I'm dealing with this exact same issue! Submitted my FAFSA about 2 weeks ago and have been checking my studentaid.gov account daily looking for my SAI number. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea I needed to look specifically in the Student Aid Report under "My Documents"! I was just refreshing the main dashboard over and over wondering why it wasn't showing up anywhere. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel so much better. I was starting to panic thinking I did something wrong with my application, but it sounds like 2-3 week processing times are totally normal right now with all the new FAFSA system changes. The tip about calling your college's financial aid office is brilliant - I never would have thought they might have access to it before we do. Definitely going to try that if I still can't find my SAR by tomorrow. Also going to try the logout/login trick and clearing my browser cache since a few people mentioned the website being slow and glitchy. Thanks everyone for sharing your timelines and what worked for you! It's so reassuring to know we're all navigating this confusing new system together. Really appreciate having this supportive community to help figure things out! 🙏

I'm going through the exact same frustration right now! Submitted my FAFSA about 13 days ago and have been checking studentaid.gov obsessively. This entire thread has been a lifesaver - I had absolutely no idea about the Student Aid Report being a separate document under "My Documents." I was literally just staring at the main dashboard thinking my SAI number would magically appear there! It's honestly such a relief to see so many people dealing with this exact issue. I was starting to think I completely messed up my application somehow. The timeline information everyone's shared is super reassuring too - knowing that 2-3 weeks is normal right now makes me feel way less panicked. I'm definitely going to try: 1. Looking specifically for the SAR document (can't believe I missed this!) 2. Logging out completely and back in 3. Clearing my browser cache and trying Chrome instead of Safari 4. Calling my college's financial aid office if all else fails The tip about colleges potentially seeing the SAI before we can is mind-blowing. Never would have thought to call them directly! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and timelines. This community is amazing for helping navigate all these confusing FAFSA changes. Here's hoping we all get our SAI numbers soon! 🤞

UPDATE: I spoke with my program director today and she confirmed they have several assistantships available that cover tuition plus a small stipend! She said they use FAFSA data as part of their decision process, so I'll be filing ASAP. Thanks everyone for the advice - I went from thinking I couldn't afford grad school to feeling like it might actually be possible!

Congratulations on finding those assistantship opportunities! That's exactly what I was hoping to hear when I read your original question. As someone who's been through the graduate financial aid process, I wanted to add a few tips for when you apply for those assistantships: 1. Apply early - most programs have limited spots and they go fast 2. Highlight any relevant experience (even from undergrad coursework or part-time work) 3. Be prepared to commit to the time requirements (usually 10-20 hours/week) 4. Ask about multi-year commitments - some programs guarantee funding for your entire degree if you maintain good standing Also, don't forget to still file your FAFSA even with the assistantship possibility. Having that backup loan eligibility can be helpful for unexpected expenses, and some schools require it for any institutional aid. Best of luck with your applications!

Just went through this exact same situation last year! My oldest is now a sophomore and my daughter started her freshman year this fall. You definitely want to use the same parent FSA ID for both kids - it's designed to work that way and will save you so much hassle. One tip that really helped me: when your middle child creates their FSA ID, have them do it on a different device or browser session than yours to avoid any login confusion. Also, make sure to bookmark the FAFSA website with your saved login info - you'll be using it for years with multiple kids and it's easy to forget which variation of your password you used! The good news is that once you've been through the process once, the second time feels much more manageable even though you're doing it for a different kid. You already know what documents you need and what to expect. Hoping the 2025-2026 version is actually as smooth as they're promising!

New parent here and this thread is SO helpful! My oldest just got accepted to her first choice school and I'm completely overwhelmed by the FAFSA process. Reading through all these responses has cleared up so much confusion - I was definitely overthinking the whole FSA ID situation. It's reassuring to know that once I create my parent FSA ID, I can use it for all my kids (I have two more who'll be hitting college age in the next few years). Quick question though - when my daughter creates her own FSA ID, does she need to wait for me to finish setting up my parent account first, or can we both create our FSA IDs at the same time? I want to make sure we don't accidentally create any conflicts in the system before we even start the actual application process. Also, huge thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences and practical tips - this is exactly the kind of insider knowledge that makes all the difference when navigating something this complicated for the first time!

