FAFSA awards disappeared right before classes - school submitted correction!

This happened to a classmate of mine last semester. Don't panic yet - it's likely an administrative processing issue, not necessarily that your aid is permanently gone. First, take screenshots of everything showing the change. Then immediately contact your school's financial aid office on Monday morning. They should be able to explain what correction was submitted and why. In many cases, this is due to verification requirements or enrollment status changes that need addressing. Sometimes it's just a system update that temporarily makes aid disappear during processing.

OMG same thing happened to me last year!! it was THE WORST. turned out my school found out i was only taking 11 credits not 12 so i wasn't full time anymore and they had to recalculate my whole package. they didnt even EMAIL me about it!!!!!! def call your aid office!

This could be several things. Corrections from the school usually happen when: - They found conflicting info between FAFSA and verification docs - Your enrollment status changed (full-time to part-time) - They discovered outside scholarships that affect your aid package - There was an error in their original calculation Unfortunately, schools rarely communicate these changes clearly. You need to contact your fin aid office ASAP. Bring your award letter with you.

Call financial aid RIGHT NOW if they have weekend hours, or first thing Monday morning. Most schools have at least someone answering calls during the weekend before classes start. If they don't answer, leave a detailed message with your student ID and callback number. When this happened to me with my Pell Grant disappearing, it was because my parents' tax information got flagged for verification, and they never told me! I almost had to drop out because of their mistake.

Try logging into your student portal for the school, not just studentaid.gov. Sometimes there will be messages or alerts in your school account that explain what's happening. Also check your school email obsessively - they might have sent something that got filtered to spam or that you missed. Usually when a school submits a correction, they're required to notify you, but that notification could be buried somewhere.

have u tried calling the fafsa people directly? i had to do that once cuz my school fin aid office was useless. sat on hold FOREVER tho

CHECK YOUR SAI (Student Aid Index) immediately! If that number changed, it could explain everything. Schools typically resubmit corrections when there's conflicting information or if they find an error. Sometimes schools will pull aid packages and then reissue them a few days later with adjustments. It's horrible timing with classes starting Monday, but that might be what's happening.

With that SAI change, I'd bet they found something in verification that triggered this. Did you ever submit verification documents? Many schools require additional paperwork beyond the FAFSA itself - tax transcripts, household size verification, etc. If they found discrepancies or you missed submitting something, they could have adjusted your SAI accordingly.

Based on your SAI doubling from 2400 to 4800, it sounds like they found additional income or assets not originally reported. This could significantly impact your aid package, especially grants. However, you should still qualify for some aid - just possibly less grant money and more loans. When you talk to financial aid, specifically ask: 1. What exact correction was made and why 2. When your revised award letter will be available 3. What options you have if the new package isn't sufficient 4. If they offer emergency aid or payment plans Don't leave their office without clear answers to all of these questions.

Update us after you talk to them Monday! I'm curious what happened. In my experience working in a university bursar's office, these last-minute changes are usually due to either verification issues or enrollment changes. The good news is that schools generally want students to be able to attend, so they might have emergency options available. Ask about emergency loans, temporary tuition deferment, or installment plans if your aid package is reduced.

I work in financial aid at a state university, and unfortunately this happens more often than it should, especially right before the semester starts. The SAI jump from 2400 to 4800 is significant and likely means they found unreported income or assets during verification. Common causes include: parents' tax amendments filed after your FAFSA, unreported investment income, or benefits that weren't initially disclosed. The timing is awful, but schools are required to make corrections when they discover discrepancies. When you meet with them Monday, also ask about work-study positions that might still be available - those often have separate funding and could help bridge the gap. Don't give up hope yet!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress right before classes start! As someone who's been through FAFSA chaos before, I can tell you that the SAI jump from 2400 to 4800 is definitely the smoking gun here. That's a massive change that would absolutely affect your aid eligibility. When I had a similar situation (though not as dramatic), it turned out my parents had filed an amended tax return that included some freelance income they forgot about initially. The school's verification process caught it months later. Here's what I'd suggest for Monday: get there early (like right when they open), bring copies of EVERYTHING - your original FAFSA, tax documents, verification paperwork, award letters, etc. Also ask specifically about institutional aid or emergency grants your school might offer. Many schools have small pots of money for situations exactly like this. And don't be afraid to advocate for yourself - explain how this timing has put you in a bind and ask what options they have to help you still start classes on time. You've got this!

Hey Dylan, I know this is incredibly stressful timing, but try to stay calm - you're going to get through this! Based on your SAI doubling, it definitely sounds like they found additional income during verification. When you go in Monday morning, also ask them about these specific things: 1) Can they put a temporary hold on your enrollment/charges while this gets sorted out? 2) Do they have any short-term emergency loans to bridge the gap? 3) Can you get on a payment plan for any remaining balance? 4) Are there any departmental scholarships or last-minute aid they can tap into? I've seen schools work miracles for students in situations like yours, especially when you show up prepared with all your documents. Also, if the first person you talk to can't help, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor or the director of financial aid. Sometimes you need someone with more authority to approve creative solutions. Keep us posted on how it goes - we're all rooting for you!

This is such a stressful situation, but you're handling it really well by gathering all your documents and preparing for Monday! One more thing to consider - if your parents did file an amended tax return or there was additional income discovered, ask the financial aid office if they can show you exactly what data changed on your FAFSA. Sometimes these corrections can be challenged if there were errors in how the school interpreted the information. Also, many schools have emergency aid funds specifically for situations like this where students face unexpected financial barriers right before the semester. Don't be afraid to explain your specific circumstances - that you've already paid for books, committed to housing, etc. Financial aid officers are usually very understanding and want to help students succeed. The fact that your SAI doubled suggests there might have been a significant data entry error or misunderstanding somewhere in the process. Stay strong - you've got a solid plan for Monday morning and lots of good questions to ask!