<p>What happens if a student gets a financial aid package based on a FAFSA that indicates a sibling or two will also be in college the next school year -- and the older sibling ends up not going back to college? I was asked that question recently, and had to say I have no idea, although I'm sure it must happen fairly frequently.</p>
<p>If you are verified, you often must provide a copy of proof of enrolment, at UCs they require an actual form sent directly from the siblings college, but I have no idea what would happen if that person was enrolled in the fall and dropped out after the fall term?</p>
<p>bumping… interested in this. Older D may graduate in Dec. next year - wondering how this will effect FA for Freshman S</p>
<p>The FAFSA EFC is for the entire school year (2010-2011). So as long as the sibling is in school for at least part of the school year then the EFC would not change.</p>
<p>If a sibling is not in school (at least half time) at all during the school year then the FAFSA data should be corrected to reflect this, which would cause the FAFSA EFC to increase.</p>
<p>I don’t know how CSS schools would treat it.</p>
<p>A need-based financial aid award based on a sibling’s college enrollment is subject to verification requirements. The college provides a form which much be returned by the financial aid department of the sibling’s college, which generally reports the fact of enrollment and COA. </p>
<p>If the sibling is not enrolled, then the EFC will be adjusted accordingly.</p>
<p>The only way to find out the answer as to what the financial aid award would be in either scenario is to discuss the problem directly with the financial aid department. I had that issue when my daughter started college – my son was planning to return to college at the same time, but it was not at all certain whether he would enroll. It was very confusing but the financial aid staff at my d’s college was extremely helpful and it did relieve my worst fears. (I had thought that my d would lose aid if my son didn’t enroll and we’d be paying twice as much – but in fact the award had been written on the assumption that son was NOT in school, and we were told that the grant would be increased if and when they received my son’s enrollment verification - and in fact it was).</p>