Different SAI scores for siblings in FAFSA 2024-2025 - will they only qualify for loans?

The new FAFSA actually DOES calculate different SAI scores for siblings in college! It's part of the FAFSA Simplification Act changes. Previously, having multiple kids in college was a big advantage because the EFC was divided. Now, each student gets their own SAI calculation that considers their portion of family contribution. The small difference between your kids' scores (5738 vs 5483) could be due to: - Different student income/assets between siblings - Age factors in the calculation - The "estimated" vs "official" status (one might change) With SAIs in the 5400-5700 range, your children will likely not qualify for Pell Grants (typically for SAIs under 3000), but institutional aid varies WIDELY by school. Some private colleges use their own formulas and might still offer substantial grants. Don't assume it's just loans until you see the actual aid packages!

tbh the whole system is broken now. my brother and i have SAIs that are like $2000 different even tho we're both dependents with the same parents. makes NO sense. the financial aid ppl at my school said its bcuz the formula now treats each kid separately instead of dividing the family contribution. so stupid.

Your SAI numbers (5738 and 5483) likely won't qualify for federal Pell Grants, which typically go to students with SAIs under 3500 for the 2024-2025 year. However, don't despair about just getting loans! Many schools have institutional grants and scholarships with higher cutoffs than federal programs. The difference between your kids' SAIs is normal under the new system. Each student now receives their own Student Aid Index that's calculated individually rather than simply dividing the family contribution. Factors that create differences include: 1. Student income (if either child had any earnings) 2. Student assets (if either has their own accounts) 3. Age differences affecting the calculations 4. Different dependency questions answered This is one of the most confusing aspects of the new FAFSA. I recommend contacting the financial aid offices at their specific schools to understand how they'll interpret these SAIs for institutional aid.

Has anyone else noticed that the estimated SAI sometimes changes when they process the official one? My daughter's estimated was about $600 lower than what they finally calculated as her official SAI. So your son's might end up closer to your daughter's when they finish processing it. The whole system is INCREDIBLY frustrating this year!!!

Im in a similar boat with twins starting college this fall!! Both have different SAI numbers ($4762 and $5108) which makes ZERO sense to me because they live in the same house with the same parents and neither has any income or assets!!! The financial aid office just keeps saying "thats how the system works now" which is SO unhelpful!! 😡

If you need to contact FSA about these confusing SAI differences, try using Claimyr.com - it helped me get through to an actual FAFSA agent in under 15 minutes last week when I had issues with my verification process. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent explained to me that yes, siblings now get different SAI calculations even with identical family financial info. It's not a glitch - it's the new system design. Absolutely ridiculous but at least I got a clear answer instead of waiting for emails that never come.

To answer your question about loans vs grants more specifically: With SAIs in the 5400-5700 range, your children will likely not qualify for federal Pell Grants. However, they should still qualify for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans (the subsidized loans are better because the government pays the interest while in school). BUT - and this is important - many colleges have their own grant/scholarship cutoffs that are much higher than the federal Pell Grant limit. Some private institutions especially may offer significant institutional grants even with your SAI. Each school has their own formula for converting the SAI into their internal need calculation. Wait for the official aid packages before assuming it's just loans. You might be pleasantly surprised by what some schools offer!

My kids had different SAIs too. Older one was higher by about $800. Called FAFSA and the rep said its because my younger kid answered one of the dependency questions differently plus had slightly less income from her summer job. The small differences can add up! BUT most schools still take into account having multiple kids in college even if FAFSA doesn't anymore. Check with each school's financial aid office.

Everyone talking about SAI differences is right - it's the new normal with the FAFSA Simplification Act. But here's something else to consider: appeal your financial aid offers when you get them! Schools have significant discretion with their institutional aid, and having two in college simultaneously is absolutely a valid reason for requesting additional consideration. When you get your aid packages, immediately contact each financial aid office and ask about their "Professional Judgment" or "Special Circumstances" appeal process. Many schools are well aware that the new FAFSA formula disadvantages families with multiple students and have created their own adjustments to compensate. Don't just accept the initial offers - especially for your freshman son who might receive better packages to entice him to attend.

