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This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar boat with a family income around $175k and was also told by our financial planner to skip the FAFSA. But reading all these responses, especially the real examples of people missing out on merit scholarships, has completely changed my mind. I had no idea that so many schools require it for ALL institutional aid, not just need-based. The fact that the new version is so much simpler makes this a no-brainer. Question for those who've done it recently - do you need to complete it before applying to schools, or can you do it after your student gets accepted? Want to make sure I don't miss any deadlines!
Great question about timing! You should definitely complete the FAFSA as early as possible - ideally by each school's priority deadline (usually February 1st or March 1st). Some schools have rolling merit scholarship consideration, so earlier submission can be better for aid opportunities. You don't need to wait for acceptances - the FAFSA asks you to list all schools your student is applying to, and then it gets sent to all of them automatically. Plus, some schools actually use FAFSA completion as one factor in their merit scholarship review process, so having it done early shows you're serious about attending. Check each school's financial aid website for their specific FAFSA deadlines!
@Yara Abboud is absolutely right about the timing! I'd also add that even if you miss the priority deadline, it's still worth completing the FAFSA. Some schools have later deadlines for merit aid consideration, and you'll still have access to federal unsubsidized loans if needed. One thing that caught me off guard was that a few schools on my daughter's list had different FAFSA requirements - some wanted it for all aid, others only for need-based. I ended up creating a spreadsheet to track each school's specific requirements and deadlines. Definitely recommend doing that research early so you don't get overwhelmed trying to figure it out at the last minute!
Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who works in college admissions - even if your family income seems "too high" for need-based aid, there are some surprising exceptions worth considering. Some private colleges have need-based aid programs that extend much higher than you'd expect (I've seen families making $250k+ still receive some institutional aid at very expensive schools). Also, if you have multiple kids in college at the same time, your Expected Family Contribution gets split between them, potentially making you eligible for aid you wouldn't qualify for with just one student. And here's something most people don't know - some schools use FAFSA data for their work-study programs even for students who don't qualify for other need-based aid. Work-study jobs are often the best on-campus employment opportunities and can provide valuable career-building experience. The bottom line is that completing the FAFSA keeps all doors open, and at 20-30 minutes, it's one of the highest ROI activities in the college process!
This is such valuable insight from someone actually working in admissions! The point about multiple kids in college simultaneously is huge - I hadn't even thought about how that changes the EFC calculation. And the work-study angle is really interesting too. I'm curious, for families in that $200k+ range you mentioned still getting institutional aid at expensive private schools - is that typically at schools with very large endowments, or are you seeing this more broadly? Just trying to set realistic expectations as we look at different types of schools. Either way, you've definitely reinforced that the FAFSA is worth doing regardless of income level!
@Zainab Khalil brings up such an important point about multiple kids in college! We learned this the hard way when our twin daughters both started college the same year. Our EFC went from being way too high to suddenly qualifying for some need-based aid at several schools. It s'definitely more common at well-endowed private institutions, but even some state schools have programs for middle-to-upper-middle class families. The work-study insight is gold too - those positions often lead to great networking opportunities and can be much more flexible with class schedules than off-campus jobs. For anyone still on the fence, just remember that financial situations can change unexpectedly during the four years of college, and having that FAFSA foundation already established makes everything smoother if you need to pivot.
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I had this exact same issue when I was filling out my FAFSA! The wording is super confusing but everyone here is right - it's asking for STATE residency, not immigration status. I put the date my mom moved to our state and had zero problems. My financial aid office even confirmed this was correct when I asked them about it later. Don't let this stress you out too much - you're definitely not alone in being confused by this question! The FAFSA could really use clearer language on this part.
Thank you! It's so reassuring to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing. I was literally losing sleep over this thinking I was going to mess up my whole application. The wording really is terrible - they should just say "When did your parent start living in [your state]?" instead of using confusing legal terminology. I'm going to submit it with the state residency date and stop overthinking it!
