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when my husband didnt get the email i just made him sit down with me and we filled out his part while i was logged in. just had him tell me all his info and i entered it. the signature was the only tricky part but we just had him create his fsa id and then he could sign right there
This won't work with the new FAFSA system. Each contributor must log in with their own FSA ID to complete their section. The system specifically prevents one person from entering another person's information as a security measure. The only person who can complete a contributor section is that contributor with their own FSA ID credentials.
UPDATE: We figured it out! Turns out my husband's FSA ID wasn't fully verified yet. Even though he created the account, he needed to complete the email verification step (which he had missed). Once he did that and logged into studentaid.gov, the invitation was sitting right there in his dashboard, just like someone suggested here. We were able to complete his portion last night and submitted the full application! Thank you all for your help - especially the tip about checking the dashboard instead of just waiting for an email.
I used Earnest not ISL but remember if you do go with a private loan DO NOT do variable rates even if they look better at first!!! My friend did that and her payments went up like crazy in year 3. Fixed rate only!!
This is excellent advice. With today's interest rate environment, variable rates are particularly risky. The Federal Reserve has indicated potential rate increases, which would directly impact variable rate loans. Always calculate the maximum potential payment under worst-case scenarios before choosing variable rates.
One important thing to check with any lender is their forbearance and hardship options. Federal loans have excellent protections (income-based repayment, forgiveness options, etc.) that private loans typically don't match. Before choosing ISL or any private lender, carefully review what happens if you face financial difficulty after graduation. Some private lenders offer very limited forbearance periods or few options for financial hardship.
That's a really good point I hadn't considered. I'll definitely look into their hardship policies before making a decision. Any specific terms or red flags I should look for in the loan agreement?
Look for these specific terms in their policy documents: 1. Length of forbearance periods (12 months total is decent) 2. Whether interest capitalizes during forbearance 3. Available repayment plans if you have lower income 4. Discharge options in case of permanent disability 5. Any prepayment penalties Also call their customer service with specific scenarios to see how they respond - that can tell you a lot about their flexibility.
hey random question but did ur husband have to make a separate FSA ID? my stepdad is having trouble with that part
UPDATE: My husband accepted the invite and completed his section yesterday. It was actually pretty quick since most info was already filled in. Her application status briefly changed to
Nia Harris
@profile5 - It's not too late to appeal for 2024-25. While some institutional aid might already be allocated, federal aid like Pell Grants can still be adjusted, and schools often hold back some of their own funds for situations like yours. Contact your daughter's financial aid office immediately. One more tip: when documenting income reduction, provide a simple table showing: - Pre-reduction annual income - Post-reduction annual income - Total projected income for the full relevant year This makes it easier for financial aid officers to understand and process your request. Many families just submit documents without clearly showing the bottom-line impact.
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Diego Chavez
•That table suggestion is brilliant. Making it easy for them to see the numbers clearly sounds like it would speed up the process. I'll put that together this weekend and contact the financial aid office next week. Thank you!
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GalaxyGazer
This whole system is ridiculous! My daughter just started college and we had to hire a financial aid consultant for $350 just to figure it all out. Even with professional help it took MONTHS to get everything sorted. Good luck with next year's application!!
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NeonNebula
•u got SCAMMED paying someone $350 lol. youtube has all that info for FREE!!!
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