<p>I was admitted to a college as an adult returning student and on the FAFSA I submitted later, only mentioned the college where I had graduated, and omitted two others. Then I was awarded a divisional scholarship (administered through my local academic department and supposedly NOT dependent on the FAFSA) but a few weeks later, was told by the college administration that they knew I had withheld information on the FAFSA and if I didn't come through with it, then my grades would be put on permanent hold and I would be effectively stripped of my student status, not allowed to register, etc....maybe charged back the divisional scholarship I got.... But the FAFSA was VOLUNTARY... so how dare they use this "rule" to apply to something it never applied to in the first place? In other words, there was no lie detector test as part of the college application process. In addition, there were NO courses I needed from the "missing" information...to transfer to or qualify for what I was studying now, so they didn't need these transcripts...AND I had bad grades in the omitted schools but a good GPA on my real transcript (the one I sent them...from the school where I had graduated) and I was also running a 4.0 in this present school. And all I can think is if I were wealthy (or had sources of outside scholarships) and never needed financial aid, I WOULDN'T have applied for FAFSA and would have thereby kept my privacy private, and my "FAFSA-delinquent" status wouldn't be used to threaten my enrollment status as it is now. But I also can't "take it back" at this point, ie: tell the administration that I'm just not interested in their financial aid so stop trying to strong-arm me. And I just don't want anyone ANYWHERE to see those two transcripts, so what can I do to invoke the (state or federal) law in this case (abuse of administrative power, attempted entrapment, violation of constitutional "ex-post-facto" stipulations, discrimination against the poor, etc....)? I could also let them snuff me and then take them to court for return of my 1st semester tuition money...but I'd rather just be left alone and receive the divisional scholarship again, and get my little certificate that I need so badly. The transcripts I'm trying to keep from their snoopy eyes are from schools I attended 40 years ago, and 28 years ago. Long ago I was at a school and omitted information on the FAFSA and got onto "federal work-study" anyway! HELP!!!!!! (and thanks in advance....)</p>
<p>If the form included a statement that you were providing complete and accurate information (and doesn’t the form include such a statement?), then you have to provide complete and accurate information when you file the form.</p>
<p>Hate to say it but if you are going to lie ( and withholding is lying) then you have to be prepared for the consequences. I imagine they are taking the money away because you revealed a flaw in character that they did not want. When you sign your name to something and say it’s the truth - i guess you better think twice before you lie. And again…omitting is lying!! Too bad you didn’t get caught lying before maybe you would have learned your lesson. But it’s not too late- just try again and be honest. Like you said it was 40 years ago and hopefully you have grown up enough since then to be more focused on your goals. Good-Luck</p>
<p>whosthefoolnow
why would you fill out a govt form and omit information that they already had? Just like with income taxes- you don’t get to choose which questions to answer and what information to give.</p>
<p>You fill it out to the best of your ability with the most accurate information you have.
Haven’t you learned that yet?
If you haven’t , I doubt if more schooling will help.
:(</p>
<p>Dissembling is not the same thing as protecting your privacy.
But nice try.
*Dis·sem·ble (d-smbl)
v. dis·sem·bled, dis·sem·bling, dis·sem·bles
v.tr.
- To disguise or conceal behind a false appearance. See Synonyms at disguise.
- To make a false show of; feign.
v.intr.
To disguise or conceal one’s real nature, motives, or feelings behind a false appearance.*</p>
<p>IF you really thought that very old info was not pertinent, you might try contacting the fin aid dept about it- I have to admit, I might not recall if I took a class or two at a CC along the way to my BA. But they might have a limit as to how many terms of aid you can be allowed, if you had aid before, perhaps that is the problem?</p>
<p>I can see some one thinking that one random class 40 years ago is not relevant, but call and explain yourself and do not be cranky and hostile, be humble and open, get them wanting to consider your side.</p>
<p>Yes, it is required to fully disclose all of the college courses you took. Yes, FAFSA is a federal form, so it is a problem if you lie on it. It is unfair that those who do not file, have not filed for financial aid from the government are not as easily outted. But people do get away with some things. Just the way it is. As pointed out by others, when you filled out the form, you were certifying the accuracy of the info you were providing.</p>
<p>The transcripts I’m trying to keep from their snoopy eyes are from schools I attended 40 years ago, and 28 years ago.</p>
<p>She left off not just one school but at least two.
