How quickly will I get my FAFSA SAI score and when do schools receive it?

it really depends on ur situation but for me last year it took like 3 days to get the SAI # but schools didnt get it for like 2-3 weeks after that. honestly the beta phase isnt that bad, i did my brothers last week and it went thru fine

If you submit in December, you should receive your SAI within 3-7 days if there are no verification issues. Then colleges typically receive the information within 3-10 business days after that. However, this year's timeline might be different due to the FAFSA Simplification Act changes and the system updates. One important note - many schools have financial aid priority deadlines in January or February, so December submission should be fine, but don't delay beyond that if possible. Also remember that your SAI doesn't tell you exactly what aid you'll receive - you'll need to wait for each school to create their financial aid package based on that information, which can take several more weeks.

I filled out FAFSA for both my kids last week (yes, during beta) and got the SAI scores in 4 days!!! But then yesterday I got an email saying we've been selected for verification and now we have to submit all these extra documents. So frustrating! Now I'm worried it will delay everything being sent to schools. Ugh I hate this process so much.

Here's my timeline from last year: - Submitted FAFSA: January 3rd - Received SAI: January 10th (7 days) - First school confirmed receipt: January 18th - Last school confirmed receipt: February 2nd - First financial aid package: February 15th - Last financial aid package: March 28th The processing time varies year to year, but December submission should give you plenty of time. Some schools have their own additional financial aid forms too (like CSS Profile), so check if your daughter's schools require anything beyond FAFSA.

I've been trying to reach someone at FSA for THREE WEEKS to fix an error on our application but keep getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Has anyone managed to actually speak to a human there???

One thing to keep in mind is that schools dont process everyones financial aid packages at the same time. They usually do them in batches based on when you submit FAFSA and if your complete. So even if you submit in December and schools get it in January they might not generate your package until later. My sons application was complete in January but we didnt get his packages until March for most schools.

To directly answer your timeline question: with December submission, expect your SAI by early January at the latest. Schools will likely receive it by mid to late January. Financial aid packages typically come out February through April, depending on the school. If you're using FAFSA results to make enrollment decisions, I recommend: 1. Submit in early December if possible 2. Set up accounts on each school's financial aid portal to track status 3. Follow up with schools in February if you haven't received confirmation they got your FAFSA data 4. Be prepared to make decisions in April, as many schools require deposits by May 1st The new FAFSA is streamlined compared to previous years but did have some initial technical issues. December submission should avoid most of the early bugs.

One other thing to note - your daughter should watch her email carefully for any requests from the financial aid offices. Sometimes they need additional information that can hold up the process, and these requests can end up in spam folders. Missing these emails can delay your aid package by weeks.

As someone who just went through this process with my oldest, I'd also recommend having backup plans ready. While December submission should work fine for your timeline, consider having your daughter apply for merit scholarships directly through each school as well - those often have earlier deadlines but can supplement need-based aid. Also, if any of her schools offer early action admission, you might get financial aid estimates earlier which can help with planning. The whole process is stressful but you're being smart by starting to plan the timeline now!

Just wanted to share my recent experience as another data point! I submitted my son's FAFSA on December 15th last year and got his SAI back on December 22nd (7 days, but that included weekends). Schools started receiving it around January 3rd based on the confirmation emails we got. The key thing I learned is that even though the FAFSA process itself was relatively quick, the financial aid packages varied WILDLY in timing - we got our first one in early February but didn't receive the last one until late March. Some schools are just slower processors than others. I'd recommend making a spreadsheet to track each school's financial aid deadlines and when you receive their packages, because keeping it all straight gets overwhelming fast! Also seconding what others said about checking spam folders - we almost missed an important verification request that way.

I'm a new member here and just starting to navigate the FAFSA process for my daughter who's a high school senior. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the verification process potentially adding delays, or that schools process aid packages in batches rather than immediately after receiving FAFSA data. The timeline breakdown from Zoey showing January submission through March aid packages really helps me understand what to expect. I'm planning to submit our FAFSA in early December to be safe, and I'll definitely set up those student portals that Aiden mentioned to track everything. One quick question - for those who've been through this, is there a way to check if your FAFSA has been successfully transmitted to all the schools you listed, or do you just have to wait for each school to confirm receipt individually?