Can someone walk me through the SAT fee waiver process?

So, I was talking to a friend who mentioned something about an SAT fee waiver, and that got me thinking. I feel a bit clueless so could anybody kindly explain how that works? And what's the criteria to be eligible? Any insight or personal experiences would be appreciated. Thanks!

The SAT Fee Waiver is a program run by the College Board to ensure that every student has the opportunity to take the SAT, regardless of their financial situation. Eligible students can receive a waiver to cover the entirety of the SAT registration fee. The process is relatively simple and straightforward, but it starts at your high school.

You need to meet with your school counselor or another authorized school official. You can't request an SAT fee waiver directly from the College Board. So, your first step should be to discuss your situation with your counselor or someone else at your school who's in the know.

Eligibility for the SAT Fee Waiver program is determined by a few factors. Generally, you're likely eligible if you're enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (such as Upward Bound), or if your family receives public assistance. Also, you could be eligible if your family income is within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, or if you're currently living in foster care or are homeless.

The SAT Fee Waiver not only covers the cost of the actual test but also gives you access to a few additional benefits. If you're granted a fee waiver, you can take the SAT two times for free. Moreover, you may receive free score reports to send to colleges, and some colleges will even waive their application fees for students using the SAT fee waiver.

Remember, it's important to start this process well in advance of when you plan to take the SAT. You don't want to be scrambling at the last minute to figure out your fee waiver status. The best place to start is by speaking with your school counselor as soon as possible.

One thing to note is that the SAT Fee Waiver does not cover any additional costs, such as change fees, score verification fees, or any other optional services. You'll need to cover those out of pocket if you need them. So, planning ahead and making sure of things like test date and site is critical to avoid those extra costs. Good luck!