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Here's what we know about the FAFSA batching schedule based on Department of Education communications: - First batch: Late March (mostly completed) - Second batch: Early-mid April (in progress) - Third batch: Late April-early May - Fourth batch: Mid-May through June Schools have no control over which students appear in which batch. However, the Department of Education has instructed colleges to be flexible with decision deadlines this year given the circumstances. If your daughter is set on a particular school but can't make an informed decision without the financial aid package, she should: 1. Request an official deadline extension in writing 2. Ask for a preliminary aid estimate based on direct submission of financial documents 3. Consider paying a small enrollment deposit to hold her spot (many are refundable if requested by June 1) while waiting for final numbers
Thank you for this detailed schedule! This helps a lot with timeline expectations. I'll suggest the enrollment deposit idea to my daughter as a backup plan. Is there any way to find out which batch your specific FAFSA application is in? Or is it just a waiting game?
I went thru this with my son last week!!! His first choice school said they wouldn't get his FAFSA until May but needed decision by May 1! What finally worked was having him email the admissions director (not just the general office) explaining the situation and they gave him until June 15 to decide. Try going straight to the top!
BE CAREFUL with paper corrections!!! I spent 5 weeks waiting after sending one, only to find out it never got processed because I didn't fill out Section 1 completely. They want EVERY FIELD in section 1 filled out even if only one thing needs fixing. And don't forget to include your DRN number from your SAR or they'll reject it without telling you.
Thanks for the warning! I'll make sure to complete all of Section 1 completely. What's a DRN number and where exactly do I find it?
DRN = Data Release Number. It's on your Student Aid Report (SAR), which you can access on studentaid.gov. It's a 4-digit number in the upper right corner. Write this number on the top of EVERY page of your correction form!
btw the fafsa site has been crashing all day. maybe wait till tomorrow to try and print the correction form
Wait im confused about something. You mentioned your son's SAI is 1330 but then said the FAFSA confirmation shows eligibility for Pell up to $6,895. Are you sure thats what it says? My daughter's SAI was 1800 last year and she only got about $5,000 in Pell. I thought the lower your SAI, the more Pell you get? Maybe the amounts changed for this year?
You're right to question this. The Pell Grant amounts are adjusted yearly. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the maximum Pell increased to $6,895, and the eligibility thresholds were expanded. With an SAI of 1330, the student would qualify for very close to the maximum, but likely around $6,500-$6,700 rather than the full $6,895 (which is typically reserved for an SAI of 0). The exact amount is determined by a sliding scale.
Thank you for asking this! I might have misunderstood what the confirmation page was showing. It listed the maximum amount, but from what the financial aid expert is saying, my son will get slightly less than the maximum. Still, it's a huge help compared to last year when we didn't qualify at all.
one more thing - make sure ur son enrolls full-time (usually 12+ credits per semester) or the pell gets reduced proportionally. my brother only took 9 credits his first semester and only got 75% of his pell grant. they dont tell u this stuff upfront!!
Oh! I had no idea about this! He's planning to go full-time, but that's really important information to know. Thank you!
Has anyone tried creating a new FSA ID? My cousin said that worked for her when her FAFSA got stuck.
Update: I tried the different browser suggestion and it worked! I can see our application now, though it still shows as "processing." Our SAI is showing as $14,822 which seems high to me given our income, but at least I can see it now. Still shows only 6 schools received it though. I'm going to try calling FSA tomorrow and will check out that Claimyr service if I can't get through. Thanks everyone for the help!
That's great progress! Regarding your SAI seeming high - remember the new FAFSA formula is quite different from previous years. The income protection allowance increased, but so did the assessment rates for some types of income and assets. If you have significant assets or retirement contributions, these might be affecting your SAI calculation. If you believe there's an actual error, you can submit a correction once the "processing" status clears.
Tobias Lancaster
Make sure you're looking at the full Cost of Attendance (COA) when evaluating the package. This should include tuition, fees, room, board, books, transportation, and personal expenses. Then subtract all free money (grants, scholarships) to get your net cost. Then decide how much of that you're comfortable covering through savings, income, and loans. Remember that Parent PLUS loans are available but often have higher interest rates than student Direct loans.
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Peyton Clarke
•I found the COA on their website - it's $58,700 for the year! After all grants and scholarships, we're still looking at over $45,000 per year. That seems impossible without taking massive loans. Is this normal?
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Statiia Aarssizan
@OP - $45K gap is unfortunately pretty common these days especially at private colleges. Have you looked at your in-state public university options? Usually MUCH more affordable. Not worth going into massive debt for undergrad unless it's an Ivy or similar that will actually pay off career-wise. My middle son transferred after freshman year for this exact reason and it saved us about $100K overall.
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Peyton Clarke
•We do have her applying to state schools too - their packages should arrive next week. If they're significantly better, we might have to have a difficult conversation about changing plans. Really appreciate the perspective from someone who's been through this!
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