Hi Gabriel! I'm new to this community but your question hits so close to home - my family is in almost exactly the same situation with income around $190k, and I was having this exact same debate with my parents just last month! After reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, I'm completely convinced that filling out FAFSA is absolutely worth it, even for families in our income bracket. The real examples people shared here about merit scholarships requiring FAFSA on file were total game-changers for me - I had no clue this was even a requirement for non-need-based aid! What really sealed the deal for me was hearing about those $10k-15k scholarships that people actually received despite similar family incomes. When you think about potentially leaving that kind of money on the table just because you didn't want to spend 45 minutes on paperwork, it's really a no-brainer. I'm also applying to a mix of state and private schools, and it sounds like having FAFSA completed will keep all doors open for different institutional aid opportunities I didn't even know existed. Plus, learning about those middle-income initiatives and federal loan options gives me peace of mind even if we don't need them right away. This thread has been such a lifesaver - thank you for asking the question so many of us were wondering about! Definitely tackling my FAFSA this weekend now. Good luck with all your applications!

Hi Gabriel! I'm new to this community but found your post at exactly the right time - my family is in a very similar situation with income around $185k and I was having the same doubts about FAFSA. After reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, I'm completely convinced now that it's absolutely worth filling out! I had no idea that so many merit scholarships and institutional aid programs require FAFSA on file regardless of financial need. The real examples everyone shared here - those $8k-15k scholarships - really opened my eyes to what could be missed by not filing. What really struck me was learning about the middle-income initiatives that some schools have specifically for families like ours who fall into that gap between need-based aid and full-pay. Having FAFSA data on file seems to be the key to being considered for these programs. I'm also relieved to hear how much simpler the 2025-2026 FAFSA is compared to previous years. My cousin went through this process a few years ago and made it sound absolutely terrible, but if it really only takes 30-45 minutes now with the IRS data retrieval tool, that's totally manageable for the potential benefits. Thanks for starting this thread - it's been a game-changer for so many of us navigating this process for the first time! This community is amazing for getting real advice from people who've actually been through it. Definitely filling out my FAFSA this weekend!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful for this detailed thread! I'm just starting the FAFSA process with my daughter for fall 2025, and honestly, I had no idea about these major formula changes until reading everyone's experiences here. Like so many others, I always assumed our family income around $78k put us in that frustrating "too much for aid but not enough to easily afford college" zone. Reading about the expanded Pell Grant eligibility and how the income protection allowance increases are actually helping middle-income families is such a relief! The complexity around different tax years being used for siblings and how even small income variations can impact eligibility is mind-blowing - it really shows how much more strategic this process has become. Your story about calling to verify rather than panicking about unexpected aid is exactly the guidance I needed. I'm submitting our FAFSA next week and will definitely approach any surprising results with cautious optimism rather than immediate fear. Thank you for sharing your journey and providing that crucial update - real experiences like this are infinitely more valuable than trying to decode the confusing official documentation!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my heartfelt thanks for this incredibly informative thread! I'm just beginning the FAFSA journey with my first child starting college in fall 2025, and I had absolutely no awareness of these significant formula changes until discovering this discussion. Like so many others have shared, our family income of around $79k had me convinced we were stuck in that awful middle ground - making "too much" for meaningful aid but nowhere near enough to make college costs manageable without serious financial strain. Learning about the expanded Pell Grant eligibility and increased income protection allowances is genuinely life-changing information for families like ours. The detail about different tax years being used for siblings really highlights how much more complex but potentially beneficial this new system can be. Your experience of calling to verify rather than assuming error is such practical advice that I'll definitely follow when we receive our aid package. I'm planning to submit our FAFSA in the coming weeks and will approach any unexpected aid with informed optimism rather than panic, thanks to the wisdom shared here. This community is already proving invaluable for understanding what feels like navigating a completely transformed financial aid landscape. Thank you for sharing your complete journey with the update - these real family experiences are so much more helpful than trying to interpret the official documentation!

Hey Oliver! I'm also a newcomer here but wanted to share something that might help. I just went through the FAFSA process myself and had a similar panic when my SAI came back higher than expected. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to check if you accidentally reported any cash value of life insurance policies as assets. I made this mistake initially - included a whole life policy my parents have that has some cash value, not realizing it shouldn't be counted. That alone was inflating our SAI by several thousand dollars! Also, if your parents contribute to any HSAs (Health Savings Accounts), make sure those aren't being counted as regular savings/investment assets. They should be excluded just like retirement accounts. The fact that you have your brother in college should definitely be helping your SAI, but double-check that you both filled out that section consistently. Sometimes small discrepancies between siblings' applications can cause issues. I know it's stressful, but like others have said, focus on merit-based opportunities and schools where your stats shine. With a 3.8 GPA, you should definitely have options! Don't let that SAI number discourage you from applying broadly.

