I'm so glad I found this thread! I just submitted my FAFSA yesterday and was already getting anxious about not seeing my SAI anywhere. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - it sounds like I just need to be patient and wait for the SAR to become available in a couple weeks. The tip about using the student's FSA ID rather than the parent's is especially helpful since my dad helped me submit the application. I'll definitely bookmark this thread to refer back to when I'm checking for my SAI. Thanks to everyone who shared their step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting tips - this community is amazing for helping navigate such a confusing process!

This whole thread is incredibly helpful! I'm a parent helping my child navigate this process for the first time, and I had no idea it could take weeks for the SAI to appear even after getting the "processed" email. We submitted our FAFSA about 10 days ago and I was starting to worry something went wrong since we couldn't find the SAI anywhere. Reading through everyone's experiences here has put my mind at ease - it sounds like we just need to wait a bit longer for the "View SAR" option to appear. I really appreciate all the detailed step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting tips. The reminder about making sure my child uses their own FSA ID to check for the SAR (rather than mine) is especially valuable since I helped with the initial submission. This community is such a great resource for parents and students dealing with the complexity of financial aid applications!

Sofia, congratulations on taking this amazing step! I'm 47 and just finished my first semester back in school, so I completely understand the SAR confusion. Everyone here has given you fantastic advice - I just wanted to add that if you're still having trouble accessing your complete SAR after it processes, don't hesitate to call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243. I had to call them when my SAR wasn't showing up properly, and they were incredibly patient and helpful with walking me through the exact steps. They can even email you a copy if the website is being glitchy. Also, once you get your SAR, I'd suggest taking a screenshot of the main page that shows your SAI number - some scholarship applications ask you to just provide that specific number rather than uploading the entire document. You're going to do wonderfully in school! There's something really special about pursuing education when you truly want to be there, and your dedication is already showing through how thoroughly you're preparing. Best of luck with your scholarship applications!

Sofia, your determination to go back to school at 52 is absolutely inspiring! I'm a financial aid counselor and I see this question frequently from non-traditional students. The confusion is totally understandable - the SAR process isn't intuitive at all. Just to reinforce what others have shared: you'll want to wait for your FAFSA to show "Processed" status with your SAI clearly visible on your dashboard. Then look for "View or Print Student Aid Report" - the complete version will be 5-7 pages and include all your financial details and eligibility information. One thing I tell all my non-traditional students: don't hesitate to reach out to your school's financial aid office if you get stuck. We're here to help and we know this process can be overwhelming, especially when you're managing it alongside work, family, and other responsibilities. You're already demonstrating exactly the kind of proactive approach that leads to success in college. May is going to be here before you know it, and you're going to do amazingly well!

Hi Elin! As another newcomer to this whole process, I just wanted to say thank you for asking these questions - I had the exact same concerns! Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful. I'm also a first-gen student and was feeling overwhelmed about the school codes and timing. Based on what everyone's shared, I'm definitely going to add all my potential schools right from the start. It sounds like the consensus is pretty clear that it's better to include too many schools initially rather than risk missing out on aid opportunities by adding them later. One thing I'm taking away from this thread is to create a checklist: add all school codes immediately, double-check the codes are correct, take screenshots of the confirmation page, and check each school's individual financial aid deadlines. The stories about missing out on institutional aid really drove home how important the timing aspect is. Thanks again for starting this discussion - it's exactly what I needed to see as someone navigating this for the first time!

Hey Elin! I'm new to this community and also navigating FAFSA for the first time, so your post really resonated with me. After reading through all these responses, I feel like I've learned so much! I had no idea that timing could be so critical for institutional aid - I was planning to submit with just my top 3 schools and add others later, but now I'm definitely going to include all 10 slots right away. The story about missing out on aid by adding schools later really opened my eyes. One question I still have after reading everything - if I end up not applying to some of the schools I put on my FAFSA, is there any downside to having included them? Or is it really just better to cast a wide net initially? Thanks for asking all the questions I was too nervous to ask myself! It's so helpful to see other first-gen students going through the same process.

I'm a parent going through the FAFSA process for the first time and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My daughter's SAI is -650 and we haven't received her aid package yet, but now I know exactly what to watch out for. Based on everyone's advice, I've already: - Set up email forwarding from her school email to mine - Created a bookmark to check her student portal weekly - Bookmarked the IRS website to get official tax transcripts if needed - Set up a dedicated file folder for all financial aid documents It's such a relief to know that verification is normal and not something we did wrong if it happens. The detailed explanations from people who work in financial aid offices have been especially valuable - knowing that negative SAI should qualify for substantial Pell Grant funding once verification clears takes a lot of the stress away. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and tips. This community is going to be essential for navigating this whole process!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently helping my younger sibling navigate their first FAFSA and we're waiting to hear back from schools. Their SAI came out to -1200, so reading about everyone's experiences with negative SAI and verification has been really reassuring. The practical tips shared here are gold - especially about checking spam folders regularly, getting IRS tax transcripts directly from irs.gov, and being proactive about follow-up calls. It's clear that verification is just a normal part of the process for many families, not something to panic about. What I appreciate most is how people who work in financial aid took the time to explain the "why" behind these processes. Understanding that verification is a federal requirement and that negative SAI should lead to substantial Pell Grant funding once everything clears makes the whole situation much less stressful. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - this community is such a valuable resource for families navigating financial aid for the first time!

I'm so glad you posted this question - you're definitely not alone in feeling confused by the financial aid process! As someone who just went through this with my oldest child, I can tell you that the terminology around "accepting" is one of the most frustrating aspects of college portals. You're absolutely correct that you should NEVER have to commit to enrollment before seeing your complete financial aid package. That's the whole point of having until May 1st to make your decision - it's designed to give families time to compare all offers. What helped me was literally taking screenshots of each confusing portal message and then calling the financial aid offices to ask: "Can you please explain exactly what this message means and what action you need from us?" Sometimes what looks like "accept admission" is actually just "activate your student account access." The financial aid package you described with the $16,800 net cost sounds legitimate - when schools show specific dollar amounts for state grants, merit scholarships, and work-study, that typically means they've processed your FAFSA and calculated real eligibility rather than just estimates. One thing I learned: don't be afraid to be persistent with phone calls. Financial aid offices are swamped this time of year, but they genuinely want to help families understand their options. You have every right to clear information before making such an important financial decision!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say thank you for this incredibly helpful discussion! I'm actually going through something similar with my daughter's college applications and was feeling completely overwhelmed by all the different portal requirements and confusing "accept" language. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been so reassuring - especially learning that this confusion is totally normal and that schools absolutely cannot require enrollment commitments before showing aid packages. The tracking sheet ideas and specific scripts for calling financial aid offices are exactly what I needed. It's amazing how supportive this community is for families navigating this complex process!