Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I was able to submit the Parent Plus loan application for just the 2025-2026 academic year. We requested $22,500 after calculating what we'll need after his grants and scholarships. The financial aid office said they'll process it along with his other aid and we should hear back in 3-4 weeks. I'll be back next year to go through this all again I guess!

Congrats on getting it submitted! That's a reasonable amount too - sounds like you did your homework on calculating the actual need. Just a heads up for future years: keep all your documentation organized because you'll need similar info each year, and tuition tends to go up 3-5% annually so budget for that increase. Also, if your son ends up with any leftover loan money after all expenses are paid, make sure to return it ASAP to avoid unnecessary interest charges. Good luck with the rest of the financial aid process!

Just checking back - has your daughter's application status changed back to "processed" yet? It typically takes 3-5 business days, but with the system issues this year, some are taking longer.

That's such a relief to hear it went back to processed with the same SAI! I'm dealing with something similar right now - accidentally triggered a resubmission on my son's FAFSA two days ago and have been stressed about it ever since. Your experience gives me hope that it will sort itself out. The new FAFSA system really needs better warnings about what actions will cause a resubmission!

Just wanted to update everyone - I finally got my verification email this morning! It ended up taking 9 days total, so definitely longer than the "3 days" they originally said. For anyone else waiting, I think the key is just being patient (as frustrating as that is). The system really does seem overwhelmed right now with all the FAFSA changes. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it helped me feel less anxious about the wait!

I'm currently on day 12 waiting for my verification email and honestly starting to panic a bit! Reading through everyone's experiences here is both comforting and terrifying - it sounds like most people get theirs within 7-10 days but some are waiting weeks. I've triple-checked my spam folder, confirmed my email address is correct, and I'm definitely not making a second account after reading about the fraud review nightmare. Has anyone who waited this long eventually gotten through, or should I start trying to contact FSA? The phone system sounds like a disaster but I'm worried something went wrong with my application.

As you work through this, here's one more tip: Keep good records of all educational expenses paid. The IRS can ask for documentation if you claim education credits. This includes: - Copies of the 1098-T - Receipts for required textbooks and supplies - Account statements showing payments to the school - Documentation of any scholarships/grants and what they covered Also, consider whether your son qualifies as your dependent. For education credits, he must be your dependent for you to claim them. The general rule is that if you provide more than half his support and he's a full-time student under 24, he qualifies.

I totally understand your frustration! I went through this exact same confusion when my daughter started college two years ago. Here's what I wish someone had told me upfront: The key document you need is the 1098-T form from your son's school - this will have all the numbers you need for taxes. Most schools post these in the student portal around late January/early February, so check there first. Here's the simple breakdown: - Student loans = NOT taxable (never report these) - Grants/scholarships = Only taxable if they exceed qualified education expenses - Your son reports any taxable financial aid on HIS return - You can still claim education credits on YOUR return since he's your dependent Pro tip: Don't stress too much about the financial aid office - they handle aid, not taxes. The bursar's office is usually better for 1098-T questions. And honestly, most tax software will walk you through the education credit calculations once you have the 1098-T numbers. You've got this! The first year is always the most confusing, but it gets easier once you understand the process.

Have you checked your Student Aid Index (SAI) score? That's the new number that replaced the old EFC. It should be visible in your FAFSA confirmation email or when you log into studentaid.gov. That number is what schools use to determine your exact aid package.

As a first-time grad student applicant, this thread is incredibly helpful! I was planning to submit my FAFSA this weekend and would have definitely panicked when I didn't see loan amounts on the confirmation screen. It's really frustrating that they removed helpful information during an already stressful process. Does anyone know roughly how long it takes for schools to send out the actual financial aid packages after FAFSA processing? I'm trying to plan my timeline for fall enrollment decisions.