I'm in a similar boat as a newcomer to the financial aid appeal process! Reading through all these experiences is both encouraging and overwhelming. It sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Use the formal appeal processes (Professional Judgment Review for MSU, Special Circumstances Review for IU), 2) Be specific about dollar amounts needed, 3) Show genuine interest in their specific programs, and 4) Be persistent but polite with follow-ups. One question I have - for those who successfully appealed, how long did the whole process take from submission to getting a final answer? I'm getting anxious about the May 1 deadline and wondering if I should start both appeals ASAP or if there's a strategic order to approach them in. Also, did anyone find it helpful to mention they were considering both schools in their appeals, or is it better to make each school feel like they're your top choice? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that's impossible to find anywhere else!

As someone who just went through this process with both MSU and IU last year, I can share what worked for me! I'm also from out-of-state (Ohio) and initially got pretty weak packages from both schools. Here's my timeline breakdown: - MSU: Submitted appeal March 15th, heard back March 28th (increased by $4,100/year) - IU: Submitted appeal March 18th, had to follow up twice, final answer April 12th (increased by $2,600/year) For your questions about mentioning both schools - I actually did this strategically. In my MSU appeal, I mentioned that IU was also being considered but emphasized MSU's superior analytics program and faculty. For IU, I mentioned MSU but highlighted IU's business connections and internship opportunities. The key is making each school feel special while showing you have options. Things to AVOID in appeals: - Don't sound desperate or entitled - Don't just complain about costs without offering solutions - Don't submit identical appeals to multiple schools - Don't threaten to go elsewhere without backing it up Start both appeals ASAP! The closer you get to May 1st, the less leverage you have. Good luck - your stats definitely warrant additional consideration at both schools!

This entire thread has been incredibly informative! I'm a college sophomore myself and had no idea you could make loan adjustments through the student portal. I've been taking the full loan amount each semester without really thinking about whether I needed it all. After reading about the smart decision Zoe's son made, I'm definitely going to check my portal and see if I can reduce my spring loan too. It's eye-opening to realize how much control we actually have over our borrowing - I always thought once you accepted, you were stuck with the full amount. Thanks to everyone for sharing such practical advice!

This thread is such a great example of why community support matters! As a financial aid counselor at a community college, I see students and families struggle with these exact questions all the time. A few additional tips for anyone reading this: 1) Most schools also have a "return to Title IV" calculator on their websites that can help you understand the implications of returning loans, 2) If you're having trouble reaching your financial aid office by phone, try visiting in person during their walk-in hours - it's often faster, and 3) Keep screenshots or printouts of any online changes you make as proof in case there are processing delays. It's wonderful to see Zoe's son taking such a responsible approach to borrowing - that mindset will serve him well throughout college and beyond!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this discussion incredibly valuable! I'm currently a college sophomore and had no idea that schools could request verification after already disbursing aid. This thread is making me realize I should probably keep all my tax documents easily accessible just in case. One question I haven't seen addressed - if a student is selected for post-disbursement verification, does this make them more likely to be selected again in future years? I'm wondering if there's some kind of flagging system that follows students or if each year's verification selection is completely independent. Also, for anyone who's been through this - did your school provide any kind of status updates during the review process, or do you just have to wait until they contact you with results? The uncertainty aspect sounds like it would be the most stressful part for me personally. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences here. This kind of real-world insight is so much more helpful than the generic information you find on official websites!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful for this detailed discussion! I'm currently helping my cousin through her first year of college, and honestly, I had no idea post-disbursement verification was even possible until reading this thread. The information everyone has shared here is incredibly valuable - especially the practical tips like checking the student portal for specific document requirements, keeping digital copies of tax documents handy throughout the year, and the Claimyr service for actually getting through to financial aid offices. What strikes me most is how much anxiety this process creates for students who are already dealing with the stress of college coursework. It seems like schools could do a better job of explaining upfront that verification can happen at any point during the academic year, not just before aid is awarded. For the original student's situation, it sounds like the consensus is clear: submit those documents as quickly as possible, keep copies of everything, and try multiple channels to get clarification from the school if needed. The fact that this often results in no changes to aid (if the original FAFSA was accurate) should provide some reassurance during what I'm sure is a very stressful waiting period. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this kind of real-world knowledge makes such a difference for families navigating the financial aid system!

I'm so glad I found this thread because I was starting to think I was the only one dealing with this nightmare! I got my Corinthian borrower defense approval in September 2023 (about 18 months ago) for $31,200 in loans, and like everyone else here, they're still showing as active with zero communication about timeline. What's been driving me absolutely crazy is the inconsistent information from FSA reps - I've literally been told by one rep that my case doesn't exist in their system, then called back the same day and had another rep confirm my approval and say it's "in queue for processing." It's like they're working with completely different systems! Reading through everyone's experiences here is both comforting and terrifying. Comforting to know this is a widespread issue and not just my case being lost in the system, but terrifying to see people waiting 2+ years after approval. The administrative forbearance advice is something I definitely need to pursue - I've been stressed about whether to keep making payments on loans that are supposed to be discharged. Has anyone had success with the Congressional representative route that Miguel mentioned? I'm in California and wondering if certain representatives' offices are more effective at getting responses from the Department of Education. At this point I'm willing to try every possible avenue because waiting indefinitely with no real timeline is just not sustainable. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and tips - it's helping me feel less alone in this process!

I'm so sorry you're all going through this - I just joined this community after finding this thread through a Google search about Corinthian discharge delays. I received my borrower defense approval in June 2023 (about 21 months ago) for $19,800 in loans, and I'm still in the same nightmare as everyone else here. What really struck me reading through all these comments is how widespread this issue is and how the FSA representatives seem to have absolutely no consistency in their responses. I've had the exact same experience - one rep tells me my case is "processing normally," another says they can't find any approval, and a third told me to "just wait a little longer" when I mentioned it's been almost two years! I'm definitely going to try several of the suggestions mentioned here, especially requesting administrative forbearance and reaching out to my Congressional representative. The idea of contacting the Student Borrower Protection Center that Luca mentioned also sounds promising. One thing I wanted to add - I've been keeping screenshots of my StudentAid.gov account showing the loans are still active, just in case I need proof later that the discharge wasn't processed despite the approval. Has anyone else been documenting this way? I figure having a paper trail of the delays might be helpful if we ever need to escalate further or if there are issues with the eventual discharge processing. Thank you all for sharing your experiences. It's frustrating that we're all dealing with this, but at least we're not alone in the fight!

To answer your most recent question - yes, you will receive a confirmation email when your FAFSA is successfully processed. You'll also get a Student Aid Report (SAR) within 3-5 days if you provided an email address. However, I strongly second the recommendation to take screenshots throughout the process. The system has been known to have technical issues, especially during peak submission periods (early October). After submission, you should be able to log in and see your confirmation number immediately. Write this down or screenshot it. The confirmation page will also show an estimated SAI (Student Aid Index), which gives you a preliminary idea of your aid eligibility.

Just wanted to add something I learned the hard way - make sure you check your state's deadline too! The federal FAFSA deadline is pretty generous, but my state (California) has a much earlier deadline for state grant money. I almost missed out on a Cal Grant because I didn't realize the state deadline was different from the federal one. Each state has its own rules for when you need to submit by to be considered for state aid programs. Worth looking up your state's specific requirements so you don't leave money on the table!