UPDATE: Finally got through! For anyone else having this issue, here's what worked for me: 1. Tried at 5:30am this morning as suggested (thanks everyone!) 2. Used incognito mode in Chrome with all extensions disabled 3. Made sure to save after completing EACH section The site was much faster and I didn't get the downloading loop even once. Our SAI calculation completed immediately too. Thanks for all your help everyone!

So glad you got it working! I'm dealing with the same issue right now for my twin sons' applications. Going to try the early morning approach tomorrow. Quick question - when you say "save after completing EACH section," do you mean there's a specific save button, or does it auto-save? I want to make sure I don't lose progress if it crashes again. Also, did your daughter's school accept the application right away or is there usually a delay before they confirm receipt?

one thing nobody mentioned - make sure you trust your daughter with that credit limit! my buddy added his son to a high limit card and junior racked up thousands in charges that dad didn't know about until the bill came 😬

Adding your daughter as an authorized user is definitely the right move and won't impact her FAFSA at all! I did this for both my kids and it really helped them get approved for apartment leases and car loans after graduation. Just a heads up though - some credit card companies let you set spending limits for authorized users, which might give you peace of mind while she's learning to manage credit responsibly. Also, make sure to explain to her how credit utilization works so she understands keeping balances low is key for building good credit!

I'm in a similar situation but for my son at UC Berkeley. One thing I learned after dealing with this mess is to always apply for the full academic year from the start, even if you're not sure you'll need spring funding yet. It saves you from having to go through the application process twice. Also, if you're worried about the 3-week deadline, you might want to call your daughter's school directly and ask about payment plan options or emergency aid while you wait for the Parent Plus approval to come through. Most schools have some flexibility for students whose parents are actively in the loan approval process. The federal aid system really needs an overhaul - it's ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to help our kids get an education!

I just went through this same situation with my daughter at NYU! Since you selected "Fall Only" initially, you'll definitely need to submit a new Parent Plus application for Spring. But here's the silver lining - it should be WAY faster this time around. The credit check from your Fall approval is still valid for 180 days, so you won't have to go through that nightmare again. Just make sure you: 1. Select "Spring 2025" as the loan period (double check this!) 2. Use the exact same parent borrower info as your Fall app 3. Apply for a bit more than you think you need - trust me on this one My Fall application took 6 weeks with multiple appeals, but Spring was approved in 4 days. Start the application TODAY given your 3-week deadline. You can do this through studentaid.gov using the same FSA ID you used before. Also, try reaching out to UCLA's financial aid office through their student portal or email instead of calling - sometimes you get faster responses that way. Hang in there, you've already survived the worst part of this process!

So glad to hear you're making progress! I went through a similar situation last year with medical collections affecting my PLUS loan application. The appeal process can be nerve-wracking, but it sounds like you've done everything right - having those payment plan documents and a clear explanation letter makes a huge difference. The 10-15 business day timeframe they gave you is pretty standard right now. Just wanted to add that even if the appeal doesn't go through (though I'm optimistic it will!), having your sister as a backup endorser option gives you a solid Plan B. Keep us posted on how it turns out - success stories like this really help other families in similar situations!

Hey Steven! I'm so glad to see your update and that you're making real progress with this situation. As someone who went through a similar PLUS loan denial appeal process two years ago (also due to medical collections), I wanted to share a few additional tips that might help while you're waiting: 1. Keep copies of everything you submitted - appeals can sometimes get "lost" in the system 2. Mark your calendar for day 12-13 of business days to follow up if you haven't heard anything 3. If your appeal gets approved, they'll email you about the credit counseling requirement, but you can actually complete it proactively at studentaid.gov to save time Also, huge kudos to your daughter's financial aid office for being flexible about letting her start with the additional unsubsidized loan! Not all schools are that accommodating. The fact that you have your sister as a potential endorser backup plan shows you're thinking ahead - that's exactly the right approach. Medical debt appeals actually have pretty good success rates since the Department of Education recognizes these are often unavoidable circumstances. Keeping my fingers crossed for you! Please update us when you hear back - success stories really do help other families in similar situations feel less alone in this process.

dont 4get to ask about non-workstudy campus jobs too!! my daughter couldnt get workstudy but got a job at the campus starbucks that paid BETTER than workstudy and still worked around her classes!!

Just wanted to add another perspective - I work in financial aid at a mid-sized state university. Your SAI of $16,875 with multiple kids in college actually puts you in a good position for work-study consideration. We often have leftover work-study funds after the initial allocation, especially in spring semester when some students drop out or reduce their course load. A few tips from the inside: - Call rather than email if possible - we get hundreds of emails daily but phone calls get more immediate attention - Ask specifically about "spring work-study availability" - many schools hold back funds for mid-year requests - Mention your high cost of living area - we can consider regional differences in our professional judgment reviews - If they say no to federal work-study, ask about state work-study programs (many states have their own versions) Also, timing matters! If you contact them in the next few weeks, you're more likely to get funding than if you wait until fall semester starts. Good luck!