Hey @Ravi Kapoor! First off, congrats on the zero SAI - that really is great news! As another first-gen student who was totally overwhelmed by all this financial aid stuff, I wanted to share something that helped me a lot: create accounts on each college's financial aid portal as soon as possible and check them regularly. Some schools offer additional institutional grants or scholarships that aren't automatic, and having a zero SAI often puts you at the front of the line for these opportunities. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to financial aid offices directly - I was nervous to call at first, but they're usually really helpful in explaining your specific situation. One last tip: if you get into multiple schools, you can sometimes use competing aid offers to negotiate better packages. The whole process is definitely confusing, but you're already on the right track by asking questions!

Hey @Ravi Kapoor! Congrats on the zero SAI - that's fantastic news! As someone who also went through this process, I wanted to add a few practical tips that really helped me. First, make sure to file your FAFSA as early as possible each year (it opens October 1st) since some aid is first-come, first-served. Second, look into your state's deadline for state grants - they're often earlier than federal deadlines and can be substantial with a zero SAI. Third, consider community college for your first two years if money is tight - you can often transfer to a four-year school and still graduate with the same degree for much less cost. Finally, don't overlook smaller, private colleges that might seem expensive at first glance - they sometimes have better endowments and can offer more generous aid packages than public schools. Keep asking questions and don't let anyone make you feel bad about needing financial aid. You've got this!

To address your follow-up question about contacting FSA: Yes, at 6+ weeks it's reasonable to try reaching out. The rental income could indeed trigger additional review time under the new Student Aid Index methodology. If you decide to call FSA, be prepared for long wait times (1-2 hours is common) or repeated disconnections. Their call volume is extremely high right now. When you do get through, ask specifically if there are any flags or issues with the application rather than just asking about status. Alternatively, many colleges will work with families whose FAFSAs are still processing. Contact your son's financial aid offices directly with proof of FAFSA submission (screenshot the confirmation) and they may be able to extend their internal deadlines or provide provisional aid packages.

I'm going through the exact same thing! My FAFSA has been in review for 5 weeks now and I'm getting really anxious about my college deadlines. Reading through all these responses is both reassuring and terrifying - it sounds like this is just the new normal with the updated FAFSA system. I had no idea about checking the student account messages separately from the parent account, so I'm definitely going to do that tonight. Has anyone had success with the college financial aid offices being flexible about deadlines when you show them proof of FAFSA submission? I'm worried about missing out on merit aid opportunities while we wait for this to process.

As someone who just went through this process with my youngest daughter last semester, I can confirm you should receive that excess as a refund! A few practical tips from our experience: First, definitely set up direct deposit in the student portal ASAP - it's so much faster than waiting for a mailed check. Second, the refund usually happens about 10-14 days after the add/drop period ends, not right when classes start. One thing that really helped us was creating a simple spreadsheet tracking each funding source and its specific terms. We discovered one of her smaller scholarships ($2K) actually required on-campus housing to maintain eligibility, so we had to decide whether to forfeit that or find a way to cover dorm costs. Ultimately we kept her home and lost that particular scholarship, but the math still worked out better for us. The $5K you're banking on for sophomore year housing is smart planning, but definitely confirm each award's renewal requirements now while you have time to plan. Good luck!

I'm new to all this financial aid stuff too and your post really resonates with me! My son will be starting college next year and I've been trying to wrap my head around how all these refunds and excess aid works. Reading through everyone's responses here has been incredibly educational - especially learning about the bursar's office vs financial aid office distinction, and the importance of checking individual scholarship terms. One question for those who have been through this - do schools typically send any kind of notification when they process the refund, or does the money just show up in your account without warning? I'm the type of person who likes to know what's coming when, so I don't want to be checking my bank account obsessively wondering if/when it will arrive! Also, has anyone had experience with what happens if your student's enrollment status changes (like dropping from full-time to part-time) after aid has been disbursed? I'm probably overthinking this, but I want to understand all the potential scenarios.

