Another option to consider is having your daughter take a gap year to work and save money while also applying for more scholarships. I know it's not ideal, but hear me out - she could work full-time for a year, save every penny possible, and use that time to apply for hundreds of scholarships (there are new ones opening all the time). Plus, some students find they're more focused and mature when they start college at 19 instead of 18. During the gap year, she could also explore whether any of her preferred programs are available at more affordable schools, or if there are certificate programs that could give her a head start. Some employers even offer tuition assistance programs for part-time workers who commit to staying with the company. It's a tough decision, but sometimes delaying by one year can make the entire college experience more financially manageable and less stressful for the whole family.

One more strategy to consider - look into your state's 529 college savings plan. Even though your daughter is already 18, some states allow you to open a 529 and use it immediately for qualified education expenses. The benefit is that while you won't get the long-term tax-free growth, you might get a state tax deduction for contributions in the same year you withdraw for college costs. Also, check if your daughter qualifies for any federal tax credits like the American Opportunity Tax Credit - you can claim up to $2,500 per year for the first four years of college. While this doesn't reduce upfront costs, it can help with your tax situation and free up money for the following year's expenses. Finally, I'd strongly recommend having your daughter create profiles on scholarship search sites like Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and College Board's BigFuture. Set aside time each week to apply for smaller scholarships ($500-$2,000) - they're less competitive than the big ones and can really add up. Some are as simple as writing a 250-word essay or submitting a photo. The key is consistency and volume of applications.

My dad called it wrong on my FAFSA and we ended up having to do that verification thing where they make you submit all kinds of extra paperwork!!! Such a pain! Definitely just put the pension checks as income only!!!

As someone who just went through this exact same situation last year, I can confirm what others have said - pension PAYMENTS go under income only, NOT assets. The key thing to remember is that FAFSA cares about the money you're actually receiving (which shows up on your tax return anyway), not the theoretical future value of your pension. One additional tip: make sure you're using the correct tax year when reporting the pension income. The 2025-26 FAFSA uses your 2023 tax information, so report whatever pension income you actually received in 2023, not what you're getting now if it's different. Also, keep good records of everything you report. If you do get selected for verification, having your tax returns and pension statements organized will make the process much smoother. Good luck with your daughter's applications!

my dashboard just started showing my application again!! try logging in now, maybe they fixed it?

So glad to hear everyone's applications are showing up again! This was such a stressful situation but it's reassuring to see how this community came together to help troubleshoot and support each other. For anyone still experiencing issues, the tips shared here (checking email confirmations, trying the "Renew FAFSA" workaround, contacting schools directly) are all solid advice. It's frustrating that these technical glitches happen during such a critical time, but at least we know the actual submissions weren't lost. Thanks to everyone who shared updates and solutions!

I'm in a similar boat with my son starting college this fall! From what I've researched, here are a few additional things to consider: If you do get approved for Parent PLUS loans, you can choose to start making payments immediately or defer them until after your daughter graduates. But even if you defer, the interest keeps adding up, so you'll owe more in the end. One strategy some parents use is to make small monthly payments just to cover the interest while their kid is in school - this prevents the loan balance from growing but keeps the payments manageable. Also, I learned that if you have multiple kids in college at the same time, you can potentially get Parent PLUS loans for each of them (assuming you qualify each time). Just something to keep in mind if you have other kids who might be college-bound soon. The application itself is pretty straightforward on studentaid.gov - just have your FSA ID ready and your daughter's school information. You'll know within a few minutes if you're approved or need to provide additional documentation. Hope this helps and good luck! The whole financial aid process is so stressful but you're asking all the right questions.

Just wanted to add my experience from going through this process last year! One thing that really helped us was creating a spreadsheet comparing all our options before deciding. We looked at Parent PLUS loans, private parent loans from our credit union, and even a home equity line of credit. For Parent PLUS specifically, I'd recommend applying as soon as possible after your daughter accepts her financial aid offer. The school needs time to process everything, and you want to make sure the funds are available before the payment deadline. Also, if you're worried about the credit check, you can actually check your own credit report for free at annualcreditreport.com to see what potential issues might come up. Look specifically for any accounts showing as currently in collections or any recent late payments over 90 days. One more tip - if you do get approved, you can choose to have the loan disbursed directly to you instead of the school if there are other education expenses you need to cover (like a laptop, textbooks, etc.). Just make sure you use it for qualified education expenses to avoid tax issues. The whole process is definitely stressful, but you're being smart by researching everything first. Your daughter is lucky to have a parent who's so thoughtful about the financial planning!

Update: I created my FSA ID last night and got verified immediately! My daughter sent me the contributor invitation this morning, and I was able to complete my section and sign with my FSA ID. She just signed her part too, and we got confirmation that the FAFSA was successfully submitted! Thank you all for your help - we would have been stuck for much longer without your advice.

Congratulations on getting it submitted! This is such a relief to read because I'm helping my nephew with his FAFSA and we've been dreading this exact issue. Your post and all the responses here have been incredibly helpful - now I know to create my own FSA ID right away instead of trying to figure it out when we get stuck at the signature step. It's amazing how something so important has such confusing instructions. Thanks for sharing your experience and the successful resolution!