Advice on Parent Contribution Question

Paying for College
1

<p>Greetings
I have completed our FAFSA renewal and DS's school does not require that we resubmit Profile, so I assume they will refer to the profile from his initial application regarding those sorts of questions related to home equity and such.</p>

<p>His school's own FA application asks for estimates of resources available to meet the EFC and specifically asks for parent resources available.
Now this is where I am not sure of the answer. Despite having a high EFC based on the FA calculators we have used(28K) we can really only afford about 10-12K from our income/assets toward the EFC this year. We are willing to take out a PLUS loan to make up the difference.</p>

<p>I plan on writing 12,000 as the amount available from parents, but is that disingenuous as we will likely be asked to pay much more than that and will go ahead and take out the loan if needed?</p>

<p>His school does meet 100% of demonstrated need and has a "no loan' policy for students as well</p>

2

<p>I think if 10-12K is what you can afford, then that's what you should put. I don't think it makes sense to count money you can borrow as "resources available."</p>

3

<p>We filled in that question every year, and I honestly think it is the ONE item on the FAFSA that is not considered at all. The formula they use doesn't take into consideration what you think you can afford to pay. So fill in whatever you think...but don't be surprised if they don't make up the difference!!</p>