Got FAFSA SAI summary - what are next steps with colleges?

Congrats on getting ur SAI! Ya just wait now. the colleges automatically get the info when they have ur daughters SSN and school code. Each school has their own timeline for sending award letters/aid packages. Some send them fast others take foreverrrrr

You're on the right track! Here's what happens next: 1. Colleges listed on your FAFSA automatically receive your SAI and financial information 2. Each school will calculate your aid package based on your SAI, their available funds, and your daughter's merit 3. Award letters are typically sent 2-6 weeks after they receive your FAFSA data The only additional steps would be: - Complete any school-specific financial aid forms (some schools have their own) - Respond to verification requests if you're selected (about 30% of applicants get selected) - Submit the CSS Profile if applying to private colleges that require it You can always check the status by logging into each college's applicant portal to see if they've received your FAFSA data.

DO NOT just wait!!!! I thought the same thing last year and almost missed out on thousands in aid. some schools dont automatically look for your fafsa, you have to submit the school code or tell them its ready. Call the financial aid office at EACH school and confirm they recieved your fafsa data. Trust me, better to be sure than sorry. Too many ppl assume its automatic but its NOT always.

congrats on finishing that paperwork nightmare lol. we just got our SAI too but like $2000 higher than last year even though our income went down?? making me wonder if i messed something up on the form...

When you say you "got the FAFSA summary" - do you mean you received an official Student Aid Report (SAR)? If so, take a close look at it for any flags or verification requirements. About 1/3 of FAFSA filers get selected for verification where they need to provide additional documentation. If you see any flags on your SAR or comments about verification, you'll need to address those before schools can finalize your aid. Also, most schools DO automatically receive your FAFSA data if you listed them, but it's smart to verify receipt in their applicant portal or by calling their financial aid office directly. Don't assume - financial aid is too important to leave to chance.

I had to call the Federal Student Aid office last month because of a similar question. It was a NIGHTMARE getting through - spent hours on hold and got disconnected twice. Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through - they have a service that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is ready. Saved me literally hours of hold time. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Anyway, once I got through, the agent confirmed that schools automatically receive the FAFSA data, but they recommended contacting each school's financial aid office directly to confirm receipt and ask about their specific timeline for sending award packages.

my son got his award letters about 3-4 weeks after the SAI came out. each school is different tho. state schools were faster than private ones in our experience

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I'm going to check each school's applicant portal first, then call the financial aid offices to confirm they received everything. Better safe than sorry, especially with those May 1st deposit deadlines approaching. I appreciate all the advice - this process is so confusing for first-timers!