I'm a new parent going through this process for the first time with my daughter starting college next fall, and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea there was a difference in timing between the FAFSA and Parent Plus loan applications. I've been refreshing that dropdown menu for weeks thinking something was broken on my end. It's reassuring to see so many experienced parents confirming this is normal. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread for reference and focus on getting our FAFSA submitted first. Thank you everyone for sharing your knowledge - it's making this whole process feel much less overwhelming for us newcomers!

As someone who just went through this process for the first time last year, I totally understand the panic! The Parent Plus loan timeline is so poorly explained on their website. What helped me was creating a little calendar with all the key dates after I figured out the system. For 2025-2026, focus on getting your FAFSA submitted by your daughter's school deadline first, then watch for the Parent Plus application to open around late March. One tip I learned the hard way - make sure you have all your tax documents ready early because if there are any discrepancies, it can delay everything. Also, don't forget to check if your daughter's school has any additional parent loan forms they require beyond the federal application. The whole process is stressful but you'll get through it!

Thank you all for the advice! I feel a bit less panicked now. We're going to: 1) Wait for all financial aid packages before deciding, 2) Appeal for additional aid based on medical expenses, 3) Look into smaller scholarships, 4) Consider community college courses for the summer, and 5) Make an appointment with the financial aid office at his top choice school to discuss options. I'll post an update when we figure this out. This system is definitely frustrating, but your suggestions have given us more paths to explore.

As someone who went through this exact situation two years ago, I completely understand the panic! My daughter had a similar SAI and we faced that same sticker shock. One thing that really helped us was creating a detailed 4-year financial plan that included potential salary increases, her summer earnings, and projected loan payments after graduation. It made the numbers feel more manageable when we could see the full picture. Also, don't overlook your son's major - some programs have additional scholarships or co-op opportunities that can significantly offset costs. The financial aid office at his preferred school should be able to connect you with department-specific funding opportunities. You're already on the right track by exploring all your options before making any final decisions!

My twins are juniors now and DEFINITELY fill out fafsa every year!!! Even if u think u won't get anything! My husband and I made around 80k when they started and they both got pell grants plus subsidized loans. BUT the amount changed every year based on our income. Their sophomore year we made more (around 95k) and they got less grant money. The school matters too - my daughter got more institutional scholarships at her private college than my son did at state school.

With your income level around $87k, you're right in that tricky middle-class zone where aid can be unpredictable, but absolutely still fill out the FAFSA! At minimum, your son will qualify for federal Direct Loans ($5,500 freshman year), and depending on your exact SAI calculation, you might get some Pell Grant money - even partial Pell grants can be $1,000-3,000 which adds up over four years. The real key is applying to a mix of schools with different aid philosophies. Some state schools are stingy with aid but have lower sticker prices, while certain private colleges might surprise you with generous institutional grants to bring costs down to state school levels. Also, don't overlook work-study - it's not just about the money, but gives students valuable work experience and helps with networking. One tip: when you get aid offers, don't be afraid to appeal if your circumstances have changed or if one school offered significantly more than another. Financial aid offices have some flexibility, especially at private institutions. Good luck!

Just to clarify some information - the FAFSA for the 2025-2026 academic year will 100% open on October 1, 2024, barring any unexpected announcements from Federal Student Aid. For your son's financial aid as a freshman in 2025, you'll report your 2023 tax information (not 2024). This is called prior-prior year reporting. The simplified FAFSA will import more tax data directly from the IRS using the Data Retrieval Tool, but you'll still need to answer questions about assets and household information. I strongly recommend completing the form within the first few weeks it's available. Even though the federal deadline isn't until June 2026, many state and institutional aid programs have much earlier deadlines, some as early as December or January.

As someone who just went through this process with my daughter last year, I wanted to add a few practical tips that helped us navigate the FAFSA successfully: 1. Create a dedicated email folder for all FAFSA and financial aid correspondence - you'll get a lot of emails from schools and Federal Student Aid, and staying organized is crucial. 2. Take screenshots of each page as you complete the FAFSA. If the system crashes or you lose your progress (which happened to us twice), having visual records of what you entered saves time. 3. Double-check your Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation once you receive your FAFSA Submission Summary. If it seems way off from what you expected, don't hesitate to contact the school's financial aid office directly. 4. Start gathering bank statements and investment account balances from the date you plan to submit your FAFSA. The form asks for account balances "as of today" when you submit. The earlier you complete it after October 1st, the better your chances for need-based aid. Good luck to you and your son!

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! After reading through your comments, I'm going to: 1. Check our state's priority FAFSA deadline 2. Get formal documentation from our insurance company about the purpose of the funds 3. Keep all contractor estimates and payment receipts 4. File our FAFSA now with proper documentation rather than waiting Great to know we don't have to include these funds as assets since they're designated for repairs. Really appreciate all the insights!

Smart plan! Just wanted to add - when you get that documentation from your insurance company, make sure it specifically mentions that the funds are for "property restoration" or "damage repair" rather than just general compensation. The more specific the language, the clearer it'll be during verification if needed. Also, if you're doing the repairs in phases over several months, keep a timeline showing when each payment goes out so there's a clear paper trail. Good luck with both the FAFSA and the home repairs!