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Am I the only one who thinks its INSANE that we're all just casually talking about going into tens of thousands of dollars of debt for EDUCATION?? The whole system is predatory. In most developed countries college is free or nearly free. Sorry but I had to say it.
To answer your follow-up question about finding the best private loan options for the remaining $8,750: 1. Compare rates from multiple lenders (Sallie Mae, Discover, CommonBond, SoFi, etc.) 2. Look beyond interest rates - examine fees, repayment options, and hardship policies 3. Consider whether you'll co-sign (this typically gets a better rate but makes you legally responsible) 4. Check if there are any state-specific education loan programs where you live 5. Ask if the lender offers interest rate reductions for automatic payments 6. Look for lenders that offer grace periods after graduation And definitely check with the school about payment plans as another commenter suggested - that can reduce how much you need to borrow!
Another thing to try - ask the financial aid office specifically which FAFSA year they're looking for. With the academic calendar crossing years, sometimes they look at the wrong aid year. Make sure they're checking for the 2025-2026 FAFSA and not 2024-2025.
just went thru this nightmare!! turns out my sons social security number was entered with a typo on his college application but correct on fafsa. school couldn't match them up. worth checking if any info is slightly different between systems.
i accepted my loans last semester but then got a scholarship later and didnt need them, financial aid office said i could just decline them after accepting no problem. but different schools probly have different policies
About your work-study question - typically these positions are reserved exclusively for students with work-study awards, so yes, there is preference built into the system. You'll likely need to provide your financial aid award letter or some verification when applying. Many departments hire work-study students because the federal government subsidizes a portion of your wages (usually around 75%), making it cheaper for the department to hire you compared to regular student workers. This is why these positions are specifically reserved for work-study eligible students.
I'm having the exact same issue with my son's account right now! Been locked out for about 10 days. What worked for me was calling the FSA technical support line (not the main number) at 1-800-433-3243, option 7. Got through after only 20 minutes and they confirmed there was an "account verification hold" that wasn't visible to me but was blocking login. They manually removed it and I could log in immediately after. Definitely mention your daughter is a student athlete with an urgent scholarship timeline. They prioritized my son's case when I mentioned his music scholarship had a deadline.
THANK YOU for the specific number and option! I just called and although I was on hold for 45 minutes, I finally got through to someone who confirmed exactly what you said - there was a verification hold on our account. They removed it and I was able to log in right after the call ended! Now I can send the SAI to my daughter's school. You literally saved her summer housing situation!
Margot Quinn
I had no idea we could negotiate! That's incredibly helpful. Once we have all the packages, we'll definitely try this approach with her top choice school. Thank you!
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Lincoln Ramiro
We tried appealing and they only gave us an extra $1000. Complete joke considering the $36,000 price tag.
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