FAFSA says "processed" with negative SAI (-1500) but no aid amount - Can I still register for March classes?

Your negative SAI of -1500 is actually really good! The more negative your SAI, the more financial need you demonstrate. But the FAFSA processing is just step 1 - your school's financial aid office has to create your actual aid package based on that SAI. Contact your school's financial aid office ASAP. Let them know your FAFSA is processed with your SAI score and that you need to register for March classes. They might be able to put a hold on your account so you can register without paying upfront, knowing your aid is coming.

omg i had the SAME thing happen!!! my sai was -2300 and it said processed for like 3 weeks with no actual $ amount. so frustrating!!

The SAI score is just the first step. Each school uses that number to determine your actual financial aid package based on their costs and available aid. Your -1500 SAI is excellent and means you'll likely qualify for significant aid. Every school handles the timing differently, but most have a process for students in your situation. Some options: 1. Request a financial aid hold/deferment (lets you register with payment due later) 2. Ask about provisional financial aid awards (estimated package before final one) 3. See if they offer payment plans for the initial registration Definitely call your financial aid office first thing tomorrow morning. This happens all the time, especially with late-start classes!

Everybody keeps saying call the financial aid office but GOOD LUCK with that lol. I spent 3 weeks trying to get through to mine. Always on hold forever then disconnected. So frustrating!!

I work in a college financial aid office, so let me clarify a few things: 1. Your -1500 SAI is excellent and will likely qualify you for the maximum Pell Grant ($7,395 for the 2025-26 year) plus potentially other aid. 2. The "processed" status means FSA has completed their part, but now each school you listed on your FAFSA needs to: • Receive your FAFSA data (can take 3-7 days) • Import it into their system (varies by school) • Create your aid package (can take 1-4 weeks depending on their backlog) 3. For your March classes, you have options: • Most schools offer a "pending financial aid" status that lets you register without paying upfront • Some schools may require you to pay a small deposit or first installment • Ask specifically about their process for "late-start courses with pending aid" I recommend both calling AND emailing your financial aid office. In the email, include your student ID, that your FAFSA shows "processed" with a -1500 SAI, and that you need to register for March classes.

DONT GET TOO EXCITED ABOUT THAT NEGATIVE SAI!!!! My SAI was -2200 and I ended up with waaaaay less aid than I expected because my school ran out of institutional funds by the time they processed my award. The Pell Grant was nice but covered less than half my costs. Make sure you have a backup plan for paying because the financial aid system is a JOKE.

Don't wait for the financial aid office to contact you - be proactive! I was in almost the exact same situation last year. My steps: 1. Called financial aid office (had to try multiple times) 2. Asked for a "pending aid registration hold" to be placed on my account 3. Got written confirmation via email that I could register without upfront payment 4. Took that email to the registration office when I signed up for classes Different schools call it different things, but most have some sort of process for this situation. The key is getting something in writing that you can show to registration if they try to demand payment.

does anyone know if the sai score means the same thing at all schools? like does -1500 get you the same money at community college vs state university??

Just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact situation last semester! My FAFSA showed "processed" with a -1800 SAI in late February, and I was panicking about registering for spring classes. Here's what worked for me: 1. I emailed my financial aid office first (around 6 AM when their inbox wasn't flooded) with my student ID, SAI score, and specific question about registering with pending aid 2. Got a response within 24 hours with instructions to fill out a "Pending Financial Aid Form" 3. Once submitted, they placed a hold on my account that let me register without payment for 30 days My actual aid package came through about 3 weeks later and covered almost everything - with your -1500 SAI you should definitely qualify for substantial aid. The key is being proactive and using the right terminology when you contact them. Good luck!

This is such a stressful situation but you're definitely not alone! I went through something similar last year and the waiting period between "processed" and actually getting your aid package feels endless. Your -1500 SAI is really promising - that should qualify you for a significant amount of federal aid. The main thing to remember is that "processed" just means the federal government has calculated your SAI, but now your school has to do their part to create your actual award letter. For your March classes, definitely reach out to your financial aid office tomorrow morning. Most schools are pretty understanding about this timing issue, especially with late-start courses. Ask specifically about: - A "pending financial aid hold" or "deferment" - Whether they can give you a provisional estimate based on your SAI - Their policy for registering with pending aid Also try emailing them tonight if possible - sometimes you get faster responses that way and it creates a paper trail. Include your student ID and mention your specific SAI score. The financial aid office deals with this situation constantly, so don't feel bad about asking for help. That's literally what they're there for!

Hey Sean! I'm in almost the exact same boat right now - my FAFSA shows processed with a -1650 SAI but I'm still waiting on my actual aid package. Reading through these responses has been super helpful! I called my school's financial aid office yesterday after seeing all the advice here, and they were actually really understanding about the situation. They immediately put a "pending aid hold" on my account so I could register for my March classes without paying upfront. The whole process took about 10 minutes once I got through to someone. One thing that helped me get connected faster was calling right when they opened (8 AM at my school) - way less wait time than calling in the afternoon. Also, having your student ID and SAI number ready when you call makes the conversation go much smoother. Your negative SAI is definitely a good sign for getting substantial aid. The financial aid person I spoke with said that with my SAI, I should expect to receive close to the maximum Pell Grant amount plus potentially some state aid. Fingers crossed your school processes your package quickly!

I'm new to the FAFSA process too and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble getting through to your school's financial aid office by phone, try checking if they have online chat support or a student portal where you can submit questions. Some schools also have specific "FAFSA help" sessions or workshops during busy periods like this - might be worth checking their website or social media for any upcoming sessions. Sometimes these group sessions can be faster than trying to get one-on-one phone time. Your -1500 SAI is definitely promising for getting good aid coverage. Wishing you luck with getting that hold placed and registering for your March classes!