


Ask the community...
Update for everyone: The Department of Education has officially announced they're aware of a major phishing campaign targeting FAFSA applicants right now. These scam emails use terms like "recalculation," "urgent verification," and "aid cancellation" to scare students into clicking malicious links. Legitimate FAFSA communications will NEVER: - Ask you to verify your FSA ID through an email link - Request your Social Security Number via email - Use threatening language about immediate aid cancellation - Have spelling/grammar errors (a major red flag) If you receive suspicious emails, report them to the FSA at phishing@studentaid.gov and to your school's IT security team. Also, enable two-factor authentication on your StudentAid.gov account immediately if you haven't already.
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I've confirmed it was definitely a phishing attempt. I called my school's financial aid office directly and they confirmed I'm not under any verification process. I've reported the email to phishing@studentaid.gov and changed my FSA ID password just to be safe. I'm going to enable two-factor authentication on my StudentAid.gov account too. For anyone else who gets these emails, definitely check your actual StudentAid.gov account directly (don't click email links) and contact your school's financial aid office to confirm before responding to anything suspicious!
FAFSA is just the application form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), not the money itself. After you complete the FAFSA, schools use that info to create a financial aid package which can include: - Grants (like Pell Grants) - free money you don't repay - Work-study - money earned through part-time campus jobs - Loans - borrowed money you do have to repay The OP is talking specifically about the loan portion of their daughter's aid package.
Something else to consider: if your daughter takes out the loans herself, it gives her skin in the game and financial responsibility. My son had his subsidized/unsubsidized loans in his name, and knowing he was responsible for them kept him focused on graduating on time. I also made a deal with him that if he maintained above a 3.5 GPA and graduated in 4 years, I'd help with payments. Worked out great as an incentive, and he finished cum laude in 3.5 years to save money. Student loans in her name won't ruin her future if the total amount is reasonable for her career path. Nursing starting salaries are typically $60-75k depending on location, so standard federal loan amounts should be manageable.
be careful with the professional judgment stuff!!!! my cousin did this and still got denied aid because the school decided they had too much money in savings even though they couldn't use the tax return method. the whole system is designed to deny people money i swear
While it's true that professional judgment can result in a less favorable outcome in some cases, it's important to note that schools are required to follow federal guidelines. Assets (including savings) are considered in the standard formula too, so this wasn't unique to professional judgment. Each case is different based on the family's full financial picture.
Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm going to: 1. Have my spouse proceed with the certificate if we decide it's worthwhile 2. Submit the FAFSA for 2025-2026 as completely as possible 3. Contact the financial aid office at the degree program school immediately after 4. Prepare all our immigration documents, current income info, and a written explanation 5. Use Claimyr to reach FSA if I need official clarification I feel much more confident now! I'll update this thread after we go through the process in case it helps other recent immigrants.
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.
That's interesting - I have decent credit but that's good to know as an option. Would she have to submit some kind of appeal to get those additional unsubsidized loans, or is it automatic?
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.
Liv Park
Update: I finally got through to someone at Federal Student Aid! The agent told me my application was flagged for manual review because my parents' tax filing status changed between 2023 and 2024. They're expediting it now and said I should see my SAI calculation within 72 hours. Thanks everyone for your advice and support!
0 coins
Ryder Greene
•That's great news! This happens quite frequently with the new FAFSA - changes in tax filing status can trigger reviews. Glad you got it resolved. Be sure to follow up if you don't see the update within the 72 hour window they promised.
0 coins
AaliyahAli
wait how did you actually get through to them? i've been trying for days and can't get past the automated system
0 coins
Liv Park
•I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above. I was skeptical but desperate enough to try anything. They connected me to an agent in about 25 minutes when I had been trying unsuccessfully for days on my own. Totally worth it.
0 coins