my kid's SAI was like $56,000 even though we don't make anywhere near that much money. the whole system is BROKEN.

Does anyone know if we need to wait for the SAI to show up before colleges can offer financial aid packages? My son's #1 choice is asking for his "official SAI" but we only have an estimate from their net price calculator.

did u check if there's actually an email too? i found out they emailed my son with the specific correction (not me, the parent, even tho im the one who filled everything out 🙄) and he never told me bc he doesn't check his email lol

After you've checked all the suggestions above, I strongly recommend trying again with the Claimyr service that was mentioned. I've heard from several financial aid advisors that it's currently the most reliable way to reach FSA. The new FAFSA system has created unprecedented call volumes and their call center simply can't handle it. Also, contact your daughter's college financial aid office directly. They often have dedicated channels to FSA and can sometimes see more details about what's flagged in your application. Many schools are being flexible with deadlines this year because of all the FAFSA issues.

For the professional judgment appeal, most schools have a specific form on their financial aid website. If not, you'll need to write a formal letter explaining your circumstances and provide documentation. Focus specifically on circumstances that weren't captured in your FAFSA/CSS Profile, like that $18k medical expense. Regarding private loans - be extremely cautious. Interest rates are typically higher than federal loans, and they lack the protections and flexible repayment options of federal loans. Make sure you understand the total cost over the life of the loan. Have you considered: 1. Work-study programs at your school? 2. Asking if your dream school has an installment payment plan to break up the remaining costs? 3. Checking if your state has any grants or scholarships you might qualify for? 4. Looking into outside scholarships from community organizations, employers, etc.? Sometimes a combination of solutions works best. Also, don't overlook smaller departmental scholarships within your intended major - many students don't apply for these, so competition can be lower.

Update: Thanks everyone for the advice! I spent yesterday writing a formal appeal letter and gathering all our medical bills from last year. I also found two departmental scholarships I'm eligible for that could cover about $3,500 total. My parents agreed to help me cover $5k per year if I maintain a 3.5 GPA. With the unsubsidized loan and hopefully a successful appeal, I might be able to make this work. Still nervous about the whole situation but at least I have a plan now.

BTW once you do get your SAI, don't assume that's the end of the process. My daughter's original SAI was $13,870, but then after verification, it changed to $20,340!! We had to file an appeal with her top choice school because it dramatically changed her aid package. Make sure you check your SAI again after any verification process is completed.

Once you submit the verification documents, keep checking your studentaid.gov account every 2-3 days. The system doesn't always send notifications when updates happen. Also, make sure to contact each school's financial aid office to let them know you've completed verification - sometimes they don't get automatically updated either. And remember that while your application is being processed, the schools won't be able to create a final financial aid package. If you're bumping up against decision deadlines, email the financial aid offices to explain the situation.

Congratulations! I work in college admissions and want to explain why this happened, as it might help others. When your FAFSA was flagged for verification, they likely discovered information that actually LOWERED your SAI from what was initially calculated. This happens more often than people realize. Verification isn't always bad news - sometimes it results in more aid! For anyone still waiting, remember that schools often have two waves of financial aid offers: early offers based on initial FAFSA data, and revised offers after verification is complete. The second wave can be more generous if verification improves your situation.

did your daughter have to do anything special on her application beside the fafsa? my son is applying this fall and i'm trying to figure out if we need to fill out CSS Profile too or just fafsa?