I'm having the exact same problem! Submitted my FAFSA three weeks ago and can only see the correction link when I log in. It's really stressful not being able to double-check what I submitted, especially since this is my first time doing FAFSA and I'm worried I might have made errors. I tried the correction portal method that several people mentioned here and it worked great - I could see all my information without making any changes. Just be super careful not to click submit unless you actually want to make corrections! Really hoping they fix this summary view issue soon because this workaround shouldn't be necessary.

Just wanted to add another perspective here - I'm a college financial aid counselor and I've been helping students with this exact issue all month. The summary view problem is definitely widespread and not user error. For students who need their full FAFSA details urgently (like for verification or scholarship applications), I've found that contacting your college's financial aid office directly can sometimes help. Many schools have direct access to your submitted FAFSA data through their systems and can provide you with the information you need while the Department of Education sorts out their technical issues. Don't hesitate to reach out to your school's aid office - we're here to help navigate these frustrating system problems!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who went through this exact situation 3 years ago. My daughter combined her federal Direct loan with a private loan from Citizens Bank, and it worked out well. A few things I learned: 1. Don't just compare interest rates - look at the total cost over the life of the loan. Some lenders offer rate reductions for autopay or good grades. 2. Private loans typically start repayment 6 months after graduation, while federal loans have more flexible deferment options if your son has trouble finding work. 3. Consider applying to multiple private lenders within a 14-45 day window - this counts as one credit inquiry and won't hurt the credit score as much. The key is understanding that you're mixing two different types of loans with different protections. The federal portion will always have better borrower protections, but private loans can definitely fill the gap when Parent PLUS isn't the right fit for your family's situation.

As someone who works in higher education finance, I wanted to add a few important considerations that haven't been fully covered yet: 1. **Impact on financial aid in future years**: Using private loans instead of Parent PLUS won't affect your son's federal aid eligibility, but make sure you understand how this might impact any state grant programs or institutional aid that consider total family borrowing. 2. **Tax implications**: Interest on both federal and private student loans can be tax deductible (up to $2,500/year), but there are income limits. Parent PLUS loans taken by parents can be deducted by the parents, while loans in the student's name are deducted by the student. 3. **Loan servicer communication**: Once you have multiple loan types, you'll be dealing with different servicers (likely FedLoan or Aidvantage for federal, and the private lender's servicer). Set up online accounts for both and understand their different payment schedules and policies. 4. **Future borrowing capacity**: Remember that your son will likely need loans for all four years. Private lenders may have annual and aggregate borrowing limits that could affect junior/senior year funding. The combination approach you're considering is totally legitimate - just make sure you're planning for the full four-year picture, not just freshman year!

As a newcomer to this community and stepparent, I'm really grateful for all the detailed information everyone has shared here. I'm in almost the exact same situation - married my partner 2 years ago and their daughter is a junior in high school. I had no idea that stepparent income was automatically included on FAFSA regardless of legal guardianship status, and honestly, it feels pretty unfair given that I have no legal obligation to pay for her education. The merit scholarship strategy that several people mentioned sounds like our best approach. It makes perfect sense to target schools where her academic stats would put her in the top 25% of applicants for merit-based aid, since those awards aren't affected by household income calculations. I'm also planning to research the community college transfer route - starting with gen ed requirements at a community college and then transferring could really help us manage costs during those crucial first two years. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen discussed: Are there any states that are particularly stepparent-friendly when it comes to in-state tuition or state aid programs? Since we're early enough in the process, we could potentially consider relocating if it would significantly improve her college affordability options. Thank you all for being so open about your experiences - it's both reassuring and helpful to connect with other stepparents dealing with this same frustrating system!