New to this community and this thread has been incredibly helpful! We're dealing with a very similar situation - our SAI is $31k but my daughter's top choice school costs $57k with only $7.5k in federal loans offered. Like everyone else here, I initially thought the SAI meant that's what we'd pay and the school would cover the rest somehow. Reading through all these responses has been both eye-opening and reassuring that we're not missing something obvious. The middle-class squeeze is so real - too much income for significant need-based aid but nowhere near enough to actually afford these costs. I'm planning to try the appeals process and look into professional judgment reviews based on all the advice here. We have some documentation of childcare expenses for my younger son that weren't fully captured on the FAFSA. One question for the group - for those who've gone through appeals, did you find it more effective to call first or submit everything in writing? Also, has anyone had experience with schools adjusting aid packages based on changes in family circumstances that happened after filing the FAFSA? Thank you all for making this overwhelming process feel more manageable. It's comforting to know we're not alone in this struggle, even though it's frustrating that so many families are dealing with these impossible gaps!

I'm new to this community and going through the exact same nightmare! Our SAI came out to $30k but my son's dream school costs $61k with only $6.5k in federal loans offered. I've been losing sleep for weeks thinking we must have made some error on our FAFSA or missed something obvious. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - I had no idea that SAI just represents what the federal government calculates we can theoretically contribute, not what schools are actually required to help us with. The reality of these massive unmet need gaps for middle-class families is both eye-opening and terrifying. I'm definitely going to try the appeals process and professional judgment review based on all the excellent advice shared here. We have some significant medical expenses from my husband's chronic condition that weren't fully captured on our FAFSA, so hopefully that documentation could help our case. For those who've successfully navigated appeals - did you find it helpful to have all your documentation organized before making the initial call to the financial aid office, or is it better to call first to understand exactly what they'd want to see? Also, we're still waiting to hear from three other schools - should I wait for those offers before starting appeals, or begin the process now? Thank you all for sharing your experiences and making this overwhelming process feel less isolating. It's both comforting and concerning to realize how many families are stuck in this same impossible situation!

As someone who went through this process two years ago, I want to add that you should also consider reaching out to UW's Office of Student Financial Aid via email in addition to calling. Sometimes it's easier to get a response that way, and you'll have a written record of your communication. When I appealed, I included a detailed budget breakdown showing exactly where the financial gap was - tuition, housing, books, etc. - and how much additional aid I needed to make attendance feasible. Also, don't be discouraged if your first appeal isn't approved for the full amount you requested. You can sometimes submit additional documentation or clarification if new circumstances arise. The retirement distribution situation you mentioned is definitely a valid reason for appeal since it's not representative of your ongoing income capacity. Make sure to emphasize that this was a one-time event and provide documentation showing your family's typical annual income without it.

I went through a similar appeal process at another state university last year and wanted to share what worked for me. The key things that seemed to make a difference: 1) I submitted everything early (mid-April), 2) I was very specific about our changed circumstances with exact dollar amounts, and 3) I included a letter from my parent's financial advisor explaining why the retirement withdrawal was necessary and wouldn't happen again. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - if UW has a "Professional Judgment" process (many schools do), ask specifically about that when you call. It's sometimes a separate track from regular appeals and can be more flexible for situations exactly like yours where there's a one-time income spike that doesn't reflect your actual ability to pay. Also, don't forget to look into emergency grants or hardship funds that might be available through UW's financial aid office. These are often separate from regular aid and can help bridge gaps while you're waiting for your appeal decision. Good luck - your situation with the retirement distribution sounds like exactly the type of circumstance these processes are designed to address!