FAFSA processed in March but no word from colleges yet - normal timeline?

chill out lol, schools have thousands of apps to go through. my brother didn't get his aid package till early may last year and still had time to decide. just how it goes

Unfortunately, this is pretty typical this year. The FAFSA delays have pushed everything back in the financial aid cycle. Schools are still playing catch-up with processing all the information. Have you checked your daughter's student portals at each school? Sometimes aid offers are posted there before they send email notifications. Also, don't hesitate to call the financial aid offices directly - they can often give you a timeline or even preliminary numbers over the phone.

My daughter got her first aid package yesterday and her FAFSA was processed around the same time as yours. So they're starting to come through! But only 1 out of her 5 schools so far.

Financial aid counselor here - this is definitely taking longer this year because of the FAFSA redesign issues. The colleges didn't even start receiving FAFSA data until March, which is months behind normal schedule. That said, since your deposit deadline is approaching, you should absolutely be contacting the financial aid offices directly. Explain your situation and ask for an estimate or preliminary package. Most schools are aware of the timing issues and are working with families. Some are even extending their deposit deadlines specifically because of the FAFSA delays. Pro tip: When you call, have your daughter's ID number, FAFSA confirmation number, and SAI score ready. This will help them look up her information faster.

I was in the EXACT same situation last week with my son's applications. After wasting HOURS trying to get through to financial aid offices, I found Claimyr.com which got me through to a real FSA agent in 15 minutes instead of hours on hold. They connected me directly to someone who could tell me exactly where my son's info was in the process and confirmed it had been sent to his schools. Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ - saved my sanity honestly. After talking to FSA, I felt confident enough to call the schools and push a little harder.

THE WHOLE FINANCIAL AID SYSTEM IS A DISASTER THIS YEAR!!!! My daughter's FAFSA was processed in FEBRUARY and we just got her first award letter yesterday. The colleges are blaming FAFSA, FAFSA is blaming their software update, and meanwhile families are supposed to make LIFE-CHANGING financial decisions with NO INFORMATION. I've been calling financial aid offices every day and getting nowhere. One school told us to just make the deposit anyway and "trust" that aid would come through. WITH WHAT MONEY AM I SUPPOSED TO MAKE THESE DEPOSITS??? Also, don't assume the aid will be good when it comes. My daughter's first package was INSULTING - they gave her $5k less than her brother got at the same school 2 years ago with almost identical financials.

Here's what I recommend doing right now: 1. Email all financial aid offices explaining your May 1 deposit deadline and requesting an estimated package ASAP 2. Follow up those emails with phone calls 3. Check with admissions (not just financial aid) about possibility of deposit deadline extensions 4. If a school is your daughter's top choice, be very clear about that but also explain you cannot commit without aid information 5. Ask if they can provide last year's average aid package for students with similar SAI scores to give you a ballpark Most schools understand this year's unusual circumstances and want to work with families. Be persistent but polite.

wait what's SAI? is that like EFC? sorry I'm filling out FAFSA for first time this fall for next year

Just wanted to update that my daughter just got another financial aid package today! So they're definitely still coming out. Hang in there!

Just saw your comment about trouble reaching financial aid offices. Yes, they're absolutely swamped right now. This is where being strategic helps. Try calling right when they open in the morning, or in the last hour before they close when call volume sometimes decreases. Also, check if they have virtual appointment scheduling - many schools now offer 15-minute Zoom appointments you can book online, which can be easier than getting through by phone. Don't give up - this is too important for your daughter's future. The financial aid offices want to help; they're just dealing with unprecedented volume this year.

I'm in a very similar situation! My son's FAFSA was processed March 20th and we've only heard from 2 out of 6 schools so far. What's really stressing me out is that the two packages we did receive were SO different - one school offered $18K in grants, the other only $7K with basically the same SAI. It's making me realize how much the aid can vary between schools even when your financial situation is identical. Has anyone else seen huge differences between their aid packages this year? I'm wondering if some schools are being more conservative with their offers because of all the FAFSA chaos, or if this level of variation is normal. Really hoping the remaining schools come through with something reasonable!