Not an accidental omission, which could be easier to understand perhaps.</p>
<p>Maybe I’m looking at the wrong form, but I just looked at my D’s FAFSA and it doesn’t ask anything about previous colleges, just about your status NOW and then the financial questions…</p>
<p>The FAFSA form doesn’t ask about colleges attended or previous credits earned…just your current grade level. There must be another form that you completed with the school that required this information…because it is NOT something that is asked on the FAFSA application at all.</p>
<p>I have never seen a college admission form that does not request a transcript/information on ALL colleges previously attended. You sign a statement verifying that all information provided is complete and accurate. As far as I know – this waives your right to privacy of that info.</p>
<p>It sounds like they did a bit of checking – which can be done even without FAFSA info – to see if you had attended other colleges and not mentioned them, which you had.</p>
<p>I don’t see how defending your right to lie and cover-up your past mistakes will lead to a reinstatement of your scholarship. My guess is that you will be lucky to be allowed to enroll. There are honest people out there who they would rather give the scholarship to.</p>
<p>
Nothing. This is not a constitutional issue. You filled out the forms voluntarily because you wanted something from them (aid or admission); they can certainly put their own requirements on the information they want. The response to your inquiry: Fine, keep your privacy. We’ll keep our admission/aid.</p>
<p>Maybe you are assuming that the info that you withheld that they found out about was related to enrollment at schools you did not report, when in fact there may have been other info that you did not report via FAFSA that came out in the FAFSA review. SInce you have not been completely honest about two prior colleges, maybe you were not completely forthcoming with other info. FAFSA does not ask about prior enrollment/prior colleges. Myfirst thought is that there is another fact that you omitted about something else…If this is true, you have problems…</p>
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<p>You have to stop committing these “sins” of omission. Omitting info is submitting false information. Period. Your a little old to keep doing this thinking you will continue to get away with it.</p>
<p>Wait, I’m returning to school and I filled out the FAFSA and I don’t remember it asking me about schools I attended. <em>confused</em> Where is this on the FAFSA?</p>
<p>It doesn’t. But FAFSA is a federal program; the loan component has some limits. If you’ve borrowed funds from the government before, as the OP did, that fact and the school(s) you were attending show up and will be reported to your current school so that all eligibility and limits can be followed. That’s one way that the OP’s new school could have determined that the OP falsified information on his/her admissions application.</p>
<p>OP, you tried to play the system. You got caught. The best you can do is throw yourself on their mercy, not try to bludgeon them (with a bludgeon you don’t have).</p>
<p>I attended a total of four colleges for my undergraduate degree. I have here a copy of the transcript from the college from which I graduated, on which it clearly stated that I have “Advanced Standing – Large Private U, year” above the list of courses I took at Large Private U, then “Advanced Standing – Small Private Women’s College, year” above the list of courses I took at Small Private Women’s College, then “Advanced Standing – Flagship State U, years” above the list of courses I took at Flagship State U.</p>
<p>And then it lists what I took each semester I attended the Large Public U from which I graduated.</p>
<p>So if you had ANY credits from ANY college that counted toward your degree, they are listed on your transcript. And always will be. Along with the names of the colleges (and years) you attended those other colleges.</p>
<p>Oh, yes, you can see information on the loan listings, if you’ve borrowed at particular schools. Hmm. I know it’s tedious to include schools – I’ve gotten credits at <em>six</em> of them, and it’s irritating to be requesting transcripts from schools where I took <em>one</em> class – but yes, it’s important to be honest. </p>
<p>I won’t be doing loans again; I just took out a federal consolidation loan to end the default status I’ve had for almost 20 years. :-)</p>