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Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool definitely reduces your chances of being selected for verification, but selection can still happen randomly or if there are discrepancies in your application. About 18% of FAFSA filers get selected for verification, so it's not uncommon, but it's not something everyone experiences either. If you are selected, respond promptly with all requested documentation to avoid delays in your financial aid disbursement.
at our school more like 30% get verification & negative SAI applicants get picked more often... just sayin be prepared cuz aid won't disburse til verification complete!!!
So just to be super clear: Negative SAI = Good, means I'll likely get max Pell Grant ($7,395 for full-time, right?), but I should still contact my specific school about their institutional aid process and be prepared for possible verification. Thanks everyone for the help! This has been so confusing to figure out on my own.
You've got it exactly right! And yes, the maximum Pell Grant for the 2025-2026 year is expected to be around $7,395 for full-time enrollment. Just remember that your actual aid package will depend on your school's cost of attendance, your enrollment status (full-time vs. part-time), and any other scholarships or grants you receive. Best of luck with your education financing!
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i wish i could help but we're in the same boat... my daughter will be a senior next year too and i'm just starting to research all this FAFSA stuff. it seems so complicated! especially since my husband and i divorced 2 years ago and now i don't know which parent is supposed to fill everything out? does anyone know if it's the custodial parent or the one who claims the kid on taxes or what?
For divorced parents, FAFSA only requires information from the custodial parent - that's the parent the student lived with more during the past 12 months. If time was split equally, it's the parent who provided more financial support. If that parent has remarried, the step-parent's information must be included too. This is different from taxes - the parent who claims the student as a dependent for tax purposes isn't relevant for FAFSA. Also, some private schools require the CSS Profile, which might ask for non-custodial parent information too.
Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm going to start organizing our 2023 tax documents this weekend and look into the FSA ID setup. One more question - my son is interested in some private colleges that might be out of our price range without significant aid. Is there any way to estimate what kind of aid he might get before we go through the whole application process? I don't want him to get his hopes up for schools we ultimately can't afford.
Yes! Most colleges have Net Price Calculators on their financial aid websites. These tools ask for simplified versions of the information you'll put on FAFSA and give you an estimate of what you might pay after aid. Keep in mind these are just estimates, but they can help you identify which schools might be more generous. Some high-end private colleges actually offer better aid packages than state schools if your income is in the right range. Also look for schools that meet "100% of demonstrated need" - these tend to be more expensive but often provide better aid packages for qualifying students.
Also remember that financial aid offers can be negotiated! When my daughter got accepted to her top choice, their initial offer was about $7,000 short of what we needed. I submitted an appeal letter with a competing offer from another school, and they increased her scholarship by $5,500/year. Don't be afraid to ask for more if the initial offers don't work for your family.
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i think this is all so unfair!!! my kid studied sooo hard and got 12k in scholarships and then our EFC went up because of it???? like punishing kids for doing well. the whole system is rigged against middle class families who make too much for pell grants but not enough to actually pay these crazy tuition bills
Just to clarify, outside scholarships shouldn't affect your EFC/SAI calculation at all. They can affect how your aid package is structured, but that's a different issue than your FAFSA-calculated contribution. If your EFC actually increased, there might be a different reason - perhaps income changes or other financial factors.
Update from my advising experience this year: schools are DEFINITELY becoming more accommodating about outside scholarships. Several universities have announced they're implementing a "no loan" policy for families under certain income thresholds, and many are specifically addressing the sibling penalty in their institutional methodology. The landscape is changing rapidly in response to the FAFSA changes. Key tip: when you receive your financial aid packages, compare them side by side with your daughter's outside scholarships listed. Then email each financial aid office with a specific proposal for how you'd like them to integrate the scholarships. Be direct but courteous. Many will work with you if you're specific about what you're asking for.
This is really encouraging! Thank you for sharing this update. I'm starting to feel a bit more hopeful about the process. We'll definitely make specific requests when the time comes.
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Update: I finally got through to the financial aid office! They agreed to give me an unofficial estimate by the end of this week (still 5 days before deposit deadline) AND said they'd consider an extension if the estimate doesn't come through on time. The counselor also confirmed that making a deposit doesn't impact aid calculations at their school - she said those numbers are already determined based on our financial information. Feeling much better now!
That's great news! Still be careful though - unofficial estimates can sometimes be more generous than final offers (conveniently). Make sure to get their statements in writing if possible.
Good point - I'll ask them to email me the estimate when it's ready. They seemed pretty transparent, but better to have everything documented.
i paid a deposit last year and then still negotiatied aid when the package came. showed them better offers from other schools and they matched! dont be afraid to ask for more $$$
That's really good to know! I might need to do exactly that. Which school types were more willing to negotiate? Were they all private or did you have success with public universities too?
the private schools were wayyy more flexible. public universities barely budged at all except for one that offered more work study hours.
Sofia Hernandez
Just a heads up - the "something within a week" is often their request for income verification. About 30% of FAFSA applications get selected for verification, where you need to provide additional documentation to confirm the income information on your FAFSA. If that happens, you'll need to submit documents like tax returns, W-2 forms, and possibly a verification worksheet. Don't worry if this happens - it doesn't mean you did anything wrong. Just respond promptly with the requested documents to avoid delays in her final aid package.
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Dylan Campbell
•Thank you for the heads up. Do schools typically tell you immediately if you've been selected for verification? Or might that come later?
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Sofia Hernandez
•They usually tell you right away if you've been selected. The Department of Education flags applications for verification when they're processed, so schools know almost immediately. If you get that verification request, prioritize it - I've seen students lose out on aid because they missed verification deadlines.
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Ava Thompson
One important thing to understand about this year's FAFSA process: colleges are receiving FAFSA data in batches from the Department of Education, but the final SAI calculations are still being worked out. What most colleges are doing now is: 1. Confirming receipt of FAFSA data 2. Identifying any missing information 3. Selecting applicants for verification if needed 4. Preparing preliminary aid packages based on estimated SAI The "something" coming within a week is almost certainly step 1 or 2. Actual aid packages won't be finalized until all four steps are complete, which for most schools means March-April for regular decision applicants.
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Dylan Campbell
•This timeline helps a lot, thank you! I've been so confused by all the changes to the FAFSA this year. Is there anything specific we should be doing while waiting for steps 3 and 4?
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Ava Thompson
•While waiting, I recommend: - Check the student portal frequently (often schools communicate there first) - Gather 2023 tax documents for both student and parents - Research and apply for external scholarships - If your financial situation has changed significantly since 2023, prepare documentation for a potential professional judgment appeal These steps will help you be ready when the school moves to the verification or packaging stages.
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