<p>Next year, I will have one child in grad school and two in undergraduate. The one in grad school is considered independent for purpose of his FAFSA. My question is "would they consider 2 kids in college or three for calculation of EFC for my undergrad kids?"</p>
<p>It depends on the school. You are correct that your grad student is an independent student regardign the FAFSA and his/her EFC.</p>
<p>As far as the undergraduates, some schools may consider your grad student when calculating their EFC and others will not. You will have to ask the undergraduate schools how they will look at your grad student.</p>
<p>My son will be in grad school next year, but will be a dependent. Do either or both of us fill out the FAFSA? There are no other college students this year.</p>
<p>This is a question that confuses me too. Next year we will 2 undergraduates and one in graduate school (who we still support and can claim as a defendent). I realize that the oldest is considered independent as far as FAFSA is considered and our (her father's and mine) are not considered when her EFC is calculated. But the parents' information that must be provided for the FAFSA for the two youngest asks for number in family enrolled in postsecondary programs. It seems that I can put 3 there. Opinions?</p>
<p>My oldest is in grad school, she does a FAFSA, I do ot do one regarding her. If she were in Med/Law/MBA, they may ask for parent info even if the kid is actually independent.</p>
<p>For my younger DD, I called all the schools from which she had acceptances and I do know that the UCs said YES, grad student could be counted as one in college. UVA said no. So, you need to ask each finaid dept. I included the grad student in our list of college students on the UG FAFSA students</p>
<p>I guess it is important to know that a child going to grad school may be considered a dependent on your tax returns, but is definitely considered independent on FAFSA application.</p>
<p>Yes, bioengr, that is why I said it is confusing. The student in grad school files his/her FAFSA and no parents' financials are considered when determining that student's EFC. However, the way I read the FAFSA instructions, when the undergraduate siblings file their FAFSA applications, as long as the grad student sibling can be considered a dependent for tax purposes by the parent then he/she can be counted as a member of the household enrolled in college. This does affect the younger student's EFC. The situation seems contradictory.</p>
<p>The student is grad school is not counted in the parents' household or in # in college on the FAFSA. The instructions specifically state that children can only be included in the parents' household if they can "answer 'no' to every question in Section 2 of this worksheet." A grad student would answer yes to "Will you be working on a Masters or Doctorate program?" It then asks "How many people IN YOUR PARENTS' HOUSEHOLD" will attend school at least 1/2 time (emphasis mine).</p>
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<blockquote> <p>as long as the grad student sibling can be considered a dependent for tax purposes by the parent then he/she can be counted as a member of the household enrolled in college>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>My son WAS considered in the total for college students. He continues to be a member of our household and he is pursuing a degree (graduate IS one of the choices on the FAFSA). DD's school did include him. BUT other schools to which she applied said clearly they would NOT.</p>
<p>This is a question you need to ask each school.</p>
<p>Kelsmom, my son had a bachelor's degree and thus was independent for HIS FAFSA. BUT he is a dependent (we provide much more than 1/2 of his support) for tax purposes and therefore continues to count as a member of our household (which is also his permanent address). He is pursuing a degree (graduate IS one of the choices on the FAFSA). SO...on his SISTER's FAFSA, he was included in the household number and the college number AND the college also allowed this. Some don't.</p>
<p>FAFSA rules state: "Enter the number of children (other than yourself) who will receive more than half of their support from your parents between July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010. Also enter the number of people who are not your parents' children but who live with your parents and receive more than half of their support from your parents, and will continue to receive more than half of their support from your parents between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010" Your</a> parents' number of family members in 2009-2010</p>
<p>Therefore, for federal purposes, the student enrolled in graduate school would be included as a member of the household on the undergrads FAFSA IF, and only if, the parent(s) pays more than 50% of the graduate students support.</p>
<p>Also, based on FAFSA instructions: "The number of people in your parents’ household that will attend college between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010. This number includes:</p>
<p>You
Others in your parents’ household (except your parents) that will attend college at least half time in 2009-2010 in a program that leads to a college degree or certificate"</p>
<p>Therefore, for federal purposes, the graduate student would also qualify as a household member who is attending college. Realistically, colleges should not be able to dispute this IF the parent can show that s/he is providing more than 50% of the student's support. Institutional aid, though, is a totally different matter.</p>
<p>I do realize that some schools allow the grad student to be included. However, because not all do, you need to check - if they don't, and you get verified & have the grad student removed from HH size & number in college - the EFC is doubled. It is really important to check with the school.</p>
<p>Kelsmom and Nikki, It is my understanding that the COLLEGES make the decision about whether to "count" the grad student as a 'student attending college' for the purpose of awarding aid. The FAFSA gets filled out accurately by the family regardless. In other words, our grad school son WAS a dependent for tax purposes who received much more than 50% of his support from us. He therefore counted in our "head count" when we were filling out that blank on the FAFSA for household members. AND our son WAS earning a degree (graduate) so we also filled THAT field in correctly on his sib's FAFSA...and we had two in college. We were told by different COLLEGES that they would be treating this differently. Perhaps this was for their institutional aid...I don't know. BUT one school was very clear with us...they said they did NOT count a grad school sib as a student IN college. Other schools were also clear...they said that they did.</p>
<p>However, the SCHOOL decision did not alter what we put on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>Just another example of where I really, really wish the government would TELL us what we are supposed to do. If you look at the f/a handbooks, there are all kinds of examples - none for this, though.</p>