I'm going through the exact same confusion with my two kids! Just want to echo what others have said about not giving up hope on grants. My older daughter had an SAI around 5800 last year and still received about $8,000 in institutional grants from her private college. Each school really does have their own formula. One thing I learned is to make sure you're comparing apples to apples when looking at your kids' different SAIs. Check if they answered all the dependency questions identically - things like selective service registration, drug convictions, etc. Even small differences in how they interpreted questions can affect the calculation. Also, don't forget about state grants! Some states have higher income cutoffs than federal programs. With your SAI range, you might still qualify for state aid depending on where you live. Worth checking your state's financial aid website. The new system definitely feels like a step backward for families like ours with multiple kids in college, but there are still paths to aid beyond just loans. Hang in there!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation! My twins both got different SAI numbers even though they filled out their FAFSAs with identical family financial information. It's so frustrating that the new system no longer recognizes the financial burden of having multiple kids in college at the same time. What I've learned from talking to financial aid counselors is that even tiny differences can create different SAIs - things like how they answered dependency questions, any small amounts of student income from part-time jobs, or even their ages affecting the calculation formula. For your SAI range, you're right that federal Pell Grants are unlikely, but definitely don't assume it's just loans! I've seen families with similar SAIs get substantial institutional aid from colleges. The key is that each school has their own methodology for converting your SAI into their aid packages. My advice: wait for all the official aid offers, then immediately contact each financial aid office to discuss your situation. Many schools are creating their own adjustments to help families hurt by the new FAFSA changes. Having two in college simultaneously is definitely something they should consider in their institutional aid decisions. Also look into your state grant programs - some have higher income cutoffs than federal programs and might still offer aid with your SAI numbers. Don't give up hope yet!

I'm a current college senior who went through this exact situation with my younger sibling last year! The different SAI numbers for siblings is definitely the new reality under FAFSA Simplification. What really helped my family was creating a spreadsheet to track all the aid offers and then scheduling calls with each school's financial aid office before deposit deadlines. We found that about half the schools we contacted were willing to make adjustments when we explained we had two kids in college - they called it "professional judgment review" or "special circumstances consideration." One thing that surprised us: my sibling actually got BETTER aid at some schools than I did when I was applying as a freshman, because admissions offices are competing harder for students post-COVID. So definitely don't write off any school based on sticker price alone. Also pro tip: if your son is choosing between schools, you can sometimes use competing aid offers to negotiate. We got one school to increase their grant by $3,000 just by showing them what another similar school offered. Not all schools will do this, but it's worth asking! The SAI range you mentioned actually puts you in a decent position for merit aid too, since you're above the very low income thresholds but still demonstrate need. Many schools reserve their best merit scholarships for families in exactly your income range.

I'm new to this community but going through something very similar! My two kids also got different SAI scores (about $400 apart) and I was so confused since they're using the exact same family financial information. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea this was the new normal under the FAFSA changes. What's really giving me hope is hearing from people who still received substantial institutional aid even with SAIs in the 5000+ range. I was definitely in panic mode thinking it would just be loans, but it sounds like each school really does have their own approach to converting SAI into actual aid packages. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about reaching out to financial aid offices proactively and looking into our state grant programs. Has anyone had success with the appeal/special circumstances process specifically for having multiple kids in college? I'm wondering how to best present that case to the schools. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this community has been a lifesaver for understanding this confusing new system!

As someone who just went through this process with my own kids, I can confirm everything everyone is saying about the new FAFSA system creating different SAIs for siblings. It's frustrating but completely normal now. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is to make sure you're looking at the actual Cost of Attendance (COA) for each school when evaluating aid. Your SAI of 5400-5700 might seem high, but if a school's COA is $70,000+, you could still receive significant need-based aid to bridge that gap. Some private schools with higher sticker prices actually end up being more affordable than state schools because of their larger endowments and more generous aid formulas. Also, don't overlook work-study opportunities! Even if you don't qualify for grants, work-study jobs can help reduce the loan burden and many schools guarantee these positions for students who demonstrate need. The key is patience - I know it's nerve-wracking, but wait for all the official aid packages before making any decisions. My family was pleasantly surprised by several offers that were much better than we expected based on our SAI numbers. The new system is definitely more complex, but there are still good outcomes possible!

I'm a parent who just went through this exact same situation last year with my twins! The different SAI scores for siblings was completely baffling to me at first, but I've learned it's unfortunately the new reality. What helped us tremendously was creating a detailed timeline and being very proactive with communication. Here's what I recommend: 1. **Document everything** - Keep track of both kids' SAI numbers, application dates, and any corrections made. Sometimes the estimated vs official SAI can change significantly. 2. **Contact schools early** - Don't wait for aid packages. Call each financial aid office now and explain you have two kids in college. Ask specifically about their institutional aid policies for families with multiple students. 3. **State aid research** - Many states still have programs that consider multiple kids in college even if federal aid doesn't. Check your state's higher education website. 4. **Merit aid opportunities** - Your SAI range actually puts you in a good spot for competitive merit scholarships that aren't need-based. The most important thing I learned: each school truly has its own formula. My kids received wildly different aid packages from schools with similar costs and rankings. One "expensive" private school ended up being our most affordable option after institutional grants. Don't lose hope! The process is more complex now, but good outcomes are still very possible with your SAI numbers. The key is being proactive and persistent with each school's financial aid office.

