<p>When I filled out the FAFSA I filled it out under the name of my youngest child who will be a freshman next year. I also have another child who will be a senior in college next year. When my SAR came back with my EFC, did that mean it's the EFC for all college students in the family or just the one whose name was on the form? I'm thinking now maybe I was supposed to either fill out two Fafsas, one in each child's name, or else under the name of the older child. Anyone know how this works with multiple children?</p>
<p>You need to fill one out for each child. The EFC will be for the child you filled it out for. The EFC for the older child may came back the same or differ if the childs assets or income differ from the younger child.</p>
<p>Tks swimcatsmom-do you know how it works from there? If both kids have the same asset info-then wouldn't they have the same EFC? How do they know that you have another child with an EFC? I guess what I'm confused about (not at all obvious, is it? LOL) is at what point does it all come together as one family's ability to pay the total family tuition?</p>
<p>There is a question that asks how many will be in college. If 2, the parents' income and asset contribution to EFC is split between them equally. </p>
<p>The students' contributions to EFC will be different, because their incomes and assets will be different absent a miraculous coincidence, and applied only to each's own EFC and not the sibling's.</p>
<p>When you fill the FAFSA out question 67 asks about the number of household members that will be enrolled in college. The EFC formula produces the EFC from two sources - the parents EFC and the students EFC. If there are 2 students the parents EFC is divided in half between the 2 students then the students personal EFC is added to that. If the student assets/income are identical their EFC will be the same. If they are not they will be different. If you run your numbers through one of the calculators (like the one on finaid.com) it will show you how the numbers are arrived at.</p>
<p>although I have never had two in college
if on the form- say you are filling it out for mary kate- and you say that ashley will also be attending- it will only state Mary Kates EFC- while taking into account Ashleys student status</p>
<p>When you fill out Ashleys FAFSA, you will note that Mary Kate is also a student, and it will give you Ashleys EFC</p>
<p>I've had two in for the last 3 years, this year just one, then two again for at least the next 2 years. In my example it is Beavis and Butthead, unfortunately.</p>
<p>hahaha-how funny. These forms really are so much more complicated, or should I say ambiguous than they need to be...A family's EFC should be the total of all familial info entered on ONE form! Argghhh!!! I like the profile better. So basically, I'm taking the total of the TWO EFC's, and that is the amount Uncle Sam says I can pay? Ummm....He must not know how much money I make. lol. Funny, also, is that the total comes out to be almost exactly the amt of tuition X 2! Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Our two are different because our kids have different assets in their names.</p>
<p>I will have 2 in college next year (1st & 3rd years). There's a difference in EFCs for both because older one made about $6,000 more than younger one in their part-time jobs.</p>
<p>also unless they are enrolled in the same year of college- their EFCs will be different because- upper classmen assume more of their own costs</p>
<p>Emeraldkity - does that apply to FAFSA? I thought FAFSA EFC was based on a set formula - I have not seen anything that asks about the year of school. (this is our 1st year doing it - our school does not require profile).</p>
<p>my bad- I was thinking about the package- but you are right- the calculators don't ask anything about year in college
however the schools package may reflect that.</p>
<p>Thanks - that is good to know for future planning. The more I learn about this process the less I know :(</p>