<p>I submitted FAFSA yesterday and when I got to the question "how many in college" I didn't think but just selected 2 (thinking I was still in the demographics area), but now I'm not sure. I will have this D starting college in the fall of 2010, but my other kid is in a bachelor's program at a CUNY. Does that count as two or one?</p>
<p>Two. According to [How</a> many people in your parents’ household will be college students in 2010-2011?](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/help/fotw07e.htm]How”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/help/fotw07e.htm), you count your D and any other college student in the household.</p>
<p>Sounds right.</p>
<p>BTW…if the other student is in grad school, do you count that? Or is that student considered independent once he got his bachelors?</p>
<p>If your grad student child lives with you and gets more than half of their support from you then you would count them.</p>
<p>Fafsa.ed.gov just says “Other people in your parents’ household only if they will attend college, at least half-time, in a program that leads to a college degree or certificate in 2010-2011.” My guess is that it would include graduate students who receive more than half of their support from the parents.</p>
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Oops, JustAMom beat me to the punch!</p>
<p>The graduate student question is one that comes up all the time. The consensus seems to be a resounding “Maybe”. It seems like it is a decision individual schools can make. Some will allow a grad school to be included. Some will not. If I had a grad student I think I would go ahead and include them, but be prepared for the school to disallow it.</p>
<p>When filling out the FAFSA - follow the directions that FAFSA gives. If an individual school questions then you can explain. It is each schools preogative as to how they will consider the FAFSA in offering financial aid.</p>
<p>Also for those who have recent unemployed or underemployed grads living with them - same rule applies. If they live with you and you are providing more than half their support - you can count them as a member of your household.</p>
<p>And you would include parents returning to school too, right?</p>
<p>I’ve heard that children can’t list parents on their FAFSAs, but parents can list children. Is that right?</p>
<p>PhotoOp - correct.
mom2collegekids - children can list parents on their FAFSA. The question does not differentiate a parent from another child.</p>
<p>Yes, parents list children in # in college, but children cannot list parents.</p>
<p>Also … it IS up to each school whether or not they will include grad students. The rules are vague & open to interpretation. Where I work, we do not allow grad students in the household size OR in the # in college. The rationale is that they would be receiving aid as independent students with their income only, with their own household size. That’s our policy. YMMV.</p>
<p>We also do not allow a sibling over the age of 23 to be counted in the HH size unless there are extenuating circumstances (such as a disability). Again, this is an area schools treat differently.</p>
<p>You would not be wrong if you answer the question by strictly following FAFSA directions (unless the school publicizes something different in their instructions to applicants). However, just know that things COULD change.</p>
<p>Kelsmom - children cannot list parent — I stand corrected and I think that was a recent change… Come to think of it, I think when you are filling out the fafsa it explicitly says the child can’t list a parent who is in college.
It used to be (years ago) they would tell parents to go back to school. I guess they caught on! </p>
<p>My experience was when my new grad moved back home and I had two other kids in college - neither college questioned the # of dependents. IMO - folks should simply follow the instructions and if a college has a question about it they will ask.</p>
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<p>OP will have 2 children in college (both in undergrad). She should indicate 2 on the FAFSA for D#2 and when she does the renewal or D#!.</p>
<p>This is a really dumb question but I’m a FAFSA newbie. I’m ABD so not actually taking grad classes any more, but will be enrolled under “doctoral sustaining” until I get the dissertation defended. Does this mean that I can list myself as a college student on the FAFSA, or does that only apply to returning adults who are actually taking classes.
Thanks!</p>
<p>sybbie719 - was that a question?
If so she should indicate two children in college on both FAFSA’s.</p>
<p>Califa, you must be enrolled at least half time to count in the # in college. As a parent, you would not be in your child’s # in college no matter what … but you could be in a spouse’s # in college if you are enrolled at least half time. If you are asking if YOU are eligible for aid yourself, you would need to ask your school if your status qualifies you for federal aid. We have two post masters categories that are NOT aid-eligible & students aren’t pleased when they find out they can’t get federal loans.</p>
<p>Thanks. The FAFSA is making the 1040 look easy.</p>
<p>On FAFSA the question under the “Parent Demographics” section is:</p>
<p>“How many people in your parents’ household will be college students between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011?”</p>
<p>Aren’t parents people? It doesn’t say how many children or how many dependents, it says how many people.</p>
<p>Except it says quite specifically that you cannot include parents.</p>
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<p>And from the FAFSA detailed instructions <a href=“http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/index.html[/url]”>http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/completing_fafsa/index.html</a></p>
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<p>Thanks! I didn’t see that info on the form.</p>