Fun fact: when I was doing my FAFSA back in 2022 I had the exact opposite problem. I accidentally added too many schools (like 15) and couldn't remove any while it was processing lol. The financial aid offices at schools I wasn't even applying to kept emailing me about completing their supplemental forms 😂

Just want to add another tip for anyone still dealing with this - if you can't get through to FSA by phone, you can also try contacting your state's financial aid agency. Many states have their own hotlines and can sometimes help with federal FAFSA issues or at least provide guidance on next steps. Also, most college financial aid offices are pretty understanding about FAFSA delays this year given all the system issues. If you're worried about missing priority deadlines, reach out to the schools directly and explain the situation - many are extending their internal deadlines or making exceptions for students stuck in FAFSA processing limbo.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful responses! This is exactly the kind of real-world advice I was looking for. It sounds like the consensus is that we're stuck with one borrower per loan, which is disappointing but at least now I know what our options are. I'm leaning toward either the alternating years approach that Aisha suggested or possibly splitting it with separate loans, though those extra fees are concerning. I think we'll start by figuring out which of us has the better credit score and go from there. Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their experiences - this community is so helpful for navigating all this financial aid confusion!

Hey there! I just went through this exact same situation with my twin daughters starting college this fall. What we ended up doing was having me apply for the PLUS loan since I had the slightly better credit score, but we set up a joint savings account specifically for making the loan payments so we're both contributing equally each month. It's not the same as being official co-borrowers, but it works for us practically speaking. Also, pro tip - make sure whoever applies has checked their credit report recently for any errors that might cause issues with approval. The PLUS loan credit check is pretty lenient compared to private loans, but it's still worth being prepared!

Some colleges actually have parent portals that will show the financial aid packages once they're created, which includes the SAI information. So while the FAFSA itself doesn't have parent access, you might get visibility through the individual schools after they process her application. Each college handles this differently, so check with the financial aid offices at the schools she's considering.

I'm going through this exact same frustration right now! My son submitted his FAFSA in January and I've been completely locked out of seeing any results. It's honestly infuriating that they require all our tax documents and financial information but then treat parents like we don't exist once it's submitted. I've tried calling the Federal Student Aid helpline multiple times but the wait times are insane. At least I'm not alone in this - sounds like the system is just poorly designed for families where parents are actively involved in college planning. Going to have my son show me his account tonight so we can finally see what we're working with.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in financial aid - you've gotten some great advice here! One thing I'd add is to make sure you save a copy of her medical withdrawal documentation. If any questions come up during aid verification or if you need to appeal aid decisions later, having that paperwork readily available can be really helpful. Also, once she's back and settled, encourage her to connect with the disability services office at her school - they often have resources and accommodations that can help prevent future academic disruptions due to mental health challenges. Wishing your daughter all the best on her return!

I went through something very similar with my son two years ago! He had to take a medical leave for mental health reasons after completing his first semester. When we filled out the FAFSA for his return, we listed him as a 1st year student since he only had about 14 credits completed - not enough for sophomore status. The key thing is to match whatever his official academic standing will be according to the registrar's office when he returns. Also, definitely reach out to the financial aid office once you submit the FAFSA to discuss his situation. They were incredibly understanding about my son's circumstances and helped us navigate some additional options we didn't even know existed. It's tough as a parent watching them go through this, but taking time to focus on mental health was the best decision we made. Your daughter is lucky to have such a supportive parent advocating for her!

Unfortunately, Parent PLUS loans have fewer forgiveness options than student Direct loans. They're not eligible for income-based repayment plans unless consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan, and even then, only the Income-Contingent Repayment plan is available (which is less generous than plans available to students). Public Service Loan Forgiveness is technically available for parents if YOU (not your child) work in qualifying public service for 10 years while making payments, but this isn't helpful for most families. This is why I suggest exhausting all scholarship, grant, and Direct Student Loan options first. The current annual limit for freshman Direct loans is $5,500, sophomore $6,500, and junior/senior $7,500.

I'm in a very similar situation - SAI of 31,200 with a $38k/year school and feeling completely overwhelmed! Reading through all these responses has been so helpful. I had no idea about professional judgment reviews or that some schools use CSS Profile for better aid consideration. One thing I'd add from my own research - definitely look into your state's 529 college savings plan if you haven't already. Even though it won't help for this year, if you have younger kids or are planning ahead, the tax benefits can really add up. Also, some employers offer tuition assistance or scholarships for employees' children that many people don't know about. The community college transfer route mentioned earlier is worth seriously considering too. My neighbor's daughter did 2 years at community college then transferred to her dream school as a junior - saved over $40k and still got the same degree. Sometimes being practical about finances is the most loving thing we can do for our kids' futures. Good luck with the professional judgment review process - I'll be following your lead on that!