I really feel for all of you with 24 grads. To not have good FA info at this point in the process is just crazy. I’m so sorry.
I have a different situation/question that I don’t know if anyone here can shed some light on. My D23 is a first year student currently, so I waited and just filled out the FAFSA this past week. For me, at this point in the process, it was quick and easy, with no issues. My D did her part right after me and hers was fine as well.
However, the estimated SAI was very different from our EFC last year (SAI was MUCH lower) and I have no idea why that would be. What is the estimated SAI even based on, since it had not pulled our tax info yet (we just got those emails today)? We don’t own a business or get child support or have any of the other situations that are still asked about. We have a bit less money on hand than we did last year, but that’s due to paying funds out of a 529 for a year of schooling, and it isn’t a big difference. When I look at some charts online, it looks like our final SAI might end up being a bit higher than the estimate, but still much lower than our EFC was last year.
Does anyone understand this process enough to know why we are seeing such different numbers?