I'm new to this community but going through the exact same thing right now! My son transferred mid-semester and I was really hoping there would be some kind of streamlined transfer process for the Parent PLUS loan. After reading everyone's responses, I'm convinced that your son is right and we do need to start fresh with a new application. What's been most helpful from this thread is learning about the 180-day credit check window - I had no idea that might carry over! I'm also going to take the advice about calling the new school's financial aid office directly to ask about transfer coordinators and specific timelines. It's so reassuring to see how many parents have successfully navigated this process. Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed, practical advice - this community is incredibly valuable for getting real-world guidance from people who've actually been through these situations!

I'm new here but just went through this exact situation last month! Your son is absolutely correct - you do need to complete a new Parent PLUS loan application for the new school. I was initially frustrated too because it seemed like unnecessary red tape, but the process was actually much simpler the second time around. The key things that helped me: 1) Make sure you have the correct school code (double-check this!), 2) If your original credit check was within 180 days, you likely won't need a new one, and 3) Keep all your previous loan documents handy for reference. The whole application took me about 15 minutes once I had everything organized. I'd definitely recommend calling the new school's financial aid office - they walked me through their specific requirements and timeline, which really put my mind at ease. Don't let the paperwork stress you out too much - it's a standard part of the transfer process and thousands of parents go through it successfully every year!

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!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who's been through this process multiple times with rental properties. One thing that really helped us was creating a simple spreadsheet to track all our rental property info year over year - property address, acquisition date, current market value estimate, outstanding mortgage balance, and net equity. This makes filling out the FAFSA much faster each year and helps ensure consistency. Also, if you're using online valuation tools like Zillow or Redfin, I'd recommend taking the average of 2-3 different estimates rather than relying on just one, as they can vary quite a bit. The financial aid offices seem to appreciate when families show they've done their homework on property valuations rather than just picking a random number.

Just want to add a quick note about timing - make sure you're using the property values and mortgage balances as of the date you file your FAFSA, not necessarily what they were at the end of the tax year. Property values can change significantly, and if you've made mortgage payments throughout the year, your equity will be different. I learned this the hard way when our property value dropped between tax filing and FAFSA submission, and I had to go back and correct our original submission. It's a small detail but can make a difference in your calculated asset value. Also, if you're refinancing or doing a cash-out refi during the FAFSA year, that can complicate things too, so plan accordingly!

Congrats on getting it fixed! This is really helpful to know about the duplicate application issue. I've been having the same error for over a week now and I think I might have the same problem - I started filling it out on my phone at school, then tried to continue on my laptop at home. Going to try that Claimyr service too since the regular FAFSA phone line is absolutely useless. Thanks for updating us with what actually worked!

I'm new to this whole FAFSA process and seeing all these error messages is honestly terrifying me! I haven't even started my application yet because I keep hearing about all these technical issues. Should I wait until they fix these problems or just dive in and hope for the best? My parents are freaking out about deadlines too. Is there anything I should do differently when starting fresh to avoid the duplicate application issue that seems to be causing problems for so many people?

This is why I HATE the FAFSA system with a passion. Every year it's something new. Last year they couldn't verify my identity for THREE MONTHS. The year before that, they randomly selected us for verification after we'd already been approved. And now this year they completely redesigned everything and it's full of bugs. The government should be ashamed of how badly they've implemented this system that millions of students depend on. DISGUSTING!!!!!

Did you ever figure this out? I'm dealing with the same issue now with my son's application. We can see that it's been submitted but his SAI score isn't calculating because my income information isn't there. So frustrating!