Correct - an Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan is definitely NOT free money! That's a loan that starts accruing interest immediately, even while you're still in school. Schools often include both subsidized and unsubsidized loans in their "financial aid package" which can be misleading. Here's a quick breakdown: - Grants/Scholarships: Free money, never repaid - Subsidized loans: You repay later, but no interest while in school - Unsubsidized loans: You repay later WITH interest that starts accumulating immediately - Parent PLUS loans: Your parents take on debt (often at higher interest rates) Some schools will present a package that "covers 100% of need" but includes $20K+ in loans. Always look at the breakdown!

Thank you all for the helpful advice! I'm going to wait for all my aid packages to arrive, then make a detailed spreadsheet comparing the TRUE costs after free aid. I'll also look into appealing if my top choice doesn't offer enough. I appreciate knowing that May 1st is the standard deadline, so I have time to make a careful decision. This has been so much clearer than what my high school counselor told us!

This might be a dumb question but does anyone know if you still have to include parent info if your kid is 19 now? My son started CC at 18 but he's 19 now and I'm wondering if he can do it as independent?

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'm going to get started on the renewal FAFSA for next year as soon as it's available in October. I'll definitely try the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to make the tax information easier, and I'll make note of my state's deadline for grants too. If we run into any issues with verification again, I might try that Claimyr service to get through to someone who can help. Really appreciate all the information!

Just curious - did this affect your SAI score at all? Or was it purely an administrative error that didn't impact your actual aid amounts?

Great question! It didn't affect my SAI score at all. The error was just that they had marked my verification as

To answer your specific question about Parent PLUS vs. private loans: 1. Parent PLUS pros: Fixed interest rates, income-contingent repayment options if you consolidate, loan forgiveness possibilities, death/disability discharge 2. Private loan considerations: Interest rates vary based on credit (with your 780+ scores, you might get competitive rates), fewer repayment options, fewer protections With your excellent credit, you might get a better rate with private loans, but you lose the federal protections and flexibility. I'd recommend applying for PLUS first, then comparing the rate with private loan offers before deciding.

dont forget to check if ur school has a payment plan option!! we do 50% upfront and then 5 monthly payments for each semester. no interest just a small setup fee. helps us avoid some loans.

I work at a community college financial aid office, and we've received exactly ZERO FAFSA records so far for 2025-2026. The Department of Education told us larger universities are getting priority in the data distribution. We've been told to expect our first batch of ISIRs sometime next week. This is without question the worst FAFSA rollout I've experienced in my 14 years in financial aid. The entire system needs to be overhauled. Students are bearing the brunt of governmental incompetence.

Update: I finally reached one of my schools by phone today. They confirmed they've received some FAFSA data but are still waiting on most student records. The representative checked my specific status and said they don't have my information yet, but assured me they're adjusting all their internal deadlines. She advised me to email their office with my name, ID number, the date I submitted my FAFSA, and my SAI score. Apparently, they're creating a tracking list for students who have completed the FAFSA but whose data hasn't arrived yet. They'll use this to prioritize processing once they do receive the data. Thank you everyone for your helpful comments! This has been really stressful but at least I know I'm not alone in this situation.