Got my FAFSA SAI score - what happens before aid package offers arrive?

congrats on getting ur SAI! now u just wait. each school has diff timelines so u could hear back next week or not for 2 months. depends on when u applied and if u met priority deadlines

Yes, your SAI (Student Aid Index) is used to determine your eligibility for need-based financial aid. The higher your SAI, the less need-based aid you're likely to receive. However, remember that the SAI is just one factor in your overall financial aid package. Here's what happens next: 1. Each school's financial aid office will use your FAFSA information to create an aid package 2. You'll receive financial aid award letters from each school, typically after acceptance letters 3. These packages will include a mix of federal, state, and institutional aid 4. You can then compare offers and decide which to accept Timelines vary significantly by school. Some send aid packages in March/April, others not until May/June. If you've been accepted to a school but haven't heard about aid within 4-6 weeks of acceptance, contact their financial aid office directly.

wait i thought they changed it from EFC to SAI but it basically means the same thing right?? i got my SAI last week and im so confused cause it says my family can pay way more than we actually can afford

Honestly the whole financial aid system is BROKEN. I had a similar SAI last year and ended up with pathetic offers from most schools. The formula they use completely ignores the actual cost of living in different areas and family circumstances. Don't get your hopes up too much, but definitely appeal ANY offer you get if it's not enough. Schools have discretionary funds they don't tell you about unless you push them for more money.

To add to what others have said, while you're waiting for aid packages to arrive, I recommend: 1. Start researching outside scholarships (Fastweb, Scholarship.com, etc.) 2. Prepare your CSS Profile if any of your schools require it (different from FAFSA) 3. Gather information to compare packages when they arrive (create a spreadsheet) 4. Research each school's financial aid appeal process in case you need it Many schools will send initial financial aid offers with acceptance letters or within a few weeks after. Some schools might need additional verification documents, so check your student portal or email regularly.

Having been through this whole frustrating process last year with my daughter, I can tell you that trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid when you have questions is nearly impossible. We kept getting disconnected or waiting on hold for hours. We finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got us through to an actual human at FSA in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Being able to talk to someone directly about our SAI and what it meant for different types of aid was super helpful. They explained which parts of our aid package would be affected by the SAI and which wouldn't be.

One more thing to consider - while your SAI is an important factor, each school has its own methodology for awarding institutional aid. Some schools meet 100% of demonstrated need, while others have limited aid budgets. A high SAI might limit your federal need-based aid (like subsidized loans and grants), but you could still receive significant merit-based aid or institutional scholarships depending on your academic profile. If you're concerned about affordability, I'd recommend reaching out to the financial aid offices at your top choice schools. Many have counselors who can give you a preliminary estimate even before official packages are sent out.

when i was waiting for financial aid stuff last year i just kept checking my portals at each school. some schools put the info in ur applicant portal before they even email u about it. sometimes u can see ur package weeks early if u keep checking!!

I remember this anxious waiting period all too well! Just wanted to add that while your SAI will impact need-based aid calculations, schools still have a LOT of flexibility in how they build your package. My brother and I had identical SAI scores (we're twins) but got completely different packages from the same school because we applied to different programs and had different academic records. Also, if your financial situation has changed since you submitted your FAFSA (job loss, medical expenses, etc.), document everything now so you're ready to submit an appeal if needed. The formal term is "Special Circumstances Review" and most schools have a process for this.