FAFSA processed for both parent and student - waiting for SAI from college?

Yes, now you wait for the school to process everything and prepare a financial aid package. Each school has their own timeline, but typically they start sending out packages 2-4 weeks after receiving FAFSA data. Some schools might not send anything until March-April for the upcoming academic year. You can check your son's student portal for that specific school - many colleges post financial aid awards there before sending emails. Also, make sure to check if the school requires any additional forms beyond FAFSA (like the CSS Profile or institutional forms).

mine took 3 months last year lol so don't hold ur breath. each school is different with how fast they process.

What a lot of people don't realize is that while the FAFSA information gets sent to schools, you should be proactive about following up with the financial aid office. Schools often have hundreds or thousands of applications to process, and sometimes applications can get stuck in verification or have other issues that delay processing. I recommend calling your son's financial aid office directly to confirm they received the FAFSA and ask about their timeline for awarding aid packages. Most schools send award letters 3-6 weeks after receiving complete applications. If your son is returning to the same school, they may prioritize new incoming students first, so returning student packages sometimes come later. Also check if they need any additional documentation from you. Verification requests are common and can significantly delay your aid if not addressed quickly.

This whole waiting period is so frustrating! I've been waiting almost 3 weeks now after FAFSA processing and keep checking my son's student portal every day. No updates. I've tried calling the financial aid office but can't get through to an actual person. Just a voicemail saying they're experiencing high call volume. Anyone else having trouble reaching financial aid offices by phone?

LMAO colleges are THE WORST with financial aid! My daughter goes to State University and they didn't send her aid package until TWO WEEKS before tuition was due last year!!! We had no idea what we would owe until the last minute. And then they had the nerve to put a hold on her account because they "needed additional verification" that they never told us about. The whole system is DESIGNED to confuse parents and students!

One thing to know is that your son's final SAI is only one part of what determines his aid package. Each school has their own methodology for distributing their institutional aid beyond federal programs. Some key points to remember during this waiting period: 1. The school needs to verify your FAFSA information is accurate before proceeding 2. They'll calculate your son's Cost of Attendance (COA) for next year 3. They'll subtract your SAI to determine financial need 4. Then they'll create a package of grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans This process takes time, especially with all the changes to the FAFSA this year. But if it's been more than 3-4 weeks, definitely follow up with the financial aid office directly.

wait does anyone know if you have to fill out fasfa again for summer classes? my advisor never mentioned it but now im worried i should have done another application for summer term

Update: I called the financial aid office this morning and they confirmed they received our FAFSA data but said they're processing returning students in late March/early April. The woman I spoke with was really helpful and suggested I should check my son's portal next week as they're uploading aid packages in batches. She also mentioned his CSS Profile was still needed (which I completed yesterday after the earlier comment reminded me!). Thanks everyone for the advice - I feel much better knowing where we stand in the process.