Hey! I went through this same exact situation last year and I totally understand the panic. The FAFSA wording is SO misleading - it sounds like they're asking about immigration status but they're really just asking when your parent started living in your current state. I put the date my mom moved to our state (she's also undocumented) and everything went through fine. I even got selected for verification later and they never questioned that date at all - they only wanted tax documents and household info. You're not lying by putting the state residency date, that's literally what they're asking for! The whole system is just poorly worded. Don't let this one confusing question derail your whole application - you've got this!
This is exactly what I needed to hear! I've been spiraling about this for weeks thinking I was going to get in trouble or mess up my eligibility somehow. It's such a relief to know that other people with undocumented parents have successfully navigated this and even gone through verification without issues. The fact that you got selected for verification and they didn't question the date really puts my mind at ease. I'm going to stop overthinking this and just put when my mom moved to our state. Thank you for sharing your experience - it means so much to know I'm not alone in this situation!
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As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for such a comprehensive and helpful discussion! I'm just starting to research college financing options for my daughter who's a high school junior, and this thread has answered so many questions I didn't even know to ask. The consensus that you can absolutely have multiple Parent PLUS loans for different children with no aggregate family limit is incredibly reassuring. I was really concerned there might be some kind of cap that would prevent us from helping both our kids through college. I'm particularly grateful for all the practical tips shared here - filing FAFSA early, maintaining good credit between applications, keeping detailed records of each loan, and considering different repayment options. The strategy about splitting loans between parents is brilliant and something I'll definitely discuss with my spouse. One question I have for those with experience: when you're planning ahead like this, do you recommend starting to improve credit scores well before the first PLUS loan application? I want to make sure we're in the best possible position when the time comes, especially knowing we'll potentially need approval for multiple loans over the years. This community is already proving to be such a valuable resource - the real-world experiences and honest advice shared here are exactly what parents need when navigating this complex process. Thank you all for being so generous with your knowledge!
Welcome to the community, @Mateo Warren! You're asking a really smart question about credit preparation. Yes, absolutely start working on your credit scores now - even small improvements can make a big difference when you're looking at multiple loan applications over several years. From what I've learned here, each PLUS loan application requires a fresh credit check, so maintaining good credit throughout the entire process is crucial. Start by checking your credit reports for any errors and dispute them if needed. Pay down existing debt to improve your debt-to-income ratio, and avoid opening new credit accounts close to application time. Also consider that if you and your spouse both have good credit, you have the flexibility to choose which parent applies for each loan based on who has the better score at that time. This strategy has helped several families in this thread get better approval odds. One practical tip: set up automatic payments on all your current debts to ensure you never miss a payment between now and your first PLUS loan application. Those consistent on-time payments will really help your score. You're being incredibly proactive by starting this research and planning now - that preparation will definitely pay off when it's time to actually navigate the process. This community is amazing for getting real-world insights you can't find anywhere else!
As a newcomer to this community, I'm so grateful I found this thread! My daughter is a high school senior and we're just starting to navigate the FAFSA and financial aid process for the first time. My son is two years behind her, so reading about everyone's experiences with multiple Parent PLUS loans is exactly what I needed. The information about there being no aggregate limit across children is such a relief - I was genuinely worried we might be limited in how much we could borrow total. And all the practical advice about maintaining good credit, keeping detailed records, and the strategy of potentially having different parents as borrowers is incredibly valuable. One thing I'm wondering about - for those who've been through this process multiple times, do you find that schools are consistent in their financial aid packages year over year? I'm trying to budget for both kids, but I'm not sure if I should expect similar aid amounts each year or if there's typically a lot of variation. Also, has anyone found it helpful to have conversations with the financial aid offices at prospective schools about your family's situation with multiple children? I'm wondering if being upfront about having another child coming through the pipeline might influence how they structure aid packages. Thank you all for sharing such detailed and honest experiences - this community is already proving to be an invaluable resource as we start this journey!
