To address your follow-up question about co-op programs: Yes, most established co-op programs at universities have arrangements that allow international students to work off-campus through CPT (Curricular Practical Training) authorization. This is a major advantage since it's built into your curriculum and doesn't count against your OPT time after graduation. Regarding the CSS Profile that you asked about earlier - yes, you should complete it as soon as possible if you're applying to private universities. About 200 schools use it to determine institutional aid eligibility for international students. It costs $25 for the first school and $16 for each additional school. You'll need financial documents from your family translated into English. Also, many schools with later deadlines for fall entry are listed on the NACAC website under their College Openings Update (usually published in May).

Just wanted to add that you should also look into merit-based scholarships at public universities - many have automatic scholarships based on GPA and test scores that don't require separate applications. For example, University of Alabama, University of Mississippi, and University of Kentucky offer substantial merit awards to international students with strong academics. Also, consider starting at a community college for your first two years to save money, then transferring to a 4-year university for your IT degree. Many community colleges have transfer agreements with state universities, and you'll get the same degree at the end but pay much less overall. Just make sure the credits transfer properly before enrolling. One more tip: some schools waive application fees for international students if you apply online or attend virtual information sessions. Every bit helps when you're applying to multiple schools!

Just following up - were you able to get this resolved? I'm curious if contacting FSA directly worked for you like it did for me.

I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved! This whole thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding the duplicate application issue. As someone new to navigating FAFSA (my daughter is a high school senior), reading about everyone's experiences with the signature glitch and duplicate applications is both terrifying and reassuring. It's scary that these technical issues are happening, but it's comforting to know there are solutions and that the financial aid offices are working to fix them. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and tips - especially about contacting FSA directly and requesting deadline extensions. This community is a lifesaver for stressed parents trying to figure out this whole process!

I had this exact nightmare scenario with my mortgage last month! The solution that finally worked was having my mortgage loan officer submit a "Third Party Authorization for Information Request" directly to StudentAid. For some reason, they responded to my lender's formal request when they kept giving me the runaround as an individual borrower. My lender specifically requested documentation showing: 1. Current forbearance status and reason (citing the SAVE plan litigation) 2. Estimated payment under Income-Based Repayment (which is calculated differently than SAVE but acceptable for mortgage underwriting) This approach worked where nothing else did. Maybe ask your loan officer if they can take this approach?

This whole situation is such a mess! I've been dealing with similar SAVE plan confusion, and what's really helped me is keeping detailed records of every single interaction. I created a spreadsheet with date, time, rep name/ID, and exactly what they told me - this has been crucial when I get contradictory information. For your mortgage situation specifically, I'd recommend trying multiple approaches simultaneously: 1. Use the exact document names that @Tyrone Johnson mentioned - those specific terms seem to unlock better responses 2. Have your loan officer submit the Third Party Authorization like @Raj Gupta suggested - this dual approach might speed things up 3. If all else fails, escalate to the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman (they have a separate complaint process for situations like this) The key thing for your February closing is getting ANY official documentation that explains your current payment status, even if it's not the exact amount. Most underwriters will work with you if you can show you're actively trying to resolve the situation and have documentation of the forbearance. Don't let this derail your home purchase - there ARE solutions, it just takes persistence and knowing the right terminology to use with StudentAid!

hey did u ever get this worked out? im having the same issue now with my stepson's application and getting super frustrated!!!

I just went through this exact same situation with my daughter's FAFSA last week! The disappearing spouse contributor had me panicking that I'd somehow broken the application. It's definitely confusing because the initial setup makes it seem like both parents need separate contributor sections, but then the spouse just vanishes. The streamlined process for joint filers actually makes sense once you understand it, but they really need to update the instructions to be clearer about this. One tip - make sure you have your wife's FSA ID handy when you start the tax section because you'll need it for the IRS Data Retrieval Tool verification. Good luck with the rest of the application!

Hey Malik! Just wanted to add some reassurance - you're actually in a really good position with that negative SAI! I'm a financial aid counselor and see this all the time. That -1079 puts your daughter in the highest need category, which means schools will prioritize her for their best aid packages. A few quick tips: - Don't panic about the savings account impact - at your income level, it likely only reduced your Pell by a few hundred dollars max - Schools typically release aid packages 2-4 weeks after acceptance letters - If you get a lowball offer from a school she really wants to attend, you can always appeal with documentation of your circumstances The fact that you're being so proactive about understanding this process shows you're doing everything right. Your daughter is going to have good options!

Don't worry, you're definitely not alone in feeling confused by this process! I went through the same panic last year with my son. That negative SAI is actually fantastic news - it means your daughter will be prioritized for need-based aid at every school she applied to. One thing I learned the hard way: make sure you respond quickly to any requests for additional documentation from the schools' financial aid offices. Some schools wanted tax transcripts, verification worksheets, or other forms even though we'd already submitted FAFSA. The faster you get those back to them, the sooner you'll get your aid packages. Also, don't be afraid to negotiate! If one school offers significantly more aid than another, you can contact the financial aid office of your daughter's preferred school and ask them to reconsider their offer. Many schools will match or come close to matching better offers from comparable institutions. You're doing great advocating for your daughter - that negative SAI is going to open doors for her!