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so i got that email with the green check and SAI number too but then when i looked at my actual FAFSA the status still says "processing" on the website... anyone else see that discrepancy? should i be worried?
That's actually normal. The FAFSA website sometimes shows "processing" for a while even after the application has been completed and the SAI has been calculated. If you received the email with the green check and SAI number, your FAFSA has been processed successfully and that information has been made available to your selected schools. The website status will eventually update.
Update: I had my daughter check her student portals for her four schools and two of them show they've received her FAFSA (with her SAI number listed) but the other two don't show anything yet about financial aid. Should she email just those two schools?
Yes, I'd recommend having her email the financial aid offices at the two schools that don't show her FAFSA data yet. She should include her full name, student ID number (if she has one), and date of birth in the email, and simply ask them to confirm if they've received her FAFSA data or if there's anything else they need from her. This is very common and most financial aid offices are used to these inquiries.
An update on timing since you asked: verification usually takes 2-4 weeks once all documents are submitted, but it can be longer during peak periods (which we're in right now). If your daughter needs to make decisions by May 1st, I recommend submitting everything within the next week if possible. Also, you can request a preliminary aid package from schools explaining that you're in verification - most schools will provide an estimate based on your current SAI with a note that it may change.
this whole system is ridiculous. my brother got flagged for verification too and it turns out they had his ssn wrong the whole time. wasted months and almost missed enrollment deadline. good luck!
can i ask a related question? does adding schools later through a correction put u at a disadvantage for aid compared to including them in the original submission? heard this from a friend but sounds like a myth to me
Financial aid counselor here - this is mostly a myth. Adding schools through a correction does NOT change your aid eligibility or SAI calculation. The only potential disadvantage is timing - if you add schools after their priority deadline, you might miss out on limited institutional funds. Federal aid eligibility remains identical regardless of when you add the school (as long as it's before their final processing date).
UPDATE: I got it figured out! For anyone with a similar issue: 1. I had to use a different device to see the "Make FAFSA Correction" option 2. Went through all sections (they were saved!) and completed the missing school selection 3. Properly submitted the form 4. Got my confirmation page and now it shows an actual SAI score Thanks everyone for your help! The studentaid.gov interface is definitely confusing this year with all the changes they made to the form.
i went through this with my daughter last yr. we did both fafsa applications but it was kinda a waste of time for the summer one bc we found out most schools give way less aid for summer terms anyway. like my daughter got a great aid package for fall/spring but summer was basically all loans no grants. check with each college financial aid office about their summer aid policies b4 stressing too much about this.
One more thing to consider: even if your son gets accepted for Fall 2025 at his top choice, having the 2024-2025 FAFSA completed could still be useful. Some students take summer courses at community colleges before starting their freshman fall semester, and having that FAFSA on file would allow him to potentially get aid for those transfer courses. It gives you more options either way.
Lia Quinn
Those are good stats! Look for public universities in neighboring states that might be trying to boost enrollment or improve their academic profile. Many have specific scholarships for out-of-state students with GPAs above 3.5 and SATs in her range. Check their financial aid websites for
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Jackie Martinez
Thank you so much! This gives us a whole new direction to explore. I appreciate the detailed advice.
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