Got my SAI number from FAFSA but confused what to do next with it
Hey everyone, I just received my Student Aid Index (SAI) number yesterday through my FAFSA portal, but I'm not really sure what to do with it now? The number is 4328 but there's no explanation about what this means for my financial aid or what my next steps should be. Do I need to send this to colleges myself or does it automatically go to the schools I listed on my application? Also, does a lower or higher number mean I'll get more aid? I'm first-gen college student so this whole process is super confusing!!
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Finnegan Gunn
Congrats on completing your FAFSA and getting your SAI! The good news is you don't need to do anything with that number yourself. It's automatically sent to all the schools you listed on your FAFSA. Your SAI (formerly called EFC) is what colleges use to determine how much financial aid you qualify for. The lower your SAI number, the more need-based aid you'll likely receive. A SAI of 4328 is relatively low, which means you'll probably qualify for decent need-based aid depending on the cost of attendance at your schools. The schools will use this number to create your financial aid package, which might include grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. Just make sure you check your email regularly and set up any student portals at your colleges, as that's where they'll communicate your aid offers.
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Alina Rosenthal
•Thank you so much! That makes me feel better. I was freaking out thinking I needed to do something else with this number. Do you know roughly how long it takes for schools to put together the aid packages after they get the SAI?
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Miguel Harvey
dnt worry bout that number its just wat they use to figure out ur free money lol. i got mine last yr and didnt have to do anything with it
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Ashley Simian
Speaking from recent experience, that number is actually SUPER important but FAFSA doesn't explain it AT ALL! A lower number is better (means you're poorer lol). My SAI was 12,000+ and I barely got any aid at all compared to my friend who had like 1,200. The schools will see it automatically through the FAFSA system so you just wait now. The annoying thing is that different schools can give TOTALLY different packages with the exact same SAI - some are way more generous than others!!
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Oliver Cheng
•This isn't entirely accurate. While the SAI is important, colleges use their own formulas too. Many private schools also require the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA, and they calculate need differently. Your 12,000 SAI may have qualified for more aid at certain schools, especially private ones with large endowments. Public universities typically have less institutional aid to distribute regardless of your SAI.
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Taylor To
I just went through this with my daughter. Your SAI is automatically sent to your schools, but honestly, I recommend calling the financial aid offices at your top choice schools to confirm they received it. We assumed everything was fine until April when one school told us they never got her FAFSA information and it was too late for certain scholarships!
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Alina Rosenthal
•Oh no, that's scary! I definitely don't want to miss out on scholarships. I'll try calling my top schools next week to double check.
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Ella Cofer
•If you're going to call, use Claimyr.com to skip the hold times. I spent 2.5 hours on hold with the Federal Student Aid office last month trying to fix a verification issue with my SAI, and it was a nightmare. A friend recommended Claimyr, which got me through in minutes. They have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. It's been super helpful when I needed to verify my documents were received.
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Kevin Bell
The whole SAI system is COMPLETELY BROKEN and DESIGNED to confuse students!!! I had an SAI of 3200 last year which is LOW and still got barely any aid from my state university. Meanwhile the rich kids at my school whose parents make 6 figures somehow got MORE AID than me because they know how to work the system and hide assets. Don't get your hopes up about that number meaning anything fair will happen!!!
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Oliver Cheng
•While there are certainly flaws in the financial aid system, your experience isn't typical. An SAI of 3200 should qualify for significant aid at most institutions, including Pell Grants. There might have been other factors affecting your aid package - verification issues, incomplete documentation, or your school's limited aid budget. I'd recommend appealing your financial aid decision if you believe there was an error.
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Oliver Cheng
Your SAI (Student Aid Index) is a key figure in determining your financial aid eligibility. Here's what happens now: 1. The schools you listed on your FAFSA automatically receive this information 2. Each school subtracts your SAI from their Cost of Attendance to determine your financial need 3. They create an aid package that may include federal, state, and institutional aid You should receive financial aid award letters from each school, typically around the same time as admission decisions or shortly after. These will outline grants, scholarships, work-study, and loan options. A SAI of 4328 is relatively low, which is good news for aid eligibility. You'll likely qualify for some need-based aid, including potential Pell Grant funds. Just make sure you complete any verification requests promptly if your application is selected for verification (about 30% are).
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Alina Rosenthal
•Thank you so much for breaking it down! I've been accepted to 3 schools already but haven't gotten any financial aid packages yet. Is there a deadline for when they have to tell me what aid I'll get? I need to make a decision soon!
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Oliver Cheng
•Most schools try to send financial aid packages by April 1 for regular admission students, giving you time before the May 1 enrollment deposit deadline. If you haven't received your packages yet, I'd recommend contacting each school's financial aid office directly. Some may be waiting on additional documentation or there could be a processing delay. Don't be afraid to politely follow up - it's your financial future at stake.
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Miguel Harvey
wait i thought they changed it from EFC to SAI? isnt it the same thing just different name?
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Finnegan Gunn
•Yes, you're correct! As part of the FAFSA Simplification Act, they changed the name from Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to Student Aid Index (SAI). They function similarly as a measure of financial strength, but there are some calculation differences. The new SAI can actually go as low as -1500 for students with the highest need, whereas the lowest EFC was always 0.
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Taylor To
When my son got his SAI last year, we were totally confused too! We ended up making a spreadsheet to compare all his financial aid offers once they came in. The same SAI number got him wildly different packages - from covering 25% of costs at one school to almost 80% at another! Just wait for all your offers before making any decisions.
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Alina Rosenthal
•A spreadsheet is a great idea! I'll definitely do that when I get all my offers. It's crazy how different the packages can be with the same SAI number.
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Savannah Glover
My daughter just went through this whole process and one thing nobody tells you is that you should also be checking your Student Aid portal regularly for any notifications or verification requests. They sometimes need additional documents to confirm your SAI number is correct, and if you miss those requests, your aid can be delayed or reduced. Don't just wait for the schools to contact you!
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Alina Rosenthal
•That's really helpful, thank you! I'll make sure to check my portal regularly. I really don't want to miss anything important that could affect my aid.
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Haley Bennett
As a first-gen student myself, I totally get how overwhelming this whole process feels! Your SAI of 4328 is actually pretty good news - it's low enough that you should qualify for substantial need-based aid. I just want to add one thing that really helped me: start researching each school's specific financial aid policies now. Some schools meet 100% of demonstrated need while others don't, and some have better aid for in-state vs out-of-state students. Also, don't forget to look into state grant programs in addition to federal aid - many states have their own need-based grants that use your FAFSA info. You're doing great by staying on top of this process!
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NeonNebula
•Thank you so much for the encouragement! It really helps knowing I'm not the only first-gen student who found this confusing. I hadn't thought about looking into state grant programs yet - that's a great tip! Do you know where I can find information about my state's programs, or should I just google "[my state] financial aid grants"? Also, what do you mean by schools that "meet 100% of demonstrated need" - is that something I can look up for each of my schools?
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