FAFSA finally processed after 10 weeks - do I need to notify colleges?

congrats!! mine took 9 weeks so i feel your pain. colleges get it automatically but it doesn't hurt to email their fin aid office just to make sure they received it. some schools have portals where you can check if they got your fafsa

Thank you! I'll check their portals first and then email if I don't see it updated in a few days. This whole process has been such a nightmare.

The schools you listed on your FAFSA will automatically receive your information within 3-5 business days. However, with all the processing delays this year, it's a good practice to contact each school's financial aid office to confirm they've received your data. Make sure to mention your FAFSA submission date (1/16) and processing date (3/28) in your communication. Some schools may have set internal deadlines, so it's important to clarify if you need any deadline extensions due to the FAFSA processing delays.

Thank you for the detailed info! I'll reach out to them all tomorrow with those specific dates. Really hoping they'll be understanding about the delay since it was completely out of my control.

I'm in the exact same situation!!! Submitted Jan 12 and just processed yesterday. I've been FREAKING OUT because my school's priority deadline was March 1st. I called my top choice school and they said as long as it's processed by April 15 I'm still eligible for institutional aid. Maybe check your schools' websites for their deadlines?? This whole FAFSA delay situation is SO STRESSFUL!!

That's good to know! I'll definitely check all the deadlines. So frustrating that we have to deal with this when we submitted months ago! Glad yours finally processed too.

Schools receive your FAFSA information electronically once it's processed, but with this year's unprecedented delays, you should take additional steps:\n\n1. Log into your studentaid.gov account and verify which schools are listed to receive your information\n2. Check each college's financial aid portal (if they have one) in 3-5 days to confirm receipt\n3. Email each financial aid office with your FAFSA confirmation number, submission date, and processing date\n4. Request written confirmation that you'll still be considered for all available aid despite the delay\n\nMany institutions have adjusted their internal deadlines specifically because of the FAFSA modernization delays this year, but documentation is key.

Thank you for such clear steps! I just checked and all my schools are correctly listed on studentaid.gov. I'll follow your advice about documenting everything and getting written confirmation.

just went thru this last week!! when you go to the fafsa site you can see which schools got your info already - click on view submitted fafsa, then theres a tab that says \

Thank you! Just checked and it shows as

This FAFSA redesign has been a complete disaster! My daughter's application took 12 weeks to process and then they calculated her SAI incorrectly. When we tried calling FSA, we sat on hold for 2.5 hours before getting disconnected. TWICE. It's absolutely unacceptable how they've handled this rollout with zero accountability. I feel for all you students dealing with this stress during an already stressful time. I finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that holds your place in the phone queue and calls you when an agent is available. Saved us hours of frustration and we finally got the SAI calculation fixed. They have a video demo here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

omg thanks for this tip! i've been trying to call about my verification issues for weeks and keep getting disconnected!!

You're stressin for nothing. Schools know the FAFSA is delayed this year and they're all being flexible with their deadlines. Source: I work in admissions at a state university. Just check your school's portals to make sure they get your info in the next week or so and you'll be fine.

That's really reassuring to hear from someone who works in admissions. Thanks for letting me know schools are being flexible this year!

Has anyone else noticed that the SAI calculations seem way off this year?? My EFC last year was around $5,500 but my new SAI is showing as $12,940 even though our family income slightly DECREASED. I'm freaking out that this will affect my aid packages!!

The SAI calculation method is completely different from the old EFC formula. Many families are seeing significant changes, both higher and lower. If your numbers seem drastically wrong, you should contact your school's financial aid office to discuss professional judgment review options, especially if your family had any unusual financial circumstances not captured on the FAFSA.

I'd recommend sending a polite but direct email to each financial aid office with:\n1. Your full name and student ID\n2. FAFSA submission date (1/16) and processing date (3/28)\n3. Confirmation number from your FAFSA\n4. A specific request for confirmation that you'll still be considered for all aid programs\n\nKeep the email professional but mention you've been anxiously waiting due to the lengthy processing time. Financial aid officers are overwhelmed right now, but most are being understanding about the nationwide delays.

This is exactly what I needed - a template for what to include in my emails. Thank you so much for the specific guidance!