I'm so glad to see this thread helping so many families navigate PLUS loan denials! As someone who's been through this process, I wanted to share a few additional resources that might be helpful: 1. Many schools have emergency loan programs or short-term payment plans that can help cover the gap while you're sorting out the PLUS situation. These are often interest-free and can buy you time. 2. If you're still having trouble after paying off the charge-off, consider reaching out to your state's Department of Higher Education - they sometimes have grant programs specifically for families facing financial aid challenges. 3. For future reference, you can check your credit report for free annually and address any issues before applying for PLUS loans. This saves so much stress! @Chloe Taylor, it sounds like you're handling this really well and taking all the right steps. The combination of paying off the charge-off and having the additional unsubsidized loan as backup should put you in a much better position. Keep us updated on how the reapplication goes! The financial aid system can be overwhelming, but threads like this show how much we can help each other navigate it. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and advice!

Welcome to the community, everyone who's new here! As someone who's been dealing with financial aid issues for a few years now, I wanted to jump in with a couple additional thoughts that might help. @Chloe Taylor, one thing I learned the hard way is that timing can be everything with PLUS loans. Since you've already paid off that charge-off, I'd recommend calling the creditor directly to ask when they typically report updates to the credit bureaus. Some report monthly, others quarterly. If you can get them to expedite the reporting or provide a letter confirming payment, it could speed up your reapplication process significantly. Also, for anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar boat - it's worth noting that Parent PLUS loans have pretty strict credit requirements compared to other federal loans, but they don't actually require a minimum credit score. They're mainly looking for that "adverse credit history" that several people mentioned. So even if your overall credit isn't great, as long as you don't have those specific red flags (recent charge-offs, defaults, etc.), you might still qualify. The community advice here about maximizing student loans first before going the PLUS route is really solid. Those lower interest rates can save thousands over the life of the loan. Good luck to everyone navigating this process!

Hey Rajiv! I'm dealing with something similar right now - my school is also being super slow with processing my dependency override. What I've learned from going through this mess is that you absolutely need to create a paper trail ASAP. Since you don't have that verbal approval in writing, I'd suggest sending a follow-up email today that says something like "Hi [Advisor Name], I wanted to follow up on our meeting on [date] when you confirmed my dependency override was approved and told me everything was 'good to go.' I notice my student portal still shows dependent status - could you please provide an update on when this will be processed and confirm the approval in writing?" Also, if you can't get through by phone tomorrow, definitely go in person. Bring a folder with copies of ALL your dependency override documentation - every form, every piece of evidence you submitted. Sometimes they "lose" things or claim they never received stuff. Having your own copies shows you're organized and makes it harder for them to brush you off. You've got this! The squeaky wheel gets the grease with financial aid offices.

I went through this exact situation two years ago and it was absolutely terrifying! My dependency override took 6 weeks to process even though they told me it would be done in 2-3 weeks. The good news is that you WON'T lose your financial aid as long as your FAFSA was submitted by the deadline. Here's what saved me: I started documenting EVERYTHING. I kept a log of every phone call (date, time, who I spoke to, what they said), every email, every in-person visit. When I finally escalated to the financial aid director with this documentation, things moved very quickly. Also, if your school has a student ombudsman or student advocate office, contact them too! They can sometimes put pressure on departments that are being unresponsive. At my school, the ombudsman contacted financial aid on my behalf and suddenly my case became a "priority." Don't give up - dependency overrides are processed after deadlines ALL THE TIME. The system is set up to handle these situations, even though it's incredibly stressful when you're in the middle of it. Keep pushing and document everything!

I'm going through the exact same nightmare with Emory! My son submitted everything in December and we're still waiting. After reading all these comments, I feel so much better knowing it's not just us. The stress of the May 1st deadline without knowing the financial picture is keeping me up at night. I'm definitely sending that email with "URGENT: MAY 1 DEADLINE" in the subject line first thing tomorrow morning. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and advice - this community is such a lifesaver during this crazy process! Fingers crossed we all get our packages soon 🤞

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! My daughter submitted her FAFSA in early December and we're still waiting on Emory's financial aid package. It's so relieving to see we're not alone in this - I was starting to think something went wrong with our application. The May 1st deadline stress is real! I've been comparing offers from her other schools but Emory was her top choice, so we really need to see their numbers. Based on all the advice here, I'm going to email finaid@emory.edu tomorrow with "URGENT: MAY 1 DEADLINE" in the subject line and also request a deposit deadline extension just in case. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - knowing this is a widespread issue with their processing delays makes me feel so much better!

just remember u gotta do this EVERY year!! my mom and i both got less money sophomore year cuz we forgot to update the multiple student thing!!

Welcome to the community! As someone who works in financial aid, I can confirm what others have said - having multiple family members in college is generally beneficial for aid eligibility. One tip I'd add is to keep detailed records of all communications with financial aid offices and save copies of every form you submit. Also, if either of you are planning to take classes part-time (less than 6 credit hours), make sure to clarify how that affects the "number in college" calculation, as some schools have specific policies about enrollment status. Best of luck to both of you on this educational journey!

I work in our university's financial aid office, and we see this confusion often. International students are not eligible for FAFSA. Here's what you need to do: 1. Check if your schools require the CSS Profile (many private institutions do) 2. Look for international student financial aid forms on each university's website 3. Contact each school's financial aid office to ask about scholarships specifically for international students Regarding CSS Profile fee waivers - they're typically only available to U.S. students who qualified for an SAT fee waiver. However, some schools will waive the application fee if you demonstrate significant financial need. You would need to contact each school directly about this possibility.

Hey AstroAce! I went through this exact same confusion when I was applying as an international student from India. The whole FAFSA vs CSS Profile thing is so confusing at first! Just wanted to add that when you do fill out the CSS Profile, make sure you have all your financial documents ready in USD equivalents - they'll ask for your family's income converted to US dollars. Also, some schools have their own supplemental financial aid forms for international students that are separate from both FAFSA and CSS Profile, so definitely check each university's international student aid page. The deadlines for these forms can be different from regular application deadlines too, so keep an eye on that. Good luck with your applications!