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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.
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!!
anyone else notice how the FAFSA changes this year screwed everything up? i heard some schools aren't even requiring SAI for early packages...they're just estimating and will adjust later
UPDATE: I finally called my school's financial aid office this morning! They told me they're processing applications in the order received and mine should be ready within the next 7-10 days. They also said they're aware of the May 1st deadline and are prioritizing packages for undecided students. The woman I spoke with was actually super helpful and took my name down to flag my application for priority processing since I mentioned I'm waiting on the package to make my decision. Thanks everyone for the advice to call directly!
That's excellent news! I'm glad you were able to get through and receive some clarity on the timeline. The fact that they're prioritizing undecided students is very helpful. Make sure to check your student portal and email frequently, as many schools will post the package online before sending an email notification.
This is actually an important strategic decision that could significantly impact your daughter's aid package. If your future spouse has substantial income or assets, submitting before your marriage could result in more aid eligibility. Here's what the FAFSA documentation states: "Report your marital status as of today (the day you submit your FAFSA form). If your marital status changes after you submit your FAFSA form, check with the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend." Some additional considerations: 1. If your daughter will apply to private schools requiring the CSS Profile, their methodology may differ 2. If your income will substantially change in 2024 compared to 2023, you might need to request a professional judgment review anyway 3. Some schools have institutional methodologies that might consider your upcoming marriage regardless of when you submit
Thank you for this detailed information. My fiancé does have substantially higher income than I do, so this could definitely affect her aid. She's applying to both public and private schools, so I'll need to research which ones require the CSS Profile as well. This is all much more complicated than I expected!
It definitely can be complex! For schools requiring the CSS Profile, check each school's specific requirements since they can customize their questions. Also, many financial aid offices are more understanding of family situations than people realize - if you're concerned, don't hesitate to contact your daughter's top choice schools directly to ask how they handle upcoming marriages in their institutional methodology.
i think the fafsa is using 2023 tax info for the 2025-2026 year right? thats what my kids counselor said. so confused with all these changes
same thing happend to my roomate last semester!!!! he's from colombia and fafsa was a NIGHTMARE for him. his finacial aid didnt come through until 3 weeks after classes started but the school gave him some kind of emergency loan to cover until then. ask ur school about emergency funding options!!!!
Update: Just checked the FSA website and today's maintenance is scheduled to end at midnight Eastern time. So you should be able to make corrections tomorrow. However, I still recommend pursuing the school waiver as your fastest option, as FAFSA corrections are taking 7-10 days minimum to process right now.
Jayden Reed
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
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Aurora St.Pierre
•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?
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Cassandra Moon
•Unfortunately, there's no public-facing tool to check which batch a student is in. Even the schools don't know until they receive the data. Federal Student Aid customer service can sometimes provide this information, but reaching them is the challenge.
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Lola Perez
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!
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Aurora St.Pierre
•That's really smart advice! I hadn't thought about contacting the admissions director directly. I'll have my daughter do that tomorrow. Thanks for sharing what worked for you!
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