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wait I'm confused...do schools see each others financial info when u add multiple schools??? like if i add both expensive private colleges and cheaper state schools, will they all see what other schools im applying to?? would that affect my aid package???
No, schools cannot see which other institutions you've listed on your FAFSA. They only receive your financial information and SAI score, not your complete school list. Each school only knows that you've listed them, not any others you might have included. Your aid package from one school won't be affected by the other schools you're considering.
Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'm going to add my full 10 schools now, prioritizing the ones with earlier deadlines and my top choices. Then I'll swap out for the remaining schools after I get my SAI score. I'll also double-check which ones need the CSS Profile ASAP. Super grateful for all the guidance - this makes so much more sense now!
I wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful. The timing of when SAI scores are calculated and displayed can vary widely depending on when the FAFSA was submitted and if there were any verification requirements.\n\nIf your daughter submitted her FAFSA earlier or had a less complex financial situation, her application might have been processed in an earlier batch. The Department of Education has been rolling out features of the new system gradually.\n\nAlso, do check if your son's FAFSA was selected for verification. If it was, the SAI might not be finalized until that process is complete, even if the application shows as \
THE ENTIRE FINANCIAL AID SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!!! My son's FAFSA was "missing" at two schools but "complete" at three others AT THE SAME TIME!!! How is that even possible?? It's all the SAME FEDERAL SYSTEM!!! Then we find out weeks later that the problem was the schools that couldn't "find" his FAFSA were looking under his SSN with a typo. BUT THEY NEVER TOLD US. We only found out because I physically went to the financial aid office and made them check. Check for typos in how they have your student listed!!!
That's a good point about potential typos - I hadn't even considered that. I'll definitely check how they have her information listed when I finally get through to them.
Final recommendation: Email the financial aid office at the third school, include your daughter's full name, student ID if you have it, and date of birth. Explain that the FAFSA is complete with an SAI showing on studentaid.gov and that other schools have already processed it successfully. Ask if there's anything specific they need from you to complete processing. Sometimes a direct email gets better results than phone calls, and you'll have documentation of your communication efforts if there are any issues with deadlines.
Perfect advice. I'm going to email them right now with all that information. Hopefully that will help move things along. Thank you all so much for the help and reassurance!
One additional important note: The 2025-2026 FAFSA uses the streamlined formula with the Student Aid Index (SAI) replacing the old EFC. For your bankruptcy situation, this means: 1. The base FAFSA still won't account for your bankruptcy payments 2. The changes mostly affect how parent income and assets are assessed 3. The professional judgment process still works the same way (schools have authority to adjust data elements) Make sure you're ready to file when the FAFSA opens (December 1st) and then IMMEDIATELY begin the professional judgment process with each school. Don't wait until aid offers come out.
Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'm going to: 1. File FAFSA with just my and my current husband's information 2. Prepare a complete bankruptcy documentation package 3. Contact each school's financial aid office about their professional judgment process 4. Submit all documentation before their deadlines 5. Follow up to confirm receipt and processing And if I have trouble reaching FSA, I'll definitely try that Claimyr service. This is all so much more complicated than I expected, but at least now I have a plan.
Abby Marshall
quick update - my daughters SAI finally came thru and it was COMPLETELY wrong!!! now we have to submit a correction and wait AGAIN. this is such a nightmare
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Vanessa Figueroa
•Oh no! What was wrong with it? Now I'm worried that when we finally get my son's results, they might be incorrect too.
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Abby Marshall
•they somehow didnt count her moms income even tho we completed that part! the SAI is wayyy too low (which sounds good but isnt when colleges see its obviously wrong). now we submitted correction but who knows how long THAT will take 🙄
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Isabel Vega
For those still waiting, here's what many financial aid offices are advising students to do: 1. Screenshot your confirmation page showing the date you submitted the FAFSA 2. Email this screenshot to each college's financial aid office 3. Ask for a provisional financial aid offer based on your submission date Many schools are making accommodations and extending deadlines due to these unprecedented delays. Don't assume you'll lose opportunities - proactive communication with your schools is key.
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Vanessa Figueroa
•Update: Our SAI finally came through today! Exactly 3 weeks after submission. For anyone still waiting, hang in there. And thank you everyone for all the helpful advice during the wait!
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