<p>I have twins graduating '13, so we are beginning the college hunt. S2 is looking at mostly private colleges. When I put numbers into the various net price calculators and indicate that there will be 2 in college, I get results indicating net prices similar to the cost of our state schools, which is what we feel we can financially handle per child. The calculators do not ask what school the other sibling is enrolled in, so I'm wondering if it will eventually make a difference in S2's FA packages, whether S1 chooses a less expensive state school, or a more expensive private school. At this point, S1 has no idea what type of school he wants.</p>
<p>I don’t think it matters. The thing that matters is that you will have two siblings enrolled in college at the same time.</p>
<p>Just beware of those NPC…they are brand new this year…and some folks have found them to be remarkably accurate and others have found them to be a bit “off”. Especially at schools that do NOT meet full need for all students, you need to exercise caution as you do not really know what YOUR student will get in aid…and how it will be awarded (grants vs loans vs self help).</p>
<p>I’m wondering if it will eventually make a difference in S2’s FA packages, whether S1 chooses a less expensive state school, or a more expensive private school.</p>
<p>Probably not that much.
It does matter how many dependents are in college- But income & assets affect the amount of money deemed to be available for COA much more than expenses will.</p>
<p>The OP wants to know if the COST of either sibling’s school matters. It does not.</p>
<p>but let me explain what I mean.</p>
<p>If child #1 goes to a community college and child #2 goes to Yale…you will still have an EFC for each that is approximately 1/2 of what you would have if you had only one kiddo in college. BUT when it comes to aid, you would not get more aid at the CC because the other kid was at Yale…and if you were eligible for aid at Yale, you wouldn’t receive LESS because the other kid was at a CC.</p>
<p>“The calculators do not ask what school the other sibling is enrolled in…”</p>
<p>Don’t be surprised if you are asked the name of the school the other is attending when applying for aid. I have two in college and the fin aid supplemental forms from each school ask for the name of the school the other is attending. However, this is for verification purposes rather than a factor in determining aid.</p>
<p>I heard the other night at a FA seminar that FAFSA “doesn’t care” what school other sibling attends in terms of adjusting but Profile schools will want the details.</p>
<p>My kids BOTH went to Profile schools. All the schools asked for at the end of the day was a verification that the other sibling WAS in fact enrolled in college for at least 12 credits. Neither college inquired about how much we were paying out of pocket for the other kid to attend (bottom line is that one kid had a nice sized merit award)…the second kid’s college didn’t give two hoots about that…only wanted to know that the kid was in college at least 12 credits.</p>
<p>I just checked my D1’s college forms (D2 will be in college fall 2012). They only ask where the sibling (D2) is enrolled and cost of attendance (no questions about financial aid received). Interestingly the last few years when I filled the sibling enrollment form, when D2 was in private high school, D1’s college form required all the financial aid info (COA/FA/Net).</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses! Thumper, I had been told that the second sibling needed to be enrolled in school at least “half time” (which is considered 6 credits at our local state school), for FAFSA purposes. Is 12 hours the minimum for Profile schools, do you think?</p>
<p>I’m not sure about the number of credits the second student needs to take. I thought it was 12 credits minimum…but I could be wrong.</p>
<p>I just want to add to this because I’ve had a different experience. One of my kids attends a meets-full-need school (so we filled out Profile) and we receive financial aid.
That school requested not just the name of the sibling enrolled in college and the sibling’s college, but the name and contact information of the financial aid officer at the sibling’s school. I assume it was to verify info and ask about her package but I don’t know if they actually contacted the other financial aid officer.</p>
<p>Why wouldn’t a Profile school consider this?</p>
<p>For example, if your EFC for each kid is $30K ($60K total for the family), and one kid attends a school that nets out at $20K, why wouldn’t a Profile school conclude there is $40K available to pay them rather than only $30K?</p>
<p>notrichenough…I have no idea. But really…all I had to submit to each of my kids’ colleges was a verification that they were in college at least 12 credits…that’s it. And both were Profile schools.</p>
<p>What if one kid goes to a school that is free to the parents (e.g. naval academy, etc.)? Wouldn’t the other school essentially “place” the whole EFC on the remaining kid? I suppose they could do whatever they want, but I’m wondering if this ever happens.</p>
<p>^^ I think this is what happened in our case. I believe the Profile school wanted to know exactly what I was expected to contribute for the sibling.</p>
<p>The form I have to send has to be completed, signed and sent by the sibling’s school’s FA officer!</p>