As someone new to the grad school funding world, I've been doing a ton of research lately and wanted to add a few things that might help! First, don't forget about state-specific graduate aid programs - many states have need-based grants for graduate students that aren't well-publicized. Also, if you're open to it, some graduate programs offer reduced tuition rates in exchange for research assistance, which is different from traditional TA positions. Another thing I learned is that some professional associations in public policy offer scholarships specifically for graduate students - the amounts vary but every bit helps! Finally, consider looking into graduate programs at institutions that participate in tuition exchange programs if you're willing to study out of state - sometimes the savings can be significant even without traditional financial aid.

As someone just starting to navigate grad school funding myself, I wanted to share what I've discovered about income-driven repayment that might help your situation! Even though your $24,700 income won't qualify you for grants as a grad student, it could actually work in your favor for loan repayment later. With income-driven plans like IBR or PAYE, your monthly payments would be calculated based on your current low income, potentially making them very manageable (sometimes even $0 if your income stays low enough). Also, I recently learned that some graduate programs have "hidden" funding opportunities that aren't advertised - things like paid positions helping with faculty research, writing center tutoring, or administrative work within the department. These aren't always posted publicly, so it's worth asking directly during interviews or contacting current students in programs you're interested in. Your nonprofit experience might actually be a selling point for public policy programs looking for students with real-world experience!

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!