Just to reassure you - the processing delays are affecting everyone this year, not just first-time applicants. The Department of Education has publicly acknowledged the issues with the new system rollout. While frustrating, this waiting period isn't a reflection on your application or anything you did wrong. The good news is that once processed, the new FAFSA formula is generally more generous for many families compared to previous years.

I'm going through the exact same thing with my son's FAFSA! We submitted in early March and still waiting for the SAI. It's really stressful not knowing if everything is okay or if there's some issue we're not aware of. This thread has been so helpful - I had no idea the delays were this widespread this year. I'm definitely going to reach out to his schools proactively like others suggested to make sure scholarship deadlines aren't affected. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

when my son was applying we almost missed a bunch of school specific financial aid deadlines because we didnt know they were different from the regular application deadlines!! make sure you check each college's website for their FAFSA priority dates

You're doing great by getting started early! I just wanted to add a couple more tips that helped us last year: 1. Make sure both you and your daughter use the SAME browser when working on the FAFSA - we had weird syncing issues when she used Chrome and I used Safari 2. The parent contributor section will ask about untaxed income too (like 401k contributions, child support received, etc.) so have those numbers ready 3. If you're divorced or separated, only the parent who provides more financial support fills out the parent section 4. Save your work frequently! There's an auto-save feature but it's not always reliable The process seems overwhelming at first but you'll get through it. The hardest part is just getting started, which you've already done! Good luck with the application this weekend.

This thread is a perfect example of how confusing the Parent Plus loan process can be for families! I'm a college counselor and I see this exact scenario play out with parents all the time. The key issue is that the FAFSA form doesn't clearly explain that selecting Parent Plus is just indicating interest - not actually applying for the loan. For anyone reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, here's a quick checklist: 1. Check your daughter's school financial aid portal for any action items 2. Call the financial aid office to confirm their specific Parent Plus process 3. Be prepared to formally accept the loan amount in their system first 4. Only then can you complete the actual application on studentaid.gov The good news is that this confusion doesn't impact your eligibility or deadlines - it's just a process issue that gets resolved once you connect with the school. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - it's so helpful for other families navigating this!

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently in the exact same boat with my daughter's Parent Plus loan - selected it on the FAFSA and then got radio silence. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a relief because I was starting to think I'd done something wrong or missed a step. The breakdown from @StarSeeker about the different entities involved (Federal Student Aid, schools, loan servicers) really helps explain why this process feels so disjointed. And @NebulaNomad, thanks for posting that update about calling your daughter's school - knowing that you were the third parent that day with this exact question makes me feel so much better about being confused! I'm definitely calling my daughter's financial aid office first thing tomorrow. This thread has given me the confidence to know exactly what questions to ask and what to expect. It's honestly shocking how many parents are dealing with this same confusion - they really need to improve the FAFSA instructions to explain what happens after you select Parent Plus!

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!