Do I need new Parent PLUS loan application for mid-year university transfer? Son says yes, I'm skeptical

Yes, you actually DO need to complete a new Parent PLUS loan application. When a student transfers schools, the loan authorization is specific to the original institution. Each school has its own unique school code that needs to be associated with the PLUS loan. Your FAFSA can list multiple schools, but PLUS loans are school-specific and can't transfer between institutions. Your son is correct about needing a new application.

went thru this last yr when my daughter switched from community college to state uni. had to do whole new parent plus app even tho fafsa was already done. super annoying but thats how it works

I don't understand why they make everything so difficult!!! When my son transferred I had to do THREE separate parent plus applications because of errors on their end. Then they lost our documents TWICE. The whole system is designed to make parents give up. It's disgusting how they treat families who are just trying to pay for college. CALL YOUR CONGRESSPERSON!!!!!

Your son is right - you need a new Parent PLUS application for each school. But don't worry, it's not starting completely from scratch! The process should be familiar since you've done it once already. You'll need to: 1. Go to studentaid.gov 2. Log in with your FSA ID (same one you used before) 3. Select "Apply for a PLUS Loan" in the parent section 4. Complete the application with the new school information The good news is that if you were approved before, you'll likely be approved again unless your credit situation has significantly changed. The PLUS loan credit check is valid for 180 days, so if you're still within that window, you might not even need a new credit check.

Yes, they use the same credit standards for any Parent PLUS loan application, regardless of whether it's your first or fifth application. The Department of Education is looking for the absence of adverse credit history rather than a specific credit score. Adverse credit history typically means things like: - Accounts with a total outstanding balance greater than $2,085 that are 90+ days delinquent - Collections accounts - Charge offs - Repossession - Foreclosure - Wage garnishment - Tax liens - Bankruptcy discharge within last 5 years If you're concerned about your credit, you can always add an endorser (similar to a co-signer) to your PLUS loan application if needed. Or if you're denied, your son would become eligible for additional unsubsidized Direct loans in his own name.

My daughter swtiched schools too and I had to fill out new paperwork. But actually it was easir the second time cause I knew what to expect. Dont worry to much youll get it done!!

nope process was same just annoying to do it again. make sure you select the RIGHT school code tho. my friend picked wrong one by accident and it delayed everything by weeks

Just to add a bit more context on why this is necessary: Parent PLUS loans are part of what's called "Title IV aid" but they're processed differently than other federal aid. When you complete the FAFSA, that information can be sent to up to 10 schools, but the actual PLUS loan is a separate application that creates a promissory note between you and the specific institution. When your son transfers, his new school has different costs, different academic calendar dates, and a different financial aid package - all of which affect how much you might want or need to borrow through the PLUS program. The new application ensures the funds are properly authorized for the correct school and in the correct amount. I know it's frustrating, but it's actually a pretty quick process the second time around since you're familiar with it now.

Does anyone know if they're going to FIX this broken system with the new FAFSA changes? Or are they just making it worse like usual? I heard the whole system is changing but haven't seen ANY improvements.

I went through this exact situation last year when my daughter transferred mid-semester! Your son is absolutely right - you do need to complete a new Parent PLUS loan application for the new school. I was frustrated at first too because it seemed like unnecessary paperwork, but it actually went pretty smoothly since I already knew the process. The key thing is to make sure you have the correct school code for the new university when you apply. Also, if you're still within 180 days of your original credit check, you might not need to go through that part again. I'd recommend calling the new school's financial aid office directly to confirm exactly what they need and any specific deadlines - they were actually really helpful when I explained the transfer situation. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now - my daughter is transferring next fall and I've been dreading having to redo all the financial aid paperwork! This thread has been incredibly helpful. One thing I wanted to add is that when I called our current school's financial aid office to ask about this, they mentioned that some schools have transfer coordinators who specifically help with these transitions. They can sometimes expedite the process or at least walk you through exactly what needs to be done and in what order. It might be worth asking the new school if they have someone like that. Also, I've heard that keeping copies of all your previous loan documents can speed things up since you'll have all the reference information readily available. Thanks everyone for all the detailed advice - this community is amazing!

I'm currently going through this exact process with my son's transfer! Just wanted to confirm what others have said - yes, you absolutely need a new Parent PLUS application for the new school. I was initially annoyed too, but here's what made it easier the second time around: I gathered all my documents beforehand (tax returns, bank statements, etc.) even though most of the info auto-populates from your previous application. The whole thing took me maybe 20 minutes once I sat down to do it. One tip - double and triple check that school code! I almost selected the wrong one because there were multiple campuses listed. Also, if you're worried about the credit check, you can actually check your own credit report for free beforehand to see if anything new has popped up. The medical bills you mentioned might not even affect your PLUS loan eligibility unless they've gone to collections or are significantly past due. Don't stress too much about it - you've got this!

I went through this same situation two years ago when my son transferred from a community college to a four-year university mid-academic year. Your son is absolutely correct - you do need to complete a brand new Parent PLUS loan application for the new school. I was initially frustrated too because it felt like starting over, but the process was actually much smoother the second time since I already knew what to expect. The key things to remember: make sure you have the correct school code for the new university (this is crucial!), and if you're still within the 180-day window from your original credit check, you may not need a new one. I'd recommend calling the new school's financial aid office to confirm their specific requirements and deadlines. In my experience, they were very helpful in explaining exactly what needed to be done. The whole application took me about 15-20 minutes once I had all my information ready. Don't let the paperwork stress you out too much - thousands of parents go through this transfer process every year and it works out fine!

I'm a newcomer here but dealing with this exact situation right now! My daughter is transferring schools next semester and I was hoping to avoid redoing all the financial aid paperwork. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly eye-opening - I had no idea that Parent PLUS loans were so school-specific. It's frustrating but makes sense from an administrative perspective. I'm curious though - for those who've been through this, how long did it typically take from submitting the new application to actually having the funds available for the new school? I want to make sure I don't leave my daughter in a bind if there are any processing delays. Also, has anyone had experience with the new school's financial aid office being particularly helpful (or unhelpful) during this transition? Thanks so much for all the detailed advice in this thread - this community is amazing for getting real-world guidance from parents who've actually navigated these waters!