Is SAI of 17836 too high for financial aid eligibility? Worried about daughter's options

An SAI of 17836 doesn't necessarily mean she won't get any aid, but it does impact what kind of aid she'll qualify for. At that level, she'll likely still be eligible for unsubsidized federal student loans (which don't require demonstrated financial need). For the Pell Grant, that's probably out of reach since the cutoff is usually around an SAI of 6000-7000. However, each college has their own institutional aid that might still be available to her. Many state schools have merit scholarships that don't consider SAI at all - they look at GPA and test scores instead. Has she applied for any scholarships specifically?

my daughter had an SAI around 16000 last year and still got some financial aid from her state university! it really depends on the cost of attendance at each school. more expensive schools might still give her something. dont give up hope!!!

SAI of 17836 means your daughter will likely qualify for these federal options: 1. Unsubsidized Direct Loans - up to $5,500 for first-year dependent students 2. Parent PLUS loans (requires credit check) 3. Work-study may still be available at some institutions Subsidized loans typically cut off around an SAI of 12000-15000 depending on the school's cost of attendance. She's unlikely to qualify for Pell Grants with that SAI. However, the most important step now is to wait for each school's official financial aid offer. The SAI is just one factor schools consider. Some schools with higher costs of attendance might offer institutional grants to bridge the gap, especially if her academic credentials are strong. Additionally, many schools have special circumstances appeals where you can document those medical expenses that FAFSA doesn't account for. This could potentially adjust your aid eligibility.

Wait, isn't the SAI replacing the old EFC thing? I'm confused about how all this works now with the new FAFSA. Is higher or lower better? Sorry if that's a dumb question lol

I work in a financial aid office, and I can tell you that an SAI of 17836 isn't necessarily a deal-breaker. Here's what you should do: 1. Check each college's average cost of attendance (COA). If the COA is significantly higher than your SAI, there's a gap that might be filled with institutional aid. 2. File a special circumstances form with EACH school explaining the medical expenses. Each school handles these differently, but most have a process for reviewing circumstances not captured by FAFSA. 3. Look into school-specific scholarships - many have late deadlines or rolling applications. 4. DON'T pay attention to what others post about their SAI online - every family situation is different. Also, make sure your daughter completes any verification requests quickly if selected. Delays can impact aid amounts.

Good luck actually talking to anyone at the financial aid office! I've been trying to get through about my son's special circumstances for TWO WEEKS. Either get voicemail or wait on hold for an hour+ only to get disconnected. So frustrating when you need actual help and not just generic website info!!

To answer your earlier question about medical expenses documentation - typically you'll want to provide bills from the most recent tax year (the one used on the FAFSA), but ongoing expenses are also relevant, especially if they impact your ability to contribute to education costs. Most schools will have you fill out a form detailing these expenses and provide documentation. Gather everything you have from the past year at minimum, but also summarize the 3-year history to show the ongoing burden.

My cousin had an SAI of like 20000+ and still got some aid so don't stress too much!!

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES!!! Make too much to qualify for grants but not enough to actually afford college. And these schools keep raising tuition because they know federal loans will cover it. It's a scam and I'm TIRED of it. My kid had an SAI of 13000 and barely got anything except loans that will take 20+ years to pay off. The FAFSA formula is completely broken.

Regarding your question about appeals - you should file a special circumstances appeal as soon as you receive all your financial aid packages. This gives the schools enough time to review before funds are distributed. Success rates vary widely by institution and situation, but medical expenses are one of the more commonly approved reasons for adjustment. Make sure you thoroughly document everything and explain clearly how these expenses impact your ability to contribute to education costs. Also, once you receive all offers, you can sometimes use better offers from competing schools as leverage. Some institutions are willing to match or improve their packages if you show them what other comparable schools offered.

Hi Natasha! I'm new to this whole financial aid process and feeling pretty overwhelmed. My daughter is a junior and we'll be going through this next year. Reading your post and all these responses is really eye-opening - I had no idea about things like special circumstances appeals or using competing offers as leverage. It sounds like you're getting some great advice here! I'm curious though - when you mentioned the three state schools she was accepted to with tuition ranging from $14K-22K, are those just tuition costs or the full cost of attendance? I'm trying to understand what we should be budgeting for when our time comes. Also, has she heard back from any of the schools with actual financial aid packages yet? I'd love to know how it turns out for you since our situations might be similar (single parent, decent income but with extra expenses FAFSA doesn't consider).