The email I initially got after filling out the form says, “Estimated Student Aid Index (SAI) = Cannot Calculate” and I haven’t gotten a follow-up reason, nor does it say why. It says, “continue reading for more details,” but the details in the email are completely unrelated to my SAI not being calculated. I submitted it on 1/17 and still no update. Should I be worried?
No, because there is absolutely nothing you can do until the FAFSA is processed (sometime in March, they say). Watch this thread. As soon as the FAFSA is available to students/parents for corrections, you’ll be able to go back in & make necessary corrections. You should get an email that will explain what needs to be fixed.
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More waiting, how fun
Thanks for the info, I’m the oldest kid and it was way simpler when my parents went to college so we have no idea what we’re doing with financial aid lol
That’s okay - things are so messed up this year that even if you’ve done it before, you could still mess up (lots of people did, even though they are sure they did everything right).
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I submitted my fasfa literally a month ago, but it still says its just proccesing! is that normal for this year??
@dubbbb if this screen name is your real name, I urge you to change it asap. Here is how.
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And to answer. This is normal for everyone this year. Read up on this thread. There is a HUGE delay in getting the FAFSA processed this year with this likely not happening until March.
This is NOT what has happened in past years, and hopefully won’t ever happen again.
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WHY every single time my son logs into his FAFSA portal to check the progress does he receive an email stating “Important – Your FSA ID Information Was Changed.” Nothing was changed. We just logged in to check. Every single time he has to check a box on the first page agreeing to terms and conditions. Why does THAT seem to result in an email saying his FSA ID info was change?
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I get that same message every time I try to log in and check status… I hope this message does not push me to the end of the line.
Btw, I submitted FAFSA on 1/3.
Same
I get it sometimes. Clearly there is yet another glitch in the system. Sigh.
Are people still checking status? I gave up weeks ago, and figure I’ll hear something in the news or from colleges when it’s processed.
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Same here. Waiting for media to report they started processing before logging in and checking.
It seems like some colleges are being proactive. I received a survey from ASU asking if we had completed the FAFSA or still needed help. Chapman has posted that they will be doing in house estimates using SAI in February. Granted, it would be better if everyone had the SAI, but at least it’s something. It’s also good to see some enrollment flexibility, though it doesn’t leave much time between enrollment and move in. Fingers crossed for reasonable outcomes.
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My son applied to Drexel. They said they are going to base theirs off of CSS and guarantee that amount even if it comes in above FAFSA.
I still have no idea how that works with overaward. But they said that’s their plan.
Mine just applied regular decision so I don’t know when that comes out.
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Yes, this is great to see these adjustments to a bad situation. John Carroll University is also allowing parents to self report the SAI and proving an estimate of financial aid. So much unknown right now.
That’s a bad idea using the SAI estimates people have received, as they were based on tables that didn’t include a 3 year inflation adjustment, so those SAIs are off.
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I am not sure if I am confused about this whole process, but wouldn’t an inflation-adjusted SAI logically result in a better financial aid offer? If we can afford it with aid based on the unadjusted SAI, any additional money would be a bonus. Maybe I am not understanding.
I think the idea is to get a guaranteed estimate to families ASAP. Also, a university can calculate the difference based on 2023 vs 2024 inflation pretty easily. We’re all aware of what the issue is with the FAFSA delay is at this point—it’s too bad it’s taking the government so long to fix the calculation!!
ETA - There was a New York Times article yesterday mentioning all these different ways universities are responding, if folks are interested.
Even if it isn’t guaranteed, a reasonable ballpark would help us. We chose schools to apply to based on net price calculators, which gave us “institutional” need based estimates ranging from 0-45k. This is without Pell/fed loans. At least one school did not use CSS, others did. Knowing whether the net price calculator is realistic will make a difference in where we can consider committing. Thinking about breaking a kid’s heart a week before the finish line is heart wrenching. (Not to mention how this will affect housing). Thanks for the heads up on NYT.
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