As a newcomer to this community, I'm finding this discussion incredibly helpful! My family is going through the Parent PLUS loan process for the first time and I had the exact same confusion about whether the loan amount was per semester or for the full year. Reading through everyone's experiences has answered so many questions I didn't even know I had - like the origination fees, the credit check validity period, and the tax deductibility of the interest. One thing I'm wondering about is whether there are any mobile apps or tools that make it easier to track all these loan details and disbursement schedules? It seems like staying organized is really important throughout this process, and I'd love to find ways to help my parents keep everything straight. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space for those of us navigating financial aid for the first time!

As someone who's also brand new to the Parent PLUS loan process, this entire thread has been incredibly educational! I'm a first-year student and my family had the exact same confusion about whether the loan covers the full year or just one semester. It's such a relief to learn from everyone's experiences that the $14,500 is indeed for the entire academic year and gets split between fall and spring semesters. What I found most eye-opening was learning about the origination fees - I had no idea that the actual disbursement would be less than the approved amount. The 4.2% fee deduction is definitely something we need to factor into our budgeting. Also, the tips about timing the application, avoiding new credit inquiries beforehand, and setting up tracking through NSLDS are all things I'm going to share with my mom right away. One question I have after reading through all these helpful responses: does anyone know if there's a typical timeline for how long it takes from Parent PLUS loan approval to the actual disbursement showing up on your student account? I want to make sure we apply with enough lead time before tuition is due. Thanks again to everyone for sharing such detailed and practical advice - this community is amazing for newcomers like me!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation and this whole thread has been incredibly helpful! My parents separated about 6 months ago but are also dragging their feet on making it legal. What I'm realizing from everyone's advice is that documentation is absolutely key. One thing I wanted to add that might help others - if your parents have separate cell phone plans now, those bills can also serve as proof of separate households and financial independence. My mom switched to her own plan when she moved out, and her financial aid counselor said that was actually really good supporting evidence. Also, for anyone worried about the timing - I was stressing about getting everything perfect before submitting, but it sounds like the better approach is to submit the FAFSA and then immediately start the professional judgment process rather than waiting. The schools seem to be pretty understanding about these complex family situations as long as you're proactive about communicating. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences! It's so much more helpful than the generic advice you find elsewhere.

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm in almost the exact same boat - parents separated 7 months ago but no legal paperwork. Reading through everyone's experiences, I feel so much more confident about tackling this. One thing I wanted to add that might help others: if your parents have separate car insurance policies now, those can also serve as documentation of maintaining separate households. My dad got his own policy when he moved out, and the dates on the policy documents line up perfectly with when they separated. Also, for anyone still gathering documentation - don't forget about things like voter registration changes, driver's license address updates, or even subscription services (Netflix, streaming services, etc.) that got switched to separate accounts. These smaller pieces of evidence can really help paint a complete picture of two people living independently. The key takeaway I'm getting from everyone's advice is: submit the FAFSA with whatever parent info you can provide, then immediately reach out to your school's financial aid office with as much documentation as possible. It sounds like most schools have dealt with these situations before and have established processes to help. Thanks to everyone who shared their real experiences - this has been way more helpful than anything I found on the official websites!

As someone who just went through this nightmare last year, I feel your pain! One thing that really helped me was creating a spreadsheet before starting the consolidation process. I listed all my Parent Plus loans with their origination dates, disbursement amounts, and which child they were for (based on the academic years). This made it SO much easier when I got to the loan selection screen - I could just check off the right ones without second-guessing myself. Also, if you're still having trouble getting through to FSA, try calling early morning (like 7:30 AM EST) or later in the evening around 6 PM. Those seem to be the lowest volume times. One last tip: take screenshots of every step of your consolidation application as you go. I had one application glitch out halfway through and lost all my progress, but having the screenshots helped me recreate it quickly. Good luck - you've got this!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who successfully separated Parent Plus loans for two kids last summer! A few additional tips that might help: 1. When you're on the consolidation application and selecting loans, pay close attention to the "Principal Balance" column - this helped me double-check I was grouping the right loans since I remembered roughly how much we borrowed each year. 2. If your kids attended different schools or started in different years, the loan servicer names in your account might give you another clue about which loans belong to which child. 3. After you submit the first consolidation application, you'll get a confirmation email with a reference number. Save this! When you call about the second consolidation, having that reference number shows them you're doing intentional separate consolidations, not making a mistake. 4. Don't panic if the loans disappear from your original servicer's website during processing - this is normal and they'll reappear with your new consolidation servicer. The whole process took about 6 weeks for each of my consolidations, but the peace of mind of having them separated was totally worth it. Hang in there - the hardest part is just getting started!

Hey Charlotte! I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago when I forgot to add UCLA to my FAFSA. I was totally panicking just like you are now, but it really is much easier to fix than you'd think! The correction process on studentaid.gov is super user-friendly - it literally took me like 10 minutes to add the school. One thing I'd suggest is to screenshot or write down your confirmation number after you submit the correction, just so you have proof that you made the change. Also, if you're applying to other UCs, double-check that you have all of them on there since the application deadlines are usually similar. You're going to be fine - this happens to SO many people and the schools are used to getting late FAFSA additions!

Hey Charlotte! I totally get the panic - I literally did the exact same thing last year and thought my college dreams were over! 😅 But seriously, everyone here is giving you great advice. The correction process is honestly super simple once you get into it. Just wanted to add that when you log into studentaid.gov, make sure you have your FSA ID handy and give yourself like 15-20 minutes to do it properly (don't rush like I did the first time and accidentally hit the wrong buttons). Also, Berkeley's financial aid office is actually really helpful if you need to call them - they deal with this situation literally every day during application season. You're definitely not as disorganized as you think - this stuff is genuinely confusing and you're handling it way better than I did! Good luck with everything! 🍀

I'm in the exact same situation! My son was accepted to three schools but we've only heard back from one with a financial aid package so far. The stress is real with the May 1st deadline approaching. One thing I learned from our college counselor is that you can request an extension on the decision deadline if you're still waiting on financial aid information. Most schools will grant a brief extension (usually 1-2 weeks) when you explain that you're waiting on aid packages from other schools to make an informed decision. Also, make sure to submit your tax returns and any other required documents to the schools' financial aid offices if you haven't already. Sometimes they're waiting on additional verification before they can finalize packages. Good luck to your daughter!

Hey! I just went through this exact same situation last year with my daughter and I totally understand the panic you're feeling right now. Here's what I wish I had known: First, this year is particularly chaotic because of all the FAFSA changes, so you're definitely not alone in this timing crunch. Most schools are running behind schedule but they know about the May 1st deadline. A few things that really helped us: 1. Create a spreadsheet tracking what you've submitted to each school and when - include FAFSA, CSS Profile (if required), tax documents, etc. 2. Set up email alerts or check the student portals daily - sometimes aid info shows up there before they send notifications 3. Don't hesitate to call AND email - sometimes one method gets through when the other doesn't Also, if you haven't already, look into whether either school has early financial aid estimation tools on their websites. Some schools offer net price calculators that can give you a rough idea while you wait for official packages. The good news is that schools want to enroll students and they understand families need this info to decide. Keep being persistent - you're advocating for your daughter's future and that's exactly what you should be doing right now!