


Ask the community...
idk but we added schools on 4/22 and they showed up right away? maybe try deleting cookies or using different browser? just a thought
Update for everyone following this thread - I just checked with a colleague who works in financial aid processing, and they confirmed there was a system-wide issue affecting school list updates during the first week of May. The good news is that despite the visual glitch in the FAFSA portal, the schools ARE receiving your information correctly in most cases. The Department of Education is aware of the issue and working on fixing the display problem. But as others have suggested, contacting the schools directly to verify receipt is the safest approach right now.
Thank you so much for checking and providing this update! This is extremely helpful and gives me a lot of peace of mind. I'll still follow up with the schools but it's good to know this is a system-wide issue that's being addressed.
is anyone else getting different SAI numbers every time they check?? my first one was like $7820 but now its showing $8946??? like which one is it?? so confused
If your SAI is changing, it likely means either: 1. Corrections were made to your application 2. The system is still calculating your final SAI 3. There was an error in the initial calculation The most recent SAI displayed in your completed application is the one that will be sent to schools. If you didn't make any corrections yourself, I'd recommend contacting Federal Student Aid to ask about the discrepancy.
Update: I finally got through to someone at FSA! The agent confirmed my application IS submitted correctly and said the emails were sent due to a system glitch. Apparently this is happening to lots of people. She said to ignore the emails as long as my studentaid.gov account shows "processing" or "completed" status. Such a relief! My SAI finally appeared today too ($4,235). Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!
One more thing to consider - make sure your daughter knows about the UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program. If she goes to CC for 2 years and meets specific requirements, she can get a guaranteed admission to one of six UC campuses (Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, or Santa Cruz). This wouldn't work for a 1-year transfer, but might be worth considering if she's worried about getting back into a UC. She should also check if her specific UC offers any special scholars programs for transfers. Some have special pathways for certain majors or partnerships with specific community colleges.
btw your daughters eligible for unsubsidized loans too not just the subsidized ones! maybe another 5500 i think? ppl forget those sometimes. its still loans but might help with decision
That's correct. For first-year undergraduate students, the total federal loan limit is typically $5,500 for dependent students, with up to $3,500 of that amount in subsidized loans and the remainder in unsubsidized. Some students are eligible for more depending on their circumstances. The interest is the main difference - subsidized loans don't accrue interest while in school, unsubsidized start accruing immediately.
I've been working in financial aid for 12 years and this is THE WORST rollout I've ever seen. The simplified FAFSA was supposed to make things easier but the technical problems have been endless. Please be patient with your schools' financial aid offices - we're just as frustrated as you are! One tip: if your student is deciding between schools, contact each financial aid office directly. Many have institutional funds they can use while waiting for official FAFSA processing.
wait ur saying they're actually getting through applications from January NOW? maybe there's hope for my December app then lol
Aaliyah Jackson
I work in a financial aid office, and here's some insider perspective: FSA actually did implement some system changes after last year's disastrous rollout. They added more customer service reps and improved some of the training. However, they're still understaffed for the volume they handle, especially during peak periods. The best times to call are typically Tuesday-Thursday, either early morning (8-9am) or later afternoon (4-5pm). Avoid Mondays and Fridays at all costs - wait times are often double. Also, if you're calling about a technical issue rather than a policy question, specifically request a technical specialist when prompted about your issue.
0 coins
Aiden O'Connor
•This is super helpful insight! I'll schedule my calls for Thursday afternoons from now on. Is there a specific way to phrase issues to get to more experienced reps?
0 coins
Aaliyah Jackson
•Yes - be specific about your technical issue rather than saying "I need help with my FAFSA." Use terms like "SAI calculation discrepancy," "contributor access error," or "verification document upload failure" - these route you to more specialized teams with shorter queues and better-trained staff.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Rashid
i dont think its better...just random luck. waited 3 hrs yesterday and gave up. my school deadline is next week and still cant get my sai score to show up correctly. system says "calculation in progress" for 2 weeks now. does anyone know if schools will accept pending fafsa or do they need the complete processed version??
0 coins
Aaliyah Jackson
•Most schools require a fully processed FAFSA with a valid SAI score before they'll create your aid package. However, if you're bumping against a deadline, email your school's financial aid office with documentation that you've submitted your FAFSA and are waiting for processing. Many schools will hold your place in line for aid if you can prove you submitted before their deadline.
0 coins