Just wanted to add something that might help with the anxiety while you're waiting - start gathering all the documents you'll need for the PLUS loan application now so you're ready to go once you get your acceptance. Things like tax returns, bank statements, and making sure your parents have their FSA ID login info handy. Also, many schools send out a "pre-financial aid estimate" even before official acceptance letters, so keep an eye out for emails from the financial aid office. This can give you a rough idea of what your aid package might look like and help you mentally prepare for the PLUS loan amount you might need. The waiting really is the worst part, but it sounds like you're being super proactive about understanding the process. That alone puts you in a much better position than most families who don't start thinking about this stuff until after they've already committed to a school!

One more thing that might help ease your mind - most schools have financial aid counselors who specialize in helping families navigate the PLUS loan process. Once you get your acceptance, don't hesitate to schedule a phone appointment with them to walk through your specific situation. They can explain exactly how the frozen credit situation affects things (spoiler: it won't be a problem as long as you unfreeze before applying) and give you a personalized timeline for your school's process. I know the waiting is brutal, but you're honestly doing everything right by researching this now. Most families don't even know what PLUS loans are until they're staring at their financial aid package in shock! You're going to be so much more prepared than the average family when decision time comes.

I'm a newcomer to this whole FAFSA refund process and honestly feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the conflicting information out there. My refund just got processed yesterday and after reading through everyone's experiences here, I'm both hopeful and terrified at the same time! It's really reassuring to see so many people sharing their timelines - some getting refunds in under a week while others wait the full 14 days. I had no idea about emergency funding options or that calling the bursar's office might be more helpful than financial aid. I'm definitely going to try calling tomorrow morning to ask about emergency assistance and see if they can give me a better sense of their typical processing time. The anxiety of waiting when you're counting on that money for rent and textbooks is so real! Thanks to everyone for being so open about their experiences - it's really helpful to know I'm not alone in this stressful waiting game.

I'm in a really similar situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! My refund was processed a few days ago and I've been stressing about the timing since I need the money for rent by the end of the month. Reading everyone's experiences here has given me some hope that it might come through faster than the full 14 days, especially since I have direct deposit set up. I had no idea about emergency funding options until reading through these comments - that could be a real lifesaver while waiting. I'm definitely going to call my financial aid office tomorrow morning to ask about that and see if they can give me a better sense of their typical processing timeline. The anxiety of waiting when you're depending on that money for basic expenses is so real, but it's comforting to know so many other people are dealing with the exact same stress right now. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips - it makes this whole waiting process feel way less isolating!

As someone who just went through the FAFSA process with my daughter last year, I completely understand your frustration! We had a similar issue with her small arts magnet school not appearing in the dropdown. Here's what I wish I had known from the start: Don't spend too much time searching every variation - it's incredibly time-consuming and stressful when you have deadlines looming. What ended up working for us was calling the school's guidance counselor first thing in the morning and asking for three pieces of information: 1) Their Federal School Code, 2) Their IPEDS Unit ID, and 3) The exact name they're registered under with the Department of Education. Armed with this info, we were able to find the school in the system - it was listed under a completely different name format than we expected. If that doesn't work within a day or two, absolutely go with the placeholder method that others have suggested. I know several families who did this and had zero issues with their aid processing. The key is not to let this technical problem delay your submission - meeting deadlines is more important than having the perfect school listed. Your daughter's transcripts will show her actual school anyway when she applies to colleges. You've got this - don't let the system's quirks stress you out too much!

I just went through this exact same situation with my daughter's FAFSA application! Her small performing arts charter school wasn't showing up in the dropdown either, and I was getting so stressed about missing deadlines. Here's what ultimately worked for us after trying everything: First, I called the school's main office (not just the counselor) and asked specifically for their "official Department of Education registration name" - turns out they were listed as "River Valley Academy of [City Name]" instead of just "River Valley Academy." Schools sometimes register with slightly different names than what they're commonly called. If that doesn't work, I'd honestly recommend just using a nearby public school as a placeholder and submitting the application. I know it feels wrong, but multiple families in our area did this last year with zero issues - their aid processed normally and the colleges had the correct transcripts anyway. The most important thing is getting that FAFSA submitted before your scholarship deadlines! This technical glitch shouldn't derail your daughter's entire financial aid process. You're doing great helping her through this - don't let the system's quirks discourage you!

does anyone know if this SSA verification thing happens every year or is it just because of the new FAFSA changes? never had to deal with this before

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! My family's FAFSA has been stuck at SSA verification for 8 days now. Reading through everyone's experiences here is both reassuring and terrifying at the same time. It sounds like the hyphen issue is really common - I just realized my daughter has a hyphenated middle name on her birth certificate but her SS card just has the first part. Based on what everyone is saying, I think I need to: 1) Call FSA about the name discrepancy (though good luck getting through!), 2) Contact the schools directly with our submission confirmation, and 3) just keep checking the portal daily since they don't always send notifications. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least we know we're not alone in this mess!

As someone who works in college financial planning, I want to emphasize a few key points that might help with your decision: First, definitely use the Federal Student Aid loan simulator that was mentioned earlier - it's the most accurate tool for calculating payments. But also consider running scenarios where you make different payment amounts to see how extra payments affect the timeline and total interest. Second, many families don't realize that Parent PLUS loans have NO borrowing limits beyond the cost of attendance. This can be both good and dangerous - good because you won't be denied for the amount you need, but dangerous because there's no built-in check on whether you're borrowing more than you can reasonably repay. Third, consider having an honest conversation with your daughter about the financial reality. Many students are willing to consider less expensive options when they understand the true burden on their parents. Sometimes they can take on additional part-time work, apply for more scholarships, or even consider starting at a community college for general education requirements. The $68k over four years is substantial, but it's not uncommon. The key is making sure it fits within your overall financial picture and retirement planning. Don't let the stress of the decision rush you into borrowing more than makes sense for your family's long-term financial health.

I'm in a similar boat with my twins starting college next year - the Parent PLUS loan numbers are overwhelming! One thing that's helped me is creating a spreadsheet to compare the total cost of different scenarios. I found that even small changes can make a big difference over 4 years. For example, if your daughter could work 15 hours/week during the school year at $12/hour, that's about $4,500 per year she could contribute directly to costs. Combined with a summer job earning $3,000, you're looking at reducing that $17k annual need to about $9,500. That cuts your total Parent PLUS borrowing from $68k to around $38k - which would be about $460/month on the 10-year plan instead of $825. Also, don't overlook the American Opportunity Tax Credit - you can get up to $2,500 back on your taxes each year she's in school, which effectively reduces your out-of-pocket costs. Every little bit helps when you're looking at these big numbers!