I'm a newcomer here but dealing with the exact same confusion! Just submitted my FAFSA for my youngest while my older child is already in college, and I'm seeing different SAI numbers too. Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea this was normal under the new system. What's giving me the most hope is hearing from parents who actually received good institutional aid packages despite SAI numbers in our range. I was definitely panicking thinking we'd only qualify for loans, but it sounds like each school really does evaluate families differently. One question for those who've been through the appeal process - is there an ideal time to contact financial aid offices about having multiple kids in college? Should I wait until after we receive aid packages, or reach out now to get ahead of it? My older child's school has always been pretty responsive, but I don't want to seem pushy by contacting before they've even made their initial offers. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this community is a lifesaver for navigating these changes!

As someone who's been through this process with multiple kids, I want to echo what many others have said about not losing hope based on your SAI numbers alone. The range you're seeing (5400-5700) definitely puts you above federal Pell Grant eligibility, but institutional aid can vary dramatically between schools. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of timing your communications strategically. Financial aid offices are typically most responsive in late winter/early spring before the major aid package releases. If you're going to reach out about your multiple-kids-in-college situation, now is actually the perfect time - they're finalizing their aid calculations and can note your circumstances in their systems. Also, make sure you're prepared with specific information when you do contact them. Have both kids' SAI numbers ready, their expected enrollment status (full-time vs part-time), and be clear about which semesters they'll overlap. Some schools have specific forms or processes for families with multiple students that they can send you proactively. The different SAI numbers for siblings is unfortunately just how the system works now, but don't let that discourage you from advocating for your family's situation. Many schools are still finding ways to help families affected by the FAFSA changes, even if the federal formula doesn't account for multiple kids in college anymore. Good luck with the process - you're definitely not alone in this confusion!

I'm new to this community and just want to say how incredibly helpful all these responses have been! I'm dealing with a very similar situation - my two kids got SAI scores that are about $900 apart despite using identical family financial information, and I was completely panicking thinking we'd only qualify for loans. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a relief. I had no idea that different SAI scores for siblings was the new normal under FAFSA Simplification, and I definitely didn't realize that institutional aid could still be substantial even with SAIs in the 5000+ range. The advice about being proactive with financial aid offices really resonates with me. I've been waiting around anxiously for aid packages, but it sounds like reaching out now to explain our multiple-kids-in-college situation could actually work in our favor. I'm planning to call this week with all the specific information ready - SAI numbers, enrollment details, overlap timeline - rather than just hoping they'll figure it out on their own. One question for those who've successfully navigated appeals: when you contacted schools about having multiple kids in college, did you find certain language or approaches more effective than others? I want to make sure I'm presenting our case in the most compelling way possible. Thanks again to everyone for sharing such detailed and encouraging advice. This community is amazing for helping families understand these confusing new changes!

I'm so glad I found this community! I'm completely new here but going through the exact same frustrating situation with my twins who are both starting college in the fall. They got SAI scores that are $600 apart (5,234 and 5,851) even though they filled out their FAFSAs with identical family information, and I was absolutely panicking thinking this meant they'd only qualify for loans. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - I had no idea that different SAI scores for siblings was now completely normal under the new FAFSA system! The detailed explanations about how the Simplification Act changed everything really helped me understand what's happening. What's giving me the most hope is hearing from so many parents who received substantial institutional aid even with SAIs in our range. I was definitely in full panic mode assuming we'd get nothing but loans, but it sounds like each school really does have their own approach to converting SAI into actual aid packages. I'm definitely going to follow everyone's advice about being proactive with financial aid offices rather than just waiting around anxiously. The suggestion to contact them now with specific information (both kids' SAI numbers, enrollment details, overlap timeline) while framing it as wanting to understand their policies for families with multiple students makes so much sense. Has anyone had experience with appealing aid at both public and private institutions? I'm wondering if one type tends to be more flexible than the other when it comes to considering multiple kids in college under the new system. Thank you all for sharing such detailed and encouraging experiences - this community is a lifesaver for navigating these confusing changes!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this discussion incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a very similar situation with my two kids - they received SAI scores of 5,612 and 5,289, and I was completely baffled by the difference since we used identical family financial information. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a relief. I had no idea the FAFSA Simplification Act changed how siblings are treated in the calculation. The old system of dividing the family contribution made so much more sense to me as a parent! What's really encouraging is hearing from families who still received significant institutional aid despite SAI numbers in our range. I've been assuming we'd only qualify for loans, but it sounds like I need to wait for the actual aid packages before drawing any conclusions. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about contacting financial aid offices proactively. My daughter is already established at her university, but my son is choosing between four schools, so I should probably reach out to all of them to understand their policies for families with multiple students in college. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've been through the appeal process, how long did it typically take schools to review and respond to requests for additional consideration based on having multiple kids in college? I want to make sure I'm allowing enough time before enrollment deadlines. Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences and practical advice. This community has been invaluable for understanding these confusing new changes!