid packages to account for these formula changes, or did families really end up paying significantly more? I'm trying to help my son make his college decision, but it's hard to know what to expect financially when the aid calculations seem so unpredictable this year. Any insights from families who have already received their final aid packages would be really appreciated!

Hey Sasha! I just wanted to add my voice to everyone else's encouragement because I was literally in your exact shoes last year - SAI of $15,300, parents making $66k, and I was absolutely convinced my college dreams were dead. I remember crying for hours thinking there was no way we could afford that much! But here's the reality: your SAI is NOT your final bill! It's just a number schools use to calculate aid. After all my aid packages came in, I ended up paying between $6,200 and $10,800 out of pocket depending on the school - WAY less than my SAI. The game changer for me was applying to a really diverse mix of schools and being strategic about it. I applied to 2 reach schools with huge endowments, 3 state schools, and 3 private schools known for good aid. The offers varied wildly! My cheapest option was actually a private school that gave me $18k in institutional grants. Your family's medical situation is EXACTLY what special circumstances appeals are for - I did one for my dad's disability expenses and it reduced my expected contribution by $2,800. Start gathering those documents now! Don't let that SAI number crush your dreams. You're going to have more affordable options than you can imagine right now. Hang in there! 💪

Hey Sasha! I totally get why you're panicking right now - that SAI number is SO confusing and scary when you first see it! But I promise you it's not as bad as it looks. I'm a current college junior who had almost the exact same situation two years ago - my SAI was $14,650 with parents making around $69k, and I thought my college dreams were completely over. Here's what I wish someone had told me then: your SAI is basically just a starting point that helps schools figure out how much aid to give you. It's NOT a bill! With your family income and those medical expenses, you're actually in a really good position for need-based aid. My actual out-of-pocket costs ended up being between $6,500-$11,200 depending on the school - way less than my SAI! The key was applying to lots of different schools and comparing their aid packages. Some schools were super generous, others not so much, but I had great options. Definitely pursue that special circumstances appeal for your mom's medical bills - it made about a $3,500 difference in my aid package. And don't sleep on state schools! My state flagship ended up being one of my most affordable options. Run the net price calculators on each school's website for more realistic estimates. You're going to be amazed at how much more affordable things look than that scary SAI number suggests! Don't give up yet! 💙

This thread is incredibly helpful! As someone who just started getting these Sallie Mae emails after filing my FAFSA in February, I had no idea this was such a systematic issue. The sheer number of strategies everyone has shared here is amazing - from CFPB complaints to DMAchoice.org to emailing their privacy office directly. What really strikes me is how coordinated and predatory their approach is. They're literally buying our data and targeting us during our most anxious moments about college financing. The fake urgency in their messaging ("secure your rate now!") is designed to pressure us into making decisions before we even know what federal aid we qualify for. I'm definitely going to file a CFPB complaint today and check my studentaid.gov communication preferences. It's so reassuring to hear from financial aid professionals like @Isabella Brown that the FAFSA delays are normal this year and we'll have plenty of time to review our options once award letters arrive. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and creating this knowledge base to help fellow students fight back against these predatory practices. Knowledge truly is power when it comes to protecting ourselves from financial exploitation!

I'm so grateful I found this thread! Just submitted my FAFSA three weeks ago and the Sallie Mae email bombardment started almost immediately - I'm talking 3-4 emails per day with subject lines like "Don't wait - rates are rising!" and "Your college funding deadline is approaching." It's been causing me so much stress because I thought I was missing some important deadline or opportunity. Reading everyone's experiences has been both validating and educational. I had no idea this was such a widespread predatory practice or that they literally purchase our FAFSA data to target us. The fake urgency tactics are so manipulative - they're banking on our anxiety about college costs to pressure us into quick decisions. I'm definitely filing a CFPB complaint today based on all the success stories here. I'm also going to check my studentaid.gov communication preferences and email their privacy office directly. It's ridiculous that we need to become consumer protection experts just to stop financial harassment, but I'm grateful for this community sharing strategies to fight back. For anyone else dealing with this - remember that these companies have ZERO connection to your actual financial aid process. They're just trying to profit off our stress before we even see what federal aid we qualify for. We've got this! 💪