What happens after receiving SAI scores of $19,000 for my children? Widow with 3 kids confused about next FAFSA steps

Congrats on getting through the FAFSA application! The SAI score is basically what the government thinks your family can afford per year per student. The next steps are: 1. Colleges will use that SAI to create financial aid packages that will be sent to you with acceptance letters or shortly after 2. Each school has different amounts of institutional aid they can offer - some may meet the full need, others won't 3. You don't need to do anything more with FAFSA now, just wait for college financial aid offers Since you have triplets, make sure each school knows you have three in college at once - this sometimes qualifies for additional aid consideration!

i got 3 kids too, 2 in college now 1 next yr. the schools DON'T always give u enough $ to match the SAI. some good schools do but most dont. my daughter got into 5 schools and the $ offers were COMPLETELY different even tho they all saw same FASFA. its messed up!!

The financial aid packages will typically arrive 1-3 weeks after acceptance letters, with most schools sending them by early April. These packages will outline: * Grants (free money you don't repay) * Scholarships (also free) * Work-study options (part-time campus jobs) * Federal loan eligibility (Stafford loans) The SAI is just a starting point - colleges aren't obligated to meet it exactly. Some prestigious schools with large endowments might offer to cover all need beyond your SAI, while others might leave a significant gap. As a widow with three children attending simultaneously, you should definitely contact each financial aid office directly to explain your circumstances. Many schools have special appeals processes for families with unusual circumstances. Be prepared to provide documentation of your spouse's passing if they request it.

You can actually contact them now, especially since you have a special circumstance (being a widow supporting three college students simultaneously). Most financial aid offices have a process called "Professional Judgment" where they can adjust aid based on circumstances not captured in the FAFSA. Call each school's financial aid office and ask about their process for special circumstance reviews. Some might want you to wait until initial offers come out, others might prefer you start the process now.

my daughter got her sai last yr it was like 23k and she still got pell grants and some scholarships from the school. the sai isnt the final word they look at other things too. just wait for the official financial aid letter it explains everything.

The whole system is DESIGNED to be confusing! Nobody tells you that SAI isn't what you'll actually pay - it's just what the govt thinks you can afford. Schools can still leave you with MASSIVE gaps between your "official" need and what they actually give you. And triplets?? The system isn't built for families with multiple kids in college! They SAY they account for it but they DON'T do it properly. My twins got totally different aid packages even at the same school!! You're going to need to FIGHT with every financial aid office. Document EVERYTHING. Be prepared to appeal EVERY offer.

I was in a similar situation (widow with two in college at once) and found that reaching the financial aid offices directly made a HUGE difference. The problem is getting through to them during peak season - I spent WEEKS trying to reach someone at our top choice school. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to financial aid offices when they weren't answering phones. It connects you directly with a live agent instead of waiting on hold forever. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Once I actually spoke to a human, they were incredibly helpful and adjusted our aid package. Having multiple kids in college at once plus being a widow DOES qualify for special consideration, but you have to actually reach someone to explain your situation.

u should also look at CSS profile if ur kids applying to private schools. some schools want BOTH fafsa and css. css asks for way more $$$ info and its way longer to fill out. but some schools give WAY more money if u do the css too.

Don't worry about comparing SAI amounts between your children yet. Focus on the actual aid packages when they arrive. Each school will list: - Total Cost of Attendance (tuition, room, board, estimated books/supplies) - Grants/scholarships (free money) - Loans offered (money you need to repay) - Work-study (if awarded) - Remaining amount you need to pay This "remaining amount" is what really matters - it can vary DRAMATICALLY between schools regardless of their sticker price. A $65k/year private school might end up cheaper than a $25k state school depending on their aid policies.

One more important tip: Once you receive all the financial aid offers, you can actually negotiate with schools. If School A offers your child a better package than School B, but they prefer School B, you can contact School B's financial aid office and politely ask if they can match or improve their offer based on the competing offer. Many parents don't realize financial aid offers aren't always final. This strategy works especially well when the schools are of similar ranking/prestige. Have digital copies of the competing offers ready to share when you make this request.

I'm so sorry for your loss and admire your strength in navigating this process for three kids at once. As a parent who went through this recently, I want to add a few practical tips: 1. Create a spreadsheet to track all the financial aid packages when they arrive - with triplets, you'll have a lot of numbers to compare across multiple schools. 2. Don't forget about state-specific aid programs. Many states have grants for residents that aren't always well-publicized but can add thousands to your aid package. 3. Consider reaching out to your high school guidance counselor too - they often have relationships with college financial aid offices and can sometimes make calls on your behalf. 4. If any of your kids are considering community college for the first two years, this could be a strategic way to reduce costs while they're all in school simultaneously. You're doing an incredible job managing this complex situation. The financial aid offices really do want to help families like yours - the key is just getting through to speak with someone who can understand your unique circumstances.