One important thing to remember: subsidized loans don't accrue interest while your son is in school and during deferment periods. Unsubsidized loans start accruing interest immediately. If you end up with a mix of both in the financial aid package, always accept the subsidized portion first before taking unsubsidized loans. \n\nThe current interest rate for undergraduate subsidized and unsubsidized federal loans is 5.5%, which will add up significantly over four years if taking unsubsidized options.

That's a really good point about prioritizing subsidized loans first. I'll make sure we do that when the package finally comes through. The interest difference really adds up over time!

have u looked at michigan state instead of u of m? my brother goes there and its cheaper and he got better scholarships! might be less competitive too

That's a good suggestion. I think his heart is set on Michigan because of his girlfriend, but we should at least visit MSU while we're out there. Do you know if their out-of-state tuition is significantly less?

One thing no one mentioned - if you get denied for the Parent PLUS loan due to adverse credit history, YOUR DAUGHTER automatically becomes eligible for additional unsubsidized student loans in her own name. This is actually a strategy some families use intentionally. The additional amount is usually $4,000-$5,000 per year depending on her year in school.

There's one more option I forgot to mention in my first response - you can also bring an endorser (like a co-signer) if you're denied for the Parent PLUS loan but still want to pursue it. The endorser can't be the student, but could be another relative with better credit. If you go this route, you'll also need to complete PLUS credit counseling on studentaid.gov.

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to resolve this? If you're still having issues, I'd recommend calling your state's higher education assistance authority. Many have dedicated FAFSA support teams that can help with verification issues specifically. They often have direct lines to the FSA's technical team that regular callers can't access.

We made some progress! We tried multiple suggestions here - switched browsers, resubmitted using my FSA ID instead of my son's, and used Claimyr to finally reach someone helpful. They found that our foreign income was flagging the system and helped us submit the right documentation. The status now shows \

I blame the entire new SAI formula change. They rushed implementation without proper testing and now millions of students are dealing with these technical nightmares. My daughter might have to commit to a school without knowing what aid she's getting because of these delays!!

Update for everyone following this thread: FSA just announced they're releasing a new batch of signature correction capabilities next Monday. If you check your studentaid.gov account after May 1st, you should be able to complete the missing signatures. They're gradually rolling out fixes, so don't panic if you don't see it immediately.