Hey Oliver! I'm new to this community but your situation sounds exactly like what happened to me last year. That SAI of $40k with your family's income is definitely in the realm of possibility, but there are definitely some things worth double-checking. The biggest thing I'd suggest is going through your asset reporting section with a fine-tooth comb. That $35k investment account could be contributing significantly to your SAI - parent assets are assessed at around 5.64% after allowances, but if you accidentally reported it as a student asset, it gets hit at 20% which would be a massive difference. Also make sure you didn't include any retirement accounts (401k, IRA, pension funds) in your assets - I see this mistake ALL the time and it can inflate your SAI by tens of thousands. One thing that really helped me was using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to re-import all the tax information. It eliminates any chance of typos in income figures, which can really add up. Don't get too discouraged about the high SAI though! I ended up getting decent aid packages from several schools despite having a similar situation. Focus on schools where your 3.8 GPA puts you in their top 25% of applicants - that's where the merit money tends to be. And definitely pursue that professional judgment appeal for your dad's reduced hours. Many schools are understanding about recent changes in family financial circumstances. You've got this! The FAFSA is just the starting point, not the end of the story.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm so relieved to have found this thread! My daughter is experiencing the exact same situation - her financial aid has been showing as "pending" for almost three weeks now, and I was starting to panic about how she'll cover textbooks and living expenses. This entire discussion has been incredibly helpful in understanding what's actually happening behind the scenes. I had no idea that schools often wait until after the add/drop period ends to disburse aid, or that there could be verification documents that don't appear properly on student portals. The strategy of requesting an itemized breakdown of remaining steps is something I never would have thought to ask for. Based on all the advice shared here, I'm going to have my daughter visit her financial aid office in person tomorrow and specifically request to speak with a counselor rather than front desk staff. I'll be prepared with the targeted questions that have proven successful for others. I'm also going to ask about emergency textbook loan programs - I had no idea these existed! It's both frustrating and comforting to learn how widespread these delays are, but the success stories give me genuine hope that there are usually specific solutions once you know how to navigate the system effectively. Thank you all for building such a knowledgeable and supportive community for parents dealing with these stressful financial aid challenges!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this thread! My daughter is currently dealing with the exact same frustrating situation - her financial aid has been stuck in "pending" status for nearly three weeks now, and I was starting to feel completely helpless about what steps to take. Reading through all the experiences and practical advice shared here has been absolutely eye-opening. I had no idea that schools typically wait until the add/drop period ends before disbursing aid, or that crucial verification documents might not display correctly on student portals. The suggestion about requesting an itemized breakdown of what specific steps remain in the process is brilliant - I've been accepting those vague "it's being processed" responses for far too long! Based on everything I've learned from this discussion, I'm planning to have my daughter visit her financial aid office in person this week and specifically ask to speak with a counselor rather than front desk staff. I'll be armed with all the targeted questions that have proven successful for others here. I'm also definitely going to inquire about emergency textbook loan programs - I had absolutely no idea these even existed at most schools! It's simultaneously maddening and reassuring to discover how widespread these delays are, but the success stories shared here give me genuine confidence that there are usually concrete solutions available once you understand how to navigate the system properly. Thank you all for creating such an incredibly supportive and knowledgeable community for parents trying to work through these stressful financial aid situations!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely horrified to discover this FAFSA formula change through everyone's posts! My older brother is currently a sophomore in college and I'm starting this fall. We haven't gotten our SAI results back yet, but based on all the experiences shared here, I'm expecting a massive shock. His EFC last year was around 11,500, so if the pattern holds, we're probably looking at SAIs of 23,000+ each. That's nearly double what our family budgeted for! Our parents specifically structured their college savings plan around the old EFC system with the sibling adjustment, and this change could completely upend our ability to afford college. I'm incredibly grateful for all the detailed advice shared in this thread - the tips about calling financial aid offices proactively, preparing spreadsheet comparisons, and getting counselor letters are invaluable. I'm definitely starting my outreach to schools THIS WEEK rather than waiting for our results. It's absolutely unacceptable that such a massive policy change wasn't clearly communicated to families during the planning and application process. How are we supposed to make informed decisions when the Department of Education doesn't properly explain how dramatically the formula has changed? Thank you to everyone who's shared their strategies and experiences - this community has been more helpful than our entire school counseling office in preparing us for what we're facing!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely stunned to learn about this FAFSA formula change! My sister is currently a junior in college and I'm starting my freshman year this fall. We submitted our FAFSA applications three weeks ago and are still waiting for results, but after reading through all these experiences, I'm genuinely panicking about what we're going to see. My sister's EFC last year was 13,200, so based on the pattern everyone is describing, we might each end up with SAIs around 26,000+. That would be absolutely devastating for our family financially - our parents have been planning and budgeting for years based on the assumption that the sibling adjustment would continue to apply under the new system. I'm honestly furious that such a major policy change wasn't clearly communicated during the application process. Our school counselor never mentioned that the federal formula had eliminated the multiple-student household adjustment, and I'm certain we're not the only family that's going to be completely blindsided by this. Reading through all the incredible advice here, I'm definitely going to start calling financial aid offices at my prospective schools THIS WEEK rather than waiting for our actual SAI results. The proactive approach and preparation strategies everyone has shared - especially the spreadsheet comparison and counselor letter ideas - seem absolutely crucial. Thank you to everyone who's shared such detailed experiences and practical advice. This thread has been infinitely more informative than anything we've received from our school guidance office or the Department of Education. It's terrifying to face this, but knowing we're not alone in dealing with this mess gives me hope we can find solutions!