As a newcomer to this whole student loan process, I'm honestly floored by how much crucial information seems to be hidden or downplayed by financial aid offices! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been like getting a master class in what they should have told us upfront. The fact that Parent PLUS loans at 8.05% exist but weren't mentioned while pushing 14% private loans is absolutely mind-blowing - that's literally tens of thousands in potential savings! I had no idea about credit unions offering better rates, loan aggregators like Credible, or even industry-specific programs like airline cadet opportunities. It's terrifying to think how many families probably just accept whatever their school suggests without knowing these alternatives exist. This thread is going straight into my saved posts because this kind of real-world advice from people who've actually been through it is invaluable. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and potentially saving other families from making expensive mistakes!

As someone completely new to the world of student loans, this entire discussion has been absolutely eye-opening and honestly a bit infuriating! I can't believe that financial aid offices aren't required to present all these options transparently from the start. The fact that Parent PLUS loans at 8.05% are available but families are being steered toward 14% private loans first is shocking - we're talking about potentially $50,000+ in extra interest over the life of the loan! I had no idea about credit unions offering better rates, loan aggregators like Credible and Earnest, or specialized programs like airline cadet opportunities. Reading everyone's real experiences here has taught me more practical information than any official financial aid guidance I've seen. It's scary to think how many families probably just accept whatever their school recommends without knowing to shop around or ask about federal alternatives first. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread and going into any financial aid conversations armed with specific questions about Parent PLUS eligibility, credit union options, and industry-specific programs. Thank you all for sharing your hard-learned lessons - this kind of real-world advice could literally save families from decades of unnecessary debt!

I went through this with my son's FAFSA last month. Yes, you're in the right place! The parent section is integrated into the student's application - it's part of the new streamlined process for calculating the Student Aid Index (SAI). Before you start entering information though, you MUST create your own FSA ID. This is different from your daughter's login. Once you have your own FSA ID, you'll use that to access her application as a contributor and complete your sections. When you click on her invitation link, it should prompt you to sign in with YOUR FSA ID (not hers). Then you'll see sections designated specifically for parent contribution information. Hope this helps! The new system is definitely not intuitive at first.

Update: I got it working! For anyone else confused, here's what I did: 1. Created my own FSA ID (took about 15 minutes with verification) 2. Clicked my daughter's invitation link again 3. Logged in with MY FSA ID (not hers) 4. Then I could see the parent contribution sections Now working through our tax information. Thanks everyone for the help!

Any update on your situation? Were you able to get the hold on your account or reach someone at FSA?

This is such valuable information for parents dealing with PLUS loan delays! I'm a newcomer here but going through something similar with my son's loan application. The name discrepancy issue you discovered is so important - I never would have thought to check for something like that. I'm definitely going to try the Claimyr service if I can't get through to FSA directly. It's really reassuring to know that schools have these pending aid holds available - I had no idea that was even an option. Thanks for sharing your experience and the happy ending!

UPDATE: For anyone having this issue, I found out from my daughter's college financial aid office that there's actually a KNOWN ISSUE with the continue button on the FSA ID creation page that they're supposedly working on fixing. Some people have had success by trying very specific steps: 1. Clear ALL browser data (not just cache) 2. Use incognito/private mode 3. Try at non-peak hours (early morning or late night) 4. Fill out the form in one sitting without pausing or navigating away 5. Make sure your address matches EXACTLY how USPS would format it Hope this helps someone! The system is a disaster this year.

I'm just starting to navigate this process for my younger brother and reading through all these responses is both helpful and terrifying! It's crazy that in 2025 we're still dealing with such basic technical issues on a government website that millions of students depend on. I'm bookmarking all these suggestions - the Microsoft Edge in InPrivate mode, trying late evening hours, using a simple password, and creating a new Gmail account seem like the most promising solutions. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and workarounds! @Amara Nnamani - I really hope one of these solutions works for you tonight. Please update us if you find success with any particular method!

Hey Hugo! I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through FAFSA reprocessing last year. I know how stressful it feels, especially with deadlines looming, but based on what you've described (correcting the retirement account asset), this should be pretty straightforward. One thing that might help ease your mind - you can actually check the status of your FAFSA processing by logging into your FSA account at studentaid.gov. It will show you if your FAFSA is still "in review" or if it's been processed and sent to your schools. I checked mine obsessively when I was waiting! Also, since you mentioned you've already been accepted to UCLA, you're in a good position. Admitted students typically get priority for financial aid processing, especially when there are timing concerns like yours. When you call them tomorrow, definitely mention your May 1 deadline - they'll likely fast-track your case or at least give you a better timeline. You've got this! The correction you made was the right thing to do (retirement accounts can really mess up your aid calculation if reported incorrectly), and it sounds like everything will work out fine. Keep us posted on how the call goes!

Hugo, I totally get why you're stressed - the FAFSA reprocessing thing sounds scary when you first hear about it! But from everything I've read here and my own experience, it's actually super common this year. I went through something similar when I had to correct my parent's business income information. The good news is that since you corrected an asset reporting issue (the retirement account), that type of correction usually processes faster than income corrections or verification issues. My reprocessing took about 5 days and my aid package actually improved because I had initially reported things incorrectly. One tip: when you call UCLA tomorrow, ask them specifically if they can give you a preliminary aid estimate while waiting for the final reprocessed FAFSA. Most schools can do this, especially for admitted students close to decision deadlines. Also, definitely mention that you're an admitted student with a May 1 deadline - they'll prioritize your case. You did the right thing by correcting the retirement account info. Parent retirement accounts shouldn't count as assets for FAFSA, so this correction will likely help your aid eligibility. Hang in there! 💪