SAI score of 143050 - too high for merit scholarships? Will working affect next year's FAFSA?

ur SAI is just what they think u can afford 2 pay. doesn't mean u actually CAN pay that much lol. most merit $ is separate from need-based aid.

Let me clarify how merit scholarships work in relation to your FAFSA SAI. The vast majority of merit scholarships are completely independent of your financial need or SAI score. They're based on academic achievement, test scores, extracurricular activities, and other accomplishments. Some schools do have "preferential packaging" where they might give better merit offers to students with financial need, but having a high SAI won't disqualify your daughter from most merit scholarships. Focus on schools known for generous merit aid and encourage your daughter to maintain strong academics. Regarding next year's FAFSA - yes, your additional income will likely increase your SAI further. However, if your income change is significant, some schools allow you to submit a Professional Judgment appeal explaining your special circumstances.

I'm in the EXACT same boat!!! Our SAI came back at 136,000 which is ridiculous since we only make about $185K combined. My son has a 4.3 GPA and 1510 SAT but now I'm panicking that he won't get any scholarships either!!! Does anyone know which colleges don't look at FAFSA for merit aid?? This whole system is BROKEN.

To address a few misconceptions: 1. Your SAI (Student Aid Index) does NOT represent what percentage of income you should pay. It's a complex calculation that considers assets, family size, number in college, and other factors. 2. The vast majority of merit scholarships are completely separate from your FAFSA results. Some private scholarships might have need components, but most institutional merit aid is based on academic credentials. 3. For next year's FAFSA, yes, additional income will likely increase your SAI. However, you can submit a Special Circumstances form directly to each college's financial aid office explaining your situation. 4. Some schools are "need-aware" meaning they consider financial need in admissions decisions, but that's different from merit scholarships. Focus on schools that are known to give generous merit aid to students with your daughter's academic profile.

Has anyone actually been able to TALK to someone at Federal Student Aid about how these calculations work? I spent 3 hours on hold last week trying to understand my son's SAI number (112,000) and got disconnected TWICE. So frustrating!

My daughter got plenty of merit scholarships last year despite our high SAI (around 130k). Focus on schools where your student's stats are in the top 25-30% of their incoming class - they'll offer merit to attract strong students regardless of financial need. Look at schools' Common Data Sets (Google the school name + "common data set") to see what percentage of students get merit aid and how much. Some schools give merit to 60%+ of students!

The whole FAFSA and SAI thing is SUCH A SCAM. They expect middle class families to fork over their life savings while others get everything paid for. The government should just make college free for everyone instead of this complicated system that punishes people for working hard and saving money!!!!

To follow up on your question about Professional Judgment appeals: these are submitted directly to each college's financial aid office, not through FAFSA. Each school has their own form and process. You'll need to document the change in circumstances (your employment change) with evidence like pay stubs, employment letters, etc. I also want to add that many schools have their own institutional aid formulas that differ from the federal methodology. Some private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA, which captures more detailed financial information and may result in a different aid determination. Be sure to check if any of your daughter's target schools require both forms.

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share my experience from last year - we had a similar SAI (around 150k) and I was terrified my son wouldn't get any scholarships. Turns out I was worrying for nothing! He received merit scholarships from 6 out of 8 schools he applied to, ranging from $8k to $22k per year. The key was applying to schools where his stats put him in the top 25% of applicants. One thing that really helped was creating a spreadsheet with each school's average SAT/GPA ranges and their merit aid statistics. We focused on schools where he was a "big fish in a smaller pond" rather than just chasing rankings. Also, don't forget about honors programs - many offer additional scholarships on top of regular merit aid! Your daughter's opportunities aren't limited by your SAI for merit scholarships. Good luck with the process!

Welcome to the community! As someone who just went through this process with my own kid, I can tell you that your SAI number is NOT a barrier to merit scholarships. Most merit aid is completely separate from need-based calculations - schools want to attract strong students regardless of their financial situation. Here's what I learned: focus on schools where your daughter's academic profile puts her in the top 25-30% of admitted students. These schools will offer merit money to entice her to attend. Also, don't overlook regional universities and smaller colleges - they often have more generous merit aid budgets than you'd expect. For your employment situation, definitely reach out to financial aid offices directly about special circumstances. Many schools are understanding about family situations like caring for elderly parents. Document everything and be prepared to explain the timeline of your employment change. The process feels overwhelming now, but you'll find there are more opportunities than you initially thought. Your daughter's academic achievements matter more than your SAI for merit scholarships!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to echo what others have said - your SAI won't prevent your daughter from getting merit scholarships! I'm currently going through this process with my twin sons, and despite our SAI being over 120k, they've already received merit offers from several schools. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet: look into automatic merit scholarships. Many state universities have published grids showing exactly what GPA/test score combinations guarantee specific scholarship amounts. These are completely separate from need-based aid and your FAFSA results don't matter at all. Also, regarding your employment change - I'd suggest keeping detailed records of your caregiving situation with your mom, including any medical documentation if available. Financial aid officers are often more sympathetic to family caregiving situations than people realize. Some schools even have specific provisions for families who've had employment gaps due to eldercare responsibilities. Don't give up hope! The merit aid landscape is much more favorable than the doom and gloom around high SAI scores would suggest.