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my sons at college now we just ended up doing parent plus for the gap after his stafford loans. not ideal but what can you do. we figure we'll help him pay them for a few years after graduation. had same issue with fafsa saying we could afford waaaaay more than we actually could.
Update on our appeal process - we just heard back from two schools. Both adjusted our EFC after reviewing our medical documentation, and one offered an additional $7,500 in institutional grants! It's still not enough to cover everything, but it makes a huge difference. The most helpful thing was actually speaking directly with a financial aid counselor rather than just submitting forms. Using Claimyr to get through on the phone made a huge difference in getting actual answers instead of automated responses.
This is so encouraging! I've got appointments set up with two of her top schools next week. Did they ask for specific documentation about your medical expenses? I have folders of EOBs and bills but wasn't sure how far back they want records.
Since you mentioned you're new to this process, here's what a "low SAI" actually means: The Student Aid Index replaces the old Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and is a number that colleges use to determine how much financial need you have. A lower number means greater financial need. With a low SAI and Pell Grant eligibility, your daughter would typically qualify for more need-based aid at most institutions. However, each college has a different financial aid budget and philosophy. Some meet 100% of demonstrated need, others might meet only 60-70%. I strongly recommend contacting the financial aid office directly and asking specifically: "With our SAI of [your number], what additional need-based aid might my daughter qualify for beyond the scholarship and Pell Grant already offered?" This direct approach often gets you the most accurate information.
i'm just wondering... does anyone know if the parent contribution gets split between multiple kids in college? my youngest starts next year so both my kids will be in college at the same time
Great question! The new FAFSA calculations changed how multiple students are handled. Previously, having multiple students in college significantly reduced each student's Expected Family Contribution. However, with the new SAI formula, there is no longer an automatic reduction for multiple students. Instead, the FAFSA provides each college with a "multiple in college" flag, and it's up to each institution to decide how to adjust aid packages. You should contact each school's financial aid office to ask about their specific policies for siblings in college.
When I finally got through to someone at the financial aid office, they told me the CSS profile is just a starting point and we'd have a chance to explain our specific financial situation after submitting. That made me feel better about the whole thing.
To address your concern about timing: most schools will send preliminary aid offers with your ED acceptance letter in mid-December. You'll typically have until May 1st to make your final decision, and schools understand that financial aid is a crucial factor. If the package is truly unworkable for your family, you can appeal or potentially be released from the ED commitment. For the CSS Profile specifically, just make sure you're reporting information exactly as it appears on your tax documents. For your rental property loss, enter it as a negative number. And don't forget to report the property value in the assets section as well. The most important thing is consistency with your tax returns.
Mikayla Davison
UPDATE: I went ahead and submitted my FAFSA after reading everyone's advice. Just got the confirmation email that it was received! I'll check back in a few days to make sure the tax data transferred correctly. Thanks everyone for your help!
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Adrian Connor
•Awesome! Glad you got it submitted. The new system is definitely confusing at first but works well once you understand how it's supposed to flow.
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Ryder Everingham
smart move!!! now you can relax a bit. just remember to actually check back in to make sure everything processed right. my roomate didn't and ended up with a verification flag that delayed her aid package
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Mikayla Davison
•Good point! I've set a reminder to check back next week. Would hate to have my aid delayed because I forgot to verify everything went through correctly.
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