I'm so glad to see you got some movement on this! As someone who went through a similar situation 3 years ago, I wanted to add that you should also ask the financial aid office about work-study opportunities when you're there for the appeal. My daughter didn't qualify initially but after our special circumstances appeal was approved, they were able to offer her work-study too which added another $2,400 to her aid package. Also, keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit - I had to resubmit documents twice because they got "lost in the system." You're doing all the right things and advocating well for your daughter!

As a financial aid counselor at a state university, I want to emphasize that your timeline is actually very manageable! Most schools process special circumstances appeals within 2-3 weeks, and since you've already extended your decision deadline, you should have plenty of time. One thing I don't see mentioned yet - make sure to ask about institutional aid when you submit your appeal. Many schools have emergency grants or additional need-based aid that only becomes available after a special circumstances review. At our school, we have a separate fund specifically for students whose parents are recently divorced or separated. Also, don't forget to mention any additional expenses you now have as a single parent that weren't part of your married household (like paying for separate housing, childcare changes, etc.). These can all factor into the professional judgment review. You're absolutely on the right track!

I understand your stress completely! As someone who works in financial aid, I can confirm what others have said - Parent PLUS loans are credit-based, not income-based, so your marriage won't prevent you from borrowing the full amount needed. However, there's one nuance worth mentioning: while your new spouse's income won't affect Parent PLUS eligibility, it WILL impact your daughter's need-based aid calculation. This means she might receive less in grants or subsidized loans, which could increase the amount you need to borrow through Parent PLUS. But the good news is you can still borrow up to the full cost of attendance. For the custody situation, definitely keep records showing you provide more financial support than your ex. This includes things like health insurance premiums, medical expenses, clothing, school supplies, etc. The "financial support" rule is newer and many people (including some school counselors) still think it's about physical custody. Don't postpone your wedding over this! You'll be able to cover her education costs either way. Just be prepared that you might need to borrow slightly more if she loses some grant eligibility due to the higher household income.

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who went through this exact situation two years ago! I was also worried about getting married before my son started college, but it worked out fine with the Parent PLUS loan. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - even though your new spouse's income won't affect the Parent PLUS loan approval or maximum amount, it's still worth having a conversation with your fiancé about expectations. My husband and I agreed upfront that my kids' college costs were my responsibility, which helped avoid any future tension about the loan payments. Also, since you mentioned your daughter's father refuses to contribute - make sure you're not counting on him to cosign anything or provide tax information if needed. I learned the hard way that it's better to assume you'll handle everything yourself from the start. You should definitely go ahead with your February wedding plans! The Parent PLUS loan system is designed to let parents borrow what they need regardless of income level. Best of luck with both the wedding and college preparations!

Just checking in - were you able to make any progress with contacting FAFSA? If you're still struggling, I recommend documenting everything and bringing it to your school's financial aid office ASAP to request an extension on their deadline. Most schools have contingency plans for FAFSA verification delays, especially with all the problems this application cycle.

That's such great news that your financial aid office was able to help! This is exactly why I always tell students to get their school involved early - they have so much more power to work with FAFSA behind the scenes than people realize. The 3-week extension should give you plenty of time to resolve the verification issue. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, Evelyn's experience shows that visiting your financial aid office in person with all your documentation really is the way to go. They can often work magic that individual phone calls to FAFSA can't accomplish!

As someone who just joined this community, I'm amazed at how helpful everyone has been in this thread! @FireflyDreams, your situation sounds incredibly stressful but it's great that you got it resolved so quickly. This whole discussion has been eye-opening - I had no idea that old vocational training could result in federal loans that might affect future FAFSA applications. The advice about checking the National Student Loan Data System and keeping multiple copies of all documentation is so valuable. I'm definitely going to share this thread with other parents in my area who are starting the college prep process. It's scary how easy it is to have forgotten loans lurking in the system!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really grateful to have found this thread! @FireflyDreams, your experience is both eye-opening and terrifying - I can't imagine the shock of discovering a 15-year-old loan you never knew existed right when you're trying to help your daughter with college applications. What strikes me most is how this highlights a gap that many parents probably don't even know exists. The fact that vocational training programs can result in federal loans that later impact your children's FAFSA eligibility is something I wish was more widely known. I'm planning to do a comprehensive check of my own financial aid history before my youngest starts the college application process in two years. The detailed advice everyone has shared here about loan rehabilitation, small-balance resolution options, and the importance of documentation is incredibly valuable. This community seems like such a supportive resource for navigating these complex financial aid challenges!

Update: I tried the correction option this morning and it worked! I was able to add my additional schools. The system showed my application as "processed" even though I haven't received my official SAI calculation yet. Thanks everyone for the help!

Paolo's update is really helpful! For anyone still worried about this - I went through the same thing last year and was able to add schools immediately after submission without any issues. The key thing to remember is that even if you add schools right away, they won't receive your info until your FAFSA is fully processed anyway. So there's really no downside to adding them as soon as the system lets you. Just make sure to double-check that all your school codes are correct before saving the changes!