To follow up on everyone's helpful comments, here's a quick guide for what to do next with your daughter's excellent -690 SAI: 1. Check which of her schools require the CSS Profile and complete it ASAP if needed 2. Contact each school's financial aid office directly to ask about any institutional/merit scholarships she might qualify for (these are separate from need-based aid) 3. When you receive the financial aid award letters, carefully separate them into these categories: - Free money (grants, scholarships) - Student loans (Stafford/Direct loans - these are in the student's name) - Parent loans (PLUS loans - these are in your name) - Work-study (money earned through campus employment) 4. Calculate the true "net cost" by subtracting ONLY the free money from the total cost of attendance 5. Compare these true net costs between schools to make your decision A negative SAI is definitely good news, but staying organized about the next steps is key to maximizing this advantage!

Congratulations on the negative SAI! That's fantastic news for your daughter's financial aid eligibility. As someone who went through this process recently, I want to emphasize what others have said about not making any decisions until you see ALL the award letters side by side. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier: create a simple spreadsheet to track each school's offer. List the total cost of attendance, then subtract ONLY the grants and scholarships (free money) to get your true out-of-pocket cost. Don't include loans or work-study in your "aid received" calculations when comparing schools. Also, once you get the award letters, don't be afraid to appeal if the aid seems insufficient. Schools have some flexibility, especially if you can demonstrate special circumstances or if a comparable school offered more aid. With your daughter's -690 SAI, you have strong grounds for requesting maximum assistance. Good luck! This is actually a great position to be in for college affordability.

If you get selected for verification, don't panic - it's routine for about a third of applicants. You'll need to provide documentation supporting the information on your FAFSA, typically: - Tax return transcripts from the IRS - W-2 forms - Documentation of untaxed income - Verification of household size The most important thing is responding quickly and thoroughly. Missing verification deadlines can result in loss of aid eligibility. Each school handles verification differently, so follow their specific instructions carefully.

Just wanted to jump in as someone who went through this exact same process last year! That "Paperwork Processed" message is definitely exciting but I totally get the confusion about what comes next. One thing I wish I had known - even though your FAFSA gets sent to schools automatically, I'd recommend creating accounts on each school's financial aid portal if you haven't already. That way you can track when they actually receive and process your info on their end. Some schools are super quick (got my aid package in 2 weeks) while others took over a month. Also keep checking your spam folder - I almost missed an important verification email from one school because it went there! The waiting is the hardest part but you're definitely on the right track.

Congrats on getting it processed! This is such a helpful thread for anyone else dealing with the same issue. It's reassuring to see that the "In Review" status really is just part of the normal wait time, even when it feels like forever. For future reference, it sounds like 3-4 weeks is pretty typical this year with all the system changes. Thanks for updating us with the good news!

So glad to see this worked out! I'm currently on week 2 of "In Review" status and this whole thread has been incredibly reassuring. It's frustrating how the FAFSA system doesn't give you any indication of what's happening behind the scenes - just that vague "In Review" message with no timeline. Reading everyone's experiences here shows that patience really is key, even though it's nerve-wracking when deadlines are approaching. Thanks for sharing your journey and the happy ending!

btw has anyome noticed the SAI calcs r totally different this yr? our expected contribution went up like 5k from last yr with basically same income??

As someone who just went through this decision process last year, I want to echo what others have said about maxing out Direct Student loans first. The math really is compelling - that 2%+ interest rate difference adds up to thousands over a 10-year repayment period. One thing I didn't see mentioned yet: if your daughter qualifies for subsidized loans (based on financial need), those are even better since the government pays the interest while she's in school. My son got $3,500 in subsidized and $2,000 unsubsidized for his freshman year. Also, regarding your refinance concerns - the Parent PLUS inquiry will likely cause a temporary small dip in your credit score, but if you're not planning to refinance for several months, that should recover. However, the ongoing monthly payment obligation will definitely factor into your debt-to-income ratio, which lenders scrutinize heavily for mortgage refinancing. We ended up doing exactly what you're considering - daughter took max student loans, we help with payments, and avoided Parent PLUS entirely. So far it's worked out well financially and she's building her credit history with on-time payments.

Thank you all so much for your insights! After reading everything, we've decided to: 1. Take ALL the subsidized loans offered (that no-interest while in school benefit is too good to pass up) 2. Take the unsubsidized federal loans as well, for the flexibility and protections 3. Look at private loans only if we still have a gap after scholarships and the federal loans 4. Consider refinancing the unsubsidized portion after graduation if he's in a stable financial position This community has been so helpful in showing me what the financial aid package doesn't make clear. Those protections are worth far more than the slightly lower interest rate!

Smart decision! You've really done your homework here and that's exactly the strategy I wish more families would follow. Just one additional tip from someone who went through this process - make sure to keep detailed records of all your loan documents and servicer contact info. Federal loan servicers sometimes change, and having your own records makes transitions much smoother. Also, when your son graduates, don't rush into refinancing right away. Give him 6-12 months to establish his career and credit history first - you'll likely get better refinancing rates and terms. Congratulations on making such a well-informed decision for your son's future!