FAFSA
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FAFSA parent signature missing - can't access to complete submission
I'm having the worst time with my FAFSA signature process! Our application was submitted without the parent signature (not sure how that even happened), and now I can't figure out how to get back in to sign it. Every time I try to access the signature page, it either redirects me or gives an error. I've tried logging in through my FSA ID, my parent tried with their FSA ID, we've used different browsers - nothing works! The application status says "Action Required" but doesn't give clear instructions on how to complete the signature process. Has anyone else dealt with this parent signature issue? Any tips for accessing the signature page when it seems completely broken?
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Can I add University of Tampa to processed FAFSA after submission?
I'm so confused about what to do now! My daughter just finished her FAFSA (shows as "processed" on studentaid.gov) but now she's decided she wants to apply to University of Tampa too. We didn't include that school when we submitted the application. Will I be able to add Tampa to her school list or is it too late because it's already processed? Do we need to start over with a new application? This college decision process is giving me gray hairs!
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Update: I was able to add University of Tampa to my daughter's FAFSA! It was actually pretty simple. I logged in with my parent FSA ID, clicked on "Make FAFSA Corrections" and then went to the school selection page. Tampa's school code is 001538. The FAFSA is now reprocessing but should be sent to Tampa in 3-5 days according to the confirmation page. Also, I checked their financial aid website and they do require the CSS Profile for merit scholarships, but not for need-based aid. Now I just need to figure out if we need to submit that too since she has pretty good grades. Thanks everyone for your help!
That's great news! Glad to hear it worked out smoothly. For the CSS Profile, if your daughter's GPA and test scores are competitive for Tampa's merit scholarships, it's probably worth completing. Merit aid can significantly reduce costs at private universities, sometimes making them comparable to state schools. The CSS Profile is more detailed but not terribly difficult if you have all your financial information handy.
Parent PLUS Loans vs Private Student Loans for FAFSA gap - high interest rate dilemma
I'm stuck in a FAFSA nightmare trying to cover my daughter's remaining college costs after her financial aid package. We have about $18,500 gap to fill per year, and I'm paralyzed trying to decide between Parent PLUS loans and private student loans. PLUS loans have that crazy 8.05% interest rate right now but seem more flexible with repayment options? Private loans have interest rates anywhere from 4.5-13% depending on credit score, but the application process seems WAY more complicated and there are like 50 different lenders! Has anyone recently had to make this decision? What did you choose and why? My daughter starts college this fall, and I'm literally losing sleep over this. The financial aid office just keeps saying "it's a personal decision" which is ZERO help!!
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whatever u do DONT cosign private loans for ur kid!! my friends daughter dropped out and now shes stuck paying them all herself
This is an important point. With Parent PLUS, the parent is the only borrower - the student has no legal responsibility. With private loans, if you co-sign, both you AND your student are legally responsible. If you want your student to have some "skin in the game," consider having them take out the federal Direct loans in their name (which have lower interest rates than PLUS), and then you take the PLUS loans for the remainder.
Thanks everyone for the great advice! I think I'm leaning toward PLUS loans now, mainly for the federal protections and simplicity. The income-contingent repayment options make me feel better about my variable income. I'll probably apply this weekend. Has anyone had any issues with the credit check part of the PLUS application?
The PLUS loan credit check is much less stringent than private loans. They're only looking for major adverse credit events in the past 5 years: defaults, bankruptcies, foreclosures, tax liens, wage garnishments, or accounts over 90 days delinquent. They don't consider debt-to-income ratio or credit score numbers. If you don't have those major adverse events, you'll likely be approved without issue.
FAFSA processing times for 2025-2026 application - taking forever?
I submitted my FAFSA for the 2025-2026 school year about 3 weeks ago and haven't heard ANYTHING back yet. My portal still says "processing" with no estimated completion date. Is this normal?? My school's priority deadline is coming up in 2 weeks and I'm getting really nervous. How long is it taking for applications to be processed right now? My sister submitted hers last year and got her SAI calculation in like 5 days. Should I be worried or is there some kind of system-wide delay happening?
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has anyone had their application go from "processing" to "action required" after waiting for weeks? mine just did this and idk what to do
Yes! That happened to me too. You need to log in and check what information they're requesting. In my case, they needed verification of my parents' marital status because there was some discrepancy between their tax filing status and what we reported on the FAFSA. Once I uploaded the requested document, it went back to processing for another week before I got my SAI.
UPDATE: I finally got my SAI calculation today - exactly 24 days after submitting. For anyone else waiting, hang in there! And big thanks to everyone who responded with advice and shared their experiences. It really helped keep me sane during the wait! For those still waiting: 1. Double check that you don't have any "action required" notifications in your account 2. Contact your school's financial aid office about deadline extensions 3. Keep your confirmation number handy as proof you submitted on time Good luck everyone!
Congratulations! Thanks for updating the thread. This is helpful information for others in the same situation.
FAFSA renewal vs. new application for 2025-2026 - which is actually faster?
I'm confused about the best approach for my 2025-2026 FAFSA. I see both options - renewing last year's application or starting a completely new one. My friend said renewal is faster since it keeps your info, but my cousin had issues with her renewal and had to start over anyway. Anyone know which method is ACTUALLY more efficient? I don't want my SAI calculation delayed because I picked the wrong starting point. Has the new FAFSA system changed how renewals work compared to previous years?
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renewal = pre-filled data = less typing lol. but double check EVERYTHING
That's what I'm thinking too - less typing sounds good to me! I'll just go through everything carefully before submitting.
One more thing to keep in mind - if you're eligible for renewal but choose to start a new application instead, the system will still recognize your FSA ID and may flag the application for additional review to verify why you're submitting a completely new form instead of renewing. This isn't always an issue, but it can add processing time in some cases.
Oh that's really good to know! I definitely don't want any additional delays. Sounds like renewal is the best option in my situation. Thanks for all the help everyone!
Connor O'Brien
might sound dumb but did u check ur email? sometimes they send a special link to complete signatures that bypasses the regular login process. i ignored mine for like a week then finally found it lol
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NeonNova
AuthorNot dumb at all! Checking email folders now... you never know! These days I'm willing to try absolutely anything to get this resolved.
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NeonNova
UPDATE: We finally got it working!! It was actually a combination of things: 1) Having my parent use the "Fill out a parent form for a student who has already started a FAFSA form" option 2) Using incognito mode to prevent cookie issues 3) Making sure the email address matched exactly what was on the initial application. Thanks everyone for your help! The new FAFSA system is such a maze to navigate.
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Dmitry Kuznetsov
Glad you got it resolved! For anyone else reading this thread with similar issues, I recommend taking screenshots of each step of the FAFSA process in case you need to backtrack later. The new system sometimes loses information between sections.
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StarSailor
Congrats! Now prepare yourself for the verification process - that's a whole new level of paperwork fun 🙃
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