Just wanted to jump in as another parent navigating this maze! We got an SAI of 16,200 last month and I've been stressing about what it means for our actual out-of-pocket costs. Reading through all these responses has been SO helpful - especially learning about the rental property reporting issue and the possibility of merit aid not being tied to SAI. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the timing of when schools actually send out their financial aid packages. Does anyone know if schools use the SAI immediately when making aid decisions, or do they wait for any corrections we might submit? We're considering making some corrections based on the asset reporting tips shared here, but I'm worried about delaying our aid processing if schools are already working on packages. Also, @Olivia Van-Cleve, I'd definitely recommend starting to research this early like you're doing! We went into this pretty blind and it's been overwhelming. The Net Price Calculators someone mentioned seem like a great place to start getting realistic expectations. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - it's such a relief to know we're not alone in feeling confused by all of this!

As a newcomer here, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! My family is just starting the college search process and I had never even heard of SAI before stumbling across this discussion. Reading everyone's real experiences and practical advice has taught me more about financial aid than any official website or guidance counselor session. The tips about asset reporting mistakes, merit vs need-based aid, and the possibility of appealing or negotiating with schools are all things I never would have known to look for. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and come back to it when we start our own FAFSA journey. @Ally Tailer - I hope your corrections and appeals work out well! It sounds like you have a solid plan now based on all the great advice you've received. And thank you for starting this conversation - it's clearly helping so many families navigate this confusing process!

Just wanted to add one more timing consideration that caught me off guard during my first semester back in grad school - if you're transferring any credits from your previous master's program, make sure those are fully processed and reflected in your enrollment status BEFORE your loan disbursement date. I had a credit evaluation that was still pending when my loans were supposed to disburse, and it delayed everything by almost two weeks because the financial aid office had to recalculate my enrollment level and loan eligibility. Even though the credits didn't change my degree requirements significantly, the system flagged it for manual review. So definitely get any transcript evaluations and credit transfers sorted out early in the summer rather than waiting until August!

One thing that really helped me plan for my second graduate degree was creating a detailed month-by-month budget starting from July through December. I mapped out when I expected each disbursement and refund based on my school's timeline, then worked backwards to figure out what expenses I could delay until after the money came in. For example, I waited to buy non-essential textbooks until my refund hit, and I arranged with my landlord to pay my security deposit in two installments. Also, consider opening a separate savings account specifically for your student loan refunds - it makes it easier to track how much "student money" you have left versus your other income. The psychological separation really helped me budget more effectively and avoid overspending early in the semester!

Just wanted to chime in as another parent who went through this exact same panic! The "no aid" message on the FAFSA portal is honestly one of the worst pieces of user interface design ever - it causes so much unnecessary stress for families. What it really means is "no federal need-based grants" but doesn't account for all the other types of aid available. With your SAI of 18650 and household income of 92k, your son will definitely qualify for federal student loans, and many schools will still offer institutional aid or merit scholarships regardless of your FAFSA results. I'd also suggest looking into your state's 529 college savings tax benefits if you haven't already - even small contributions can help with tax deductions. The most important thing is to wait for those actual award letters from the schools before making any decisions. Each school packages aid differently, and you might be pleasantly surprised! Hang in there - the hardest part of this process is the waiting and uncertainty.

I'm going through this exact same situation right now with my junior! Reading through this thread has been so helpful - I had no idea that "no aid" just meant no Pell Grants rather than absolutely nothing. The FAFSA system really needs better messaging because this is clearly confusing tons of families. I'm bookmarking this thread for next year when we're dealing with our own SAI results and aid letters. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and advice - it's such a relief to know that federal loans are still available regardless of the SAI score, and that schools often have their own merit money to offer. This community is amazing for first-time parents navigating this process!

I'm a parent who went through this exact situation two years ago in California, and I want to share what finally worked for us after weeks of frustration. The biggest breakthrough came when I realized that many California community colleges have what they call a "Promise Program Navigator" or "Student Success Specialist" who specifically handles AB 19 applications. These aren't the same as general financial aid counselors - they're trained specifically on the California College Promise Program requirements and processes. Here's what I wish I had known from the start: 1. Look for the college's "Student Success" or "Promise Program" webpage - it often has different contact info than the general financial aid page 2. Many colleges have specific "Promise Program Office Hours" where you can walk in without an appointment 3. Some colleges process Promise Program applications on Tuesdays/Thursdays only, so timing your visit matters Your $87K income for a family of 4 is absolutely within the typical range for Promise Program approval - don't let anyone suggest otherwise. The program was literally designed for working families who make "too much" for federal aid but not enough to comfortably afford college in California's expensive market. Also, ask about "conditional enrollment" - many colleges will let your daughter start classes while the Promise Program application is being processed, as long as you've submitted all required documents. You've got this! The system is confusing by design, but once you connect with the right specialist, it usually resolves quickly.

I'm a California community college administrator, and I want to add one crucial detail that hasn't been mentioned yet: make sure your daughter's enrollment status is correct in the college's system before you visit the financial aid office. Sometimes students are coded as "continuing" rather than "first-time" students if they took any dual enrollment or summer bridge courses while still in high school. This can disqualify them from AB 19 benefits even though they should be eligible. Ask them to verify her student status classification when you go in. Also, many colleges have a "Priority Registration and Payment" period that extends beyond the initial deadline for Promise Program participants. Your daughter's classes are likely protected even if you can't resolve this by next week. The fact that you completed the FAFSA puts you ahead of many families - that's often 80% of what's needed for Promise Program eligibility. The income thresholds for AB 19 are much more generous than federal aid, and your family size to income ratio should definitely qualify you. One final tip: if you hit roadblocks tomorrow, ask to speak with the "Dean of Student Services" or "Vice President of Student Affairs." Sometimes a call from administration can expedite things when regular channels are moving too slowly. Don't give up - your advocacy is going to pay off!

Regarding your question about appeals - you should file a special circumstances appeal as soon as you receive all your financial aid packages. This gives the schools enough time to review before funds are distributed. Success rates vary widely by institution and situation, but medical expenses are one of the more commonly approved reasons for adjustment. Make sure you thoroughly document everything and explain clearly how these expenses impact your ability to contribute to education costs. Also, once you receive all offers, you can sometimes use better offers from competing schools as leverage. Some institutions are willing to match or improve their packages if you show them what other comparable schools offered.

Hi Natasha! I'm new to this whole financial aid process and feeling pretty overwhelmed. My daughter is a junior and we'll be going through this next year. Reading your post and all these responses is really eye-opening - I had no idea about things like special circumstances appeals or using competing offers as leverage. It sounds like you're getting some great advice here! I'm curious though - when you mentioned the three state schools she was accepted to with tuition ranging from $14K-22K, are those just tuition costs or the full cost of attendance? I'm trying to understand what we should be budgeting for when our time comes. Also, has she heard back from any of the schools with actual financial aid packages yet? I'd love to know how it turns out for you since our situations might be similar (single parent, decent income but with extra expenses FAFSA doesn't consider).