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my kid got private loans from our credit union!! the rates were waaaaay better than the big banks. like 3% better! definitely check local credit unions if you belong to one
Don't give up on your FAFSA yet! My daughter's application was stuck in verification for over 2 months too. I finally got through to someone at Federal Student Aid and they resolved it in a single phone call. The issue was just a small discrepancy between our tax return and what we entered on the FAFSA. Keep trying the Federal Student Aid phone line at different times of day. Early morning (right when they open) or late afternoon (an hour before closing) sometimes has shorter wait times.
did anyone notice if the sai score is different from what the old efc would have been? trying to figure out if the new formula helps or hurts us
One important note for everyone: once your FAFSA is processed, make sure to check if you've been selected for verification. About 25% of FAFSA applicants get selected for this additional step, and it's not always immediately obvious in the portal. Look for a notification in your messages center or a verification flag on your SAI report. If selected, you'll need to submit additional documentation to each school you've applied to, and this can add several more weeks to the financial aid process. Don't wait for schools to contact you - be proactive and check your verification status as soon as your FAFSA is processed.
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.
Just make sure you enter your income information correctly when you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. With the new FAFSA, your Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation will be directly affected by your income. Also remember that the 2025-2026 FAFSA uses 2023 tax year information, so your custody arrangement during that specific period is what matters.
btw if ur worried about verification just start gathering ur docs now... custody agreement, calendar of where kid stayed, maybe school records showing ur address as primary... better to have it ready than scramble later
Zoe Walker
Wait did anyone explain the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized????? That MATTERS!!! With subsidized the govt pays interest while shes in school but with unsubsidized the interest adds up the WHOLE TIME even when she's still taking classes!!!! My daughter ended up with $8000 in EXTRA INTEREST from unsubsidized that we didn't understand!!!!!
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Maria Gonzalez
•This is an important distinction. Subsidized loans don't accrue interest while in school, during the grace period, or during deferment periods. Unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest immediately after disbursement. However, students can't simply choose subsidized over unsubsidized. Subsidized loans are need-based and have lower annual limits. Most students receive a mix of both types based on their financial need as determined by the FAFSA's SAI calculation.
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Samantha Johnson
kinda off topic but why did u wait so long to figure out the payment? my dad had us planning college payments like a year before i even got accepted lol
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Sophie Hernandez
•Fair question! We actually thought we had it figured out based on the financial aid package, but then her first-choice school came through with a late acceptance off the waitlist about a month ago. The new school has higher tuition than the one we had been planning for, so we had to quickly recalculate everything. Lesson learned about having backup financial plans!
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