<p>
See [Home</a> - FAFSA on the Web-Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/]Home”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/)</p>
<p>One thing I did is I have laid out the next 6 plus years into a spreadsheet, factoring in when I will have two in college (year 3 and 4). I built in tuition increases of 5% for each child and mapped out where the $$ would come from each year. Where necessary I made estimates but always on the low side. You may want to do the same. </p>
<p>I felt this was necessary for us to become comfortable with the financial committment. I do not want to run into a situation where we are out of funds in year 3.</p>
<p>nellie, the issue that most of us are worried about is having no clue what to put into that spreadsheet for the years after the overlap, since the offer given to the second child when they start is conditional on the overlap.</p>
<p>What school does she go to? Name of the college or university? Good questions by the way.</p>
<p>@nellieh, can you share that spreadsheet template? Pm it to me?
For 14-15, we will be in senior-freshman position with two girls.
For everyone here, great notes -thank you.
We are living outside the US and are converting Rs to $$. after conversion, we have a small taxable amount in US. Halfway through the secon year, I am still understanding what the aid package means. This is a good primer for the next year and then the following three.</p>
<p>I will be glued to this!!</p>
<p>I don’t want to hijack the thread, but this is a slightly different twist on scubasue’s original post.
Our family is full pay due to dual salaries and significant college savings. We are delighted that D has been awarded merit $ (most without very rigorous GPA requirements), since it will assure that paying for 4 years at a private LAC is less painful. We also filed a FAFSA because we have required each of our kids take out modest Stafford loans to contribute financially to their education. Now FA awards are coming in, and several schools have thrown in “needs-based” grants, some pretty significant, for next year. Do we assume that these are pot sweeteners aiming to lure a full-pay student? Will they disappear in years 2-4? Am I being too cynical? Our EFC is above the COA at any of the schools and will not change much while she’s a student. I called one school and was told (by D’s adcom) that the grant would continue as long as our finances did not change.</p>
<p>Wintriest, are those schools CSS Profile schools? In our case our Institutional EFC at some schools is lower than our FAFSA EFC. So that may have been the case for you as well?</p>
<p>Email financial aid and ask if the grants will continue if your financial situation remains the same. At least that way you have it in writing.</p>
<p>No, mathmom, all were FAFSA only (well, we only filed a FAFSA for the federal loan, but almost all only required that). I will email the finaid officials at the colleges that are still on her radar and offered grants to get a reply in writing. Thanks for the advice!</p>