Welcome to the community, @StarSeeker! You're asking great questions as you start this process. Regarding financial aid consistency year to year - from what I've observed in this community, it can vary quite a bit depending on the school and your family's financial situation. Need-based aid typically stays fairly consistent if your income doesn't change dramatically, but merit aid policies can shift. Some schools guarantee merit scholarships for all four years if you maintain certain GPA requirements, while others don't. Definitely ask each school about their renewal policies for any aid they offer. As for conversations with financial aid offices about having multiple children - absolutely worth doing! Many schools have specific protocols for families with multiple children in college, and some even have special consideration processes. When both your kids are in college simultaneously, that divided Student Aid Index that others mentioned here can really help increase need-based aid for both. One tip: start building relationships with financial aid officers now. They're often more willing to work with families who communicate early and honestly about their situations. And don't be afraid to ask about sibling discounts or family tuition benefits - some schools offer these but don't always advertise them widely. You're being smart to plan ahead for both kids. This community has been such a lifesaver for practical advice you can't find in official resources!
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This exact same thing happened to us! My son and I were both logged in at the same time working on different sections, and when I submitted the parent portion, it somehow triggered the whole application to submit without his signature. We were so confused when we got that rejection email. Thankfully we were able to fix it by having him log back in with his FSA ID and complete the signature process. The new FAFSA system definitely has some coordination issues when multiple people are working on it simultaneously. For anyone else dealing with this - make sure to coordinate who submits when, or better yet, complete it together on one device to avoid this glitch!
Thanks for sharing this! It's reassuring to know we're not the only ones who ran into this issue. That's a great tip about using one device - we'll definitely do that for any future FAFSA updates or corrections. It's frustrating that the system allows multiple people to be logged in simultaneously but then gets confused about who's submitting what. Hopefully they'll fix this bug in future versions!
Wow, this thread has been super helpful! I'm a high school senior getting ready to fill out my FAFSA with my parents next month, and reading about all these submission glitches is making me nervous but also better prepared. It sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Don't work on it simultaneously from different devices, 2) Make sure both parent and student complete ALL sections before anyone hits submit, 3) Keep FSA IDs separate and don't mix them up, and 4) Double-check every question including that drug conviction one someone mentioned. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - hopefully by the time I apply they'll have fixed some of these bugs, but at least now I know what to watch out for!
NebulaNova
This whole situation is so stressful! I'm dealing with something similar - my family's income changed significantly after we filed our taxes, and I've been waiting weeks for my school to process my appeal. Reading through all these responses is really helpful though. I had no idea about the distinction between SAI adjustments and the official Professional Judgment workflow in the new system. I'm going to try calling my financial aid office tomorrow and specifically ask for a "preliminary professional judgment decision letter" like Diego suggested. It's such a relief to know that other people are going through this too and that there are actually people getting their appeals processed now. Fingers crossed we can all get this sorted out before the May 1st deadline!
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Toot-n-Mighty
•I'm in the exact same boat! It's so frustrating feeling like you're the only one dealing with this, but seeing everyone's experiences here makes me feel less alone. I actually just got off the phone with my school after reading Diego's advice about asking for a preliminary decision letter, and they're going to have one ready for me by Tuesday. The key phrase that seemed to work was mentioning the May 1st deadline and asking to speak with someone who has authority to issue preliminary decisions. Good luck with your call tomorrow - I really hope you get some answers! This whole new FAFSA system rollout has been such a mess, but at least we're all figuring it out together.
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Victoria Jones
As someone who just went through this exact situation last month, I can confirm that the professional judgment functionality is finally working! My school processed my appeal two weeks ago after months of delays. Here's what helped me get it resolved: I scheduled an in-person appointment with my financial aid counselor (instead of just calling) and brought printed copies of all my documentation. Being able to sit down face-to-face made a huge difference - they were able to walk me through exactly what they needed and give me a realistic timeline. I also made sure to emphasize my enrollment deadline multiple times during the meeting. The whole new FAFSA system has been a nightmare, but don't lose hope! If your school still says they can't process it, ask them specifically what functionality they're waiting for, because the system capabilities have been rolling out in phases and they might not realize everything is available now.
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