FAFSA delays causing schools to postpone financial aid packages until summer - help!

same here!! my daughters top school said JULY for aid packages!!! how r we supposed to make decisions like this???

This is unfortunately happening at many schools this year due to the FAFSA modernization issues. The Department of Education started sending FAFSA data to schools much later than normal (March instead of January), and many colleges are overwhelmed trying to process everything manually. What you can do: 1. Contact the admission office directly and ask for an enrollment deposit extension, explaining your situation 2. Request an estimated aid package based on your SAI score (if you have it) 3. Ask if they can provide a preliminary aid offer based on last year's formula 4. Check if they'll refund the deposit if the final aid package makes the school unaffordable Most schools are being flexible this year because they know this is beyond families' control. Don't make a final decision without understanding your financial commitment.

When I was trying to contact the financial aid office at my daughter's school about a similar issue, I was on hold for TWO HOURS before getting disconnected. Then tried again the next day with the same result. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that held my place in line and called me when an agent was ready to talk. Saved me so much time and frustration! They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Once I got through, I was able to get a preliminary aid estimate that helped us make our decision. Some schools are willing to work with you if you can actually reach a human!

Financial aid counselor here. This is absolutely within the school's rights, but it's not ideal for anyone involved. The institutional side of this FAFSA rollout has been a nightmare. We're receiving data in completely new formats, dealing with calculation changes, and many schools are having to rebuild their entire processing systems. That said, your student has rights too. Contact the school's enrollment management office (not just financial aid) and explain your situation. Request a non-binding estimate based on your SAI. Most institutions can provide a rough package even before final processing. Also worth noting: many schools are extending their deposit deadlines this year because of these exact issues. Ask specifically about their policy regarding deposits and delayed aid packages. Get any promises in writing (email is fine).

DONT GIVE UP!!! My son's college was saying the same thing about "July processing" but I kept calling and emailing until I found someone who was willing to help. The financial aid director finally agreed to look at our SAI score and give us a "preliminary package" so we could make our decision. You have to be persistent!!! These schools want your kid (and your money) so make them work for it!

this happened to me last year (dif reason) and i just committed to the school without knowing aid. ended up with way less $ than expected and now im in massive debt. dont do what i did lol

Update: The Department of Education just announced additional resources to help schools process FAFSA data more quickly. They're releasing new technical guidance and expanding their support team. You might want to ask your financial aid office if they're utilizing these new resources, as it could potentially speed up their timeline. Also, while the official FAFSA data is delayed, you can get a fairly accurate estimate by using the school's net price calculator on their website. Most calculators have been updated to reflect the new FAFSA formula. Input your financial details and it should give you an aid estimate that's close to what you'll eventually receive. This can help with decision-making while you wait for the official package.

My niece is going through similar situation... her dream school said June for aid packages but the other schools already sent theirs. the whole family is stressed out! this new FAFSA system is a total disaster imho

One more thing to consider: ask the school if they'll allow a deposit refund if their final aid package differs significantly from what you can afford. Many institutions have implemented special policies this year specifically because of FAFSA delays. Get this in writing. If they won't commit to a refund policy, that might tell you something about how they'll treat your student over the next four years. Institutions that genuinely care about their students' financial wellbeing are making accommodations during this unprecedented situation.

this whole system is RIGGED against families and students!!! we're expected to commit $$$ before knowing if we can even afford it?!? absolutely insane and nobody in govt seems to care!!

UPDATE: Thank you all for your advice! I spoke with both the financial aid office and the enrollment management director. They've agreed to provide us with a preliminary aid estimate based on our SAI score, and they're extending our deposit deadline to June 1st. They also put in writing that if the final package is significantly different, we can request a full deposit refund. I'm still frustrated with the overall situation, but I feel much better knowing we have some flexibility. For anyone else dealing with this, definitely reach out directly to the school and ask for these accommodations - it worked for us!

This is such great news to hear! I'm a high school counselor and I've been dealing with panicked families all month about these FAFSA delays. Your success story gives me hope that I can guide other families through this same process. I'm definitely going to share your strategy with my students - specifically asking for preliminary estimates based on SAI scores and getting deposit refund policies in writing. The fact that you got an extended deadline AND a refund guarantee shows that schools really can be flexible when families advocate for themselves. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone. Stories like yours help other families know they're not powerless in this situation!