This thread has been such a goldmine of information! As a financial aid advisor at a smaller college, I wanted to add one more perspective that might help families in similar situations. One thing I notice is that many parents focus solely on the excess scholarship funds, but it's equally important to understand your school's "packaging philosophy." Some schools are committed to meeting demonstrated need first, while others prioritize merit recognition. Schools with a "need-first" approach are more likely to reduce need-based aid when outside scholarships come in, while "merit-first" schools may be more flexible about letting students stack scholarships. Also, if you're dealing with multiple outside scholarships like Eva's daughter, ask the financial aid office if they can provide a "revised award letter" that shows exactly how each scholarship will be handled BEFORE the funds are sent to the school. This gives you a chance to work with scholarship organizations on timing or terms if needed. One last tip: many schools have a "summer melt" period in July/August where they're trying to finalize aid packages for all incoming students. If you can get these conversations resolved by late June, you'll avoid that hectic period and get much better service from the financial aid office.

This entire thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! As a newcomer to the college financial aid world, I'm blown away by the depth of knowledge and real-world experience shared here. The transformation from Eva's initial frustrating "we'll see" response to this comprehensive guide on navigating excess scholarship funds is exactly what makes online communities so powerful. What really strikes me is how much strategy and specific terminology matter when dealing with financial aid offices. The difference between asking general questions versus using phrases like "outside scholarship displacement policy," "COA adjustment process," and "packaging philosophy" seems to completely change the quality of responses you get from staff. The practical insights shared here - from timing conversations to avoid the summer rush, getting everything in writing, setting up direct deposit early, and even checking with individual scholarship organizations about their own policies - are exactly the kind of details you can't find in any official handbook. For anyone else just starting this journey, this thread serves as an incredible roadmap. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, frustrations, and hard-won knowledge. It's clear that being informed and proactive can make a huge difference in maximizing students' scholarship achievements and avoiding unnecessary stress during what's already a complex process!

As a newcomer here, I'm finding this discussion incredibly valuable! I'm in a similar boat - considering whether to go full-time next semester with an SAI around $1,000. What's really striking me from reading everyone's experiences is how much the "hidden" requirements matter - like state grants and institutional scholarships requiring full-time enrollment that people don't always know about upfront. It sounds like these can make or break the financial equation. I'm especially interested in the work-study option that @Lilly Curtis mentioned. For those who've done work-study, how does it compare to regular employment in terms of hourly pay and schedule flexibility? With such a low SAI, it seems like I'd have a good shot at qualifying, and if the jobs are more accommodating to student schedules, that could solve the work-life balance concern that comes with taking more credits. Also, has anyone here dealt with changing enrollment status mid-semester? Like if you start full-time but realize it's too overwhelming - is there a point where dropping to part-time would affect your aid for that semester, or does the aid get locked in at the beginning? Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences and numbers - it's so much more helpful than the generic advice you usually find online!

This thread has been so enlightening! I'm actually in the process of making this exact decision right now - currently enrolled part-time (9 credits) for spring 2025 and trying to figure out whether to go full-time for fall. My SAI is about $900, so I'm in a similar situation to many of you. What's really helpful is seeing the actual dollar amounts people are sharing. I had no idea that state grants often have full-time requirements - I've been assuming my aid package was pretty much set based on my FAFSA, but it sounds like I need to dig deeper into all the different funding sources and their specific enrollment requirements. The work-study discussion is particularly interesting to me. I'm currently working retail (about 18 hours/week) and while the money helps, the schedule is pretty rigid and doesn't always play well with my class schedule or study time. If work-study jobs are truly more flexible and understanding of student needs, that could be a huge quality of life improvement even if the hourly pay is similar. One thing I'm curious about - for those who made the switch from part-time to full-time, how long did it take you to adjust academically? I've been doing well with my current course load (3.6 GPA), but I'm worried that adding that extra class might throw off my rhythm and hurt my performance in all my courses. Did anyone find that their grades actually improved with full-time enrollment because they were more "in the academic zone" as someone mentioned? I think I'm going to schedule a meeting with both financial aid and academic advising to run through all these scenarios. This discussion has convinced me I need to look at the complete picture rather than just assuming part-time is the "safer" option.