when i was waiting for financial aid stuff last year i just kept checking my portals at each school. some schools put the info in ur applicant portal before they even email u about it. sometimes u can see ur package weeks early if u keep checking!!

I remember this anxious waiting period all too well! Just wanted to add that while your SAI will impact need-based aid calculations, schools still have a LOT of flexibility in how they build your package. My brother and I had identical SAI scores (we're twins) but got completely different packages from the same school because we applied to different programs and had different academic records. Also, if your financial situation has changed since you submitted your FAFSA (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), document everything now so you're ready to submit an appeal if needed. The formal term is "Special Circumstances Review" and most schools have a process for this.

i forgot to mention!!! make sure ur daughter applies for summer jobs or internships with the EPA or park service! my friends kid did that and got some kind of enviro scholarship after. they need more ppl in those fields especially women!!

One more thing - make sure your daughter understands her Calculated Student Aid Index (SAI) will be based on your family income despite her independence in real life. This can lead to a lot of frustration when she sees her aid package. I recommend she have a direct conversation with the financial aid office AFTER applying but BEFORE accepting admission to clearly understand what her actual costs will be. Sometimes schools have institutional funds they can provide for students in unique situations that aren't reflected in the federal methodology. Another thing to consider - community college for the first year or two can dramatically reduce costs while she establishes state residency (if she moved to a different state). Many have specific transfer agreements with 4-year universities for environmental science programs.

Just wanted to add - make sure when you try again that you're using the exact same spelling of names and same email addresses as before. I've seen cases where people get locked out, try again with slight variations in their information, and it creates duplicate profiles in the system which causes even more problems.

UPDATE: It finally worked! After waiting about 30 hours, I tried logging in with an incognito window like suggested, and everything loaded properly. We were able to finish the parent contribution section and submit the whole application. The SAI score showed up instantly which was a relief. Thanks everyone for your help!

just wondering... what's your SAI? mine was 9842 and i got decent aid from most places

After reading through this thread, I wanted to add one more thing: document EVERYTHING in your communications with the financial aid office. Note who you spoke with, when, what they promised, etc. This paper trail can be crucial if you need to escalate your case. Also, sometimes reaching out to the admissions counselor who recruited you can help - they often have influence with financial aid and want to keep their admitted students. Don't give up hope yet!

last year you had to type your name AND your birthday I think? this year just button I think. who knows with fafsa changing everything every 5 minutes.

As a final tip, after you submit your corrections and both you (and your parent if you're a dependent) have signed, I recommend taking a screenshot of the confirmation page. Also note the confirmation number if one is provided. This way you have proof that you completed the process correctly if there are any issues later. You should receive an email confirmation within 3-5 days that your corrections were processed, and your SAI should update shortly after that.