As a newcomer to this community and stepparent, I'm finding this discussion incredibly helpful and eye-opening. I married my partner just over a year ago, and their child will be applying to colleges next fall. I had absolutely no idea that stepparent income would automatically be included on FAFSA regardless of legal guardianship status - this is definitely a wake-up call for our family's college planning. The merit scholarship strategy that Jessica mentioned really resonates with me. Targeting schools where my stepchild's academic profile would put them in the top 25% for merit-based aid seems like the most practical approach, since those awards aren't tied to the household income calculations that disadvantage blended families like ours. I'm also taking detailed notes on the Professional Judgment process and all the documentation recommendations (divorce decrees, custody arrangements, tax returns from both biological parents). It's encouraging to hear from Nathan and others who successfully appealed to schools, even though it's not guaranteed to work everywhere. One question I have: For those who pursued the community college transfer route, did you find that merit scholarship opportunities were still available when transferring to four-year schools? I'm wondering if starting at a community college might limit scholarship options later, or if there are actually specific transfer scholarships we should be researching. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly - it's both frustrating and reassuring to know that so many stepparents are navigating this same complex system!

I completely understand your frustration - I'm going through the same thing as a first-time FAFSA filer! What really helped me was learning that there are actually some newer changes that work in our favor. The 2024-25 FAFSA simplified the formula and reduced the asset assessment rate. Also, I discovered that if you have significant medical expenses (sounds like you definitely do), you can submit documentation directly to each college's financial aid office for what's called a "special circumstances review" - they can actually override the FAFSA calculation. One thing that gave me some peace of mind: I talked to a financial aid counselor who explained that families who saved in 529s typically end up in a much better financial position overall, even with the slightly higher SAI. The small percentage they assess on your savings is usually way less than the loans you'd otherwise need. Hang in there - the system isn't perfect but there are people at the schools who can help with situations like yours!

I'm also a first-time FAFSA filer and reading your post really resonated with me! My family has been in a similar situation with medical expenses from my mom's chronic illness, and I was shocked to learn that none of that debt "counts" in the calculation. What I've discovered through this process is that while the FAFSA formula itself is rigid, the colleges often have much more flexibility than I initially realized. Several financial aid offices I've spoken with have mentioned they routinely do professional judgment reviews for families with significant medical expenses or other unusual circumstances. I also want to echo what others have said about the 529 situation - I was initially frustrated about this too, but my financial advisor helped me understand that the asset protection allowance means only a small portion of savings actually impacts the SAI. Plus, having those funds available means we won't need to take out as many high-interest loans later. Have you started reaching out to the specific colleges your daughter is applying to? I found their financial aid counselors were much more helpful and knowledgeable about options than the general FAFSA helpline. Each school seems to handle these reviews differently, so it's worth contacting them all individually.

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community but unfortunately dealing with the exact same frustrating issue. My FAFSA has been stuck at "In Progress" for 9 days now even though my dad and I completed everything and both signed electronically. The status tracker just won't move past step 1 no matter how many times I check. This thread has been a lifesaver - I had no idea about the "submission verification" glitch that Victoria mentioned! It makes so much sense now why everything can appear complete on our end but still not actually submit properly. The fact that the system doesn't give any indication that something failed behind the scenes is just terrible design. Victoria, thank you for sharing your resolution! I'm definitely going to try calling FSA tomorrow morning around 8 AM like Sofia suggested. I'll make sure to specifically mention the "submission verification" issue so hopefully they can identify and fix it quickly like they did for you. If calling doesn't work out, I might also look into that Claimyr service - it's frustrating to potentially pay extra for their system bug, but my scholarship deadlines are coming up fast and I need this resolved ASAP. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and advice!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and unfortunately dealing with this exact same issue. My FAFSA has been stuck at "In Progress" for about 10 days now despite my mom and I completing all sections and signing electronically. The status tracker shows we're still on step 1 even though everything appears complete on our end. Reading through this thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the "submission verification" glitch that Victoria discovered! It's so frustrating that the system can fail silently like this while still showing signatures as complete. How are students supposed to know there's even a backend problem? Victoria, thank you so much for sharing your resolution story - it gives me hope that this can actually be fixed! I'm definitely going to try calling FSA tomorrow morning around 8 AM like Sofia suggested, and I'll make sure to specifically mention the "submission verification" issue. If I can't get through after a few tries, I might look into that Claimyr service too. With scholarship deadlines approaching, it seems worth the cost to avoid those endless hold times. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - it's such a relief to know this is a widespread system bug with a known solution!