<p>I am currently working full-time (and have been for 5 years while taking night classes) and have been/am currently taking two classes per semester at night at a community college. I am now ready to transfer to a 4-year university and have completed my application for fall 2009 semester as well as the FAFSA. My problem is that when I begin going to school full-time at a 4-year university, for my last two years, I am planning to stop working or work just a few hours a week. My FAFSA is basing my EFC on the income I earned in 2008 and am still earning. The thing is, I will not have any income when I begin attending full-time for the semester I am applying for (this fall). Can anyone explain where to go from here? I can't find any information on how to change this. Surely this is a common situation, but I can't find help on any financial aid websites. Thanks in advance! :)</p>
<p>you have to contact the school. there is nothing in fafsa to account for this.</p>
<p>Thanks, sueinphilly. I’m surprised there isn’t anything to account for that situation, but at least I know what to do now. I’m 34 and I’m my only source of EFC, so this is pretty important to me. I’ll contact the school (if I’m accepted). Thanks again!</p>
<p>Your income from last year is affecting your EFC this year, but next year when you file it will reflect your new lower income. You should definitely ask the school about the situation and see what they say, but you may have to wait a year to see any big difference in your EFC. This is happening to a lot of people right now who were more financially stable before the ecomonic crisis, and their EFCs are based on better days.</p>
<p>It’s the way FAFSA works. My son is facing the same thing. He would like to go back to school. He will not be working when he goes to school, unless he maybe picks up something very part time while at school. However, for him as for you, and anyone else who is an adult, half his income is considered earmarked for school on FAFSA. </p>
<p>This is not inconsistent with the way FAFSA works for anybody. Many kids are finding out that even if their parents are out of a job this year, the EFC is calculated using the family income from last year. </p>
<p>What my son may do is work a year at Americorp and go back to school after that since that would improve his EFC.</p>