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FINAL UPDATE: Got the new SAI number today - only took 3 business days! And good news - updating our family size from 3 to 4 people lowered his SAI by about $2,500. Already notified his schools about the change. Thanks again to everyone who helped!
My daughter applied on Nov 15 for 2024-2025 and we finally got the SAI calculation yesterday. So about 6 weeks total. The new system is definitely having issues but hang in there.
One more thing to consider - even if your son gets accepted as a transfer student for fall, he might want to compare financial aid packages between his current school and potential new schools. Since you've already completed FAFSA, you'll be able to compare offers. Just make sure when adding the new school codes that you select to have your FAFSA information sent to them - it doesn't happen automatically just by adding them. Also, if he's considering State University, their transfer application deadline for fall was actually extended to June 15th this year (they normally close earlier). I know because my nephew just applied there as a transfer.
There's one critical point no one has mentioned yet. When you log into studentaid.gov to add more schools to your son's FAFSA, make sure you're updating the correct aid year (2024-2025). I've seen many parents accidentally modify the wrong year when making changes. Also, since your son will be transferring as a sophomore, make sure he understands how credit transfers work. Not all credits transfer equally between institutions, and this could potentially extend his time to graduation which has significant financial implications.
THIS SYSTEM IS SO BROKEN!! Why should students have to jump through 500 hoops just to get the loans they QUALIFY FOR?? My blood pressure goes up just thinking about my experience with this exact situation. The financial aid office acts like they're doing you a favor by processing your loans. IT'S LITERALLY THEIR JOB!!! Sorry for the rant but seriously - be prepared to be very persistent and don't take no for an answer.
One more thing - since we're already in July, ask specifically about their emergency loan programs too. Many schools offer short-term emergency loans to bridge the gap while federal aid is processing. This could help cover initial expenses until the federal loans come through. Also, double-check that your daughter doesn't have any holds on her account (library fines, parking tickets, etc.) as these can delay financial aid processing.
PixelPioneer
does anyone know if the same rules apply for the CSS Profile too? my daughters school requires both fafsa and css profile and im confused about which parent info goes where
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Paolo Rizzo
•CSS Profile has different rules! For CSS, many schools want information from all parents - biological and step - regardless of who has legal responsibility. Some CSS schools even require the non-custodial biological parent's information. It's best to check with each specific school about their CSS requirements, as they can vary significantly.
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Connor Byrne
Thank you all so much for the helpful advice! I'm going to start collecting all these documents now and will try to get through to FSA with that Claimyr service someone mentioned. I'll also reach out to all the schools my son is applying to about their specific requirements. It sounds like I'm in for a paperwork marathon, but at least I have a clearer picture of what to do now. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences!
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