FAFSA household size w/sibling in professional/grad school (again)

Paying for College
1

<p>I thought I had this settled a few years back that grad students are automatically independent and so not counted in household size when doing FAFSA for a younger sib:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1083292-css-profile-number-school.html?highlight=graduate"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1083292-css-profile-number-school.html?highlight=graduate&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>However, in filling it out this year, I noticed this:</p>

<p>
[quote]
Your parents' other children if:
a) Your parents will provide more than half of their support from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 *or *
b) These children can answer "No" to every Dependency Status question on the FAFSA

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I definitely pay over half of the older child's support as she's in med school. Both professional school and being 24 would make her independent for part b, but according to FAFSAs language, kids can be counted as part of the household if either a OR b applies.</p>

<p>Thoughts??</p>

2

<p>You’re paying at least half of the COA of her med school costs? if so, it sounds like she qualifies to be counted.</p>

<p>The rules have changed, but some schools still won’t consider a child in grad school.</p>

3

<p>Yes, she’s back on the parental dole for the duration. I know that schools vary in how they deal with sibs in grad/prof school, but my main concern is reporting the number of household members for FAFSA accurately. </p>

4

<p>An FAO told me that if I wanted to include the prof/grad school sibling in the household size, then the prof/grad student would have to include the parental dole money on the FAFSA.</p>

5

<p>^That’s not a problem, her school requires parental financial information even though she’s considered independent.</p>

6

<p>Well, if you’re paying for over half the cost of her attending med school (half of COA, not just half of her room, board), then it sounds like you can count her.</p>

7

<p>Madison. I do NOT believe what you are saying is true. The grad student is considered independent for financial aid purposes which has NOTHING to do with what YOU parents do in your taxes. The independent student does NOT include parent income and assets UNLESS the professional school (some law schools and med schools) requires it. That professional school or grad school student FAFSA is a household size of ONE…the grad student (unless they are married with children…then those folks count), with no parent income/assets for those in grad school programs that do NOT require this info.</p>

<p>If I am incorrect, I’m sure someone will tell me. </p>

<p>For younger siblings, if you are providing the support and the older sibling is in a degree program (which grad school is), you can list them on the FAFSA, I believe, BUT some schools will not allow that grad school student to be counted as a student in COLLEGE. This varies by school. When DD was a sophomore in college, her older sibling was a grad student. We asked this question of EVERY undergrad school when she was applying. Some said they would count the older sibling and others said NO. </p>

<p>I think you need to check the policies of each college regarding how they treat grad school siblings for financial aid purposes. YMMV.</p>

8

<p>I think Madison is saying that if parents are giving $35k per year towards college costs/living expenses, then on that grad student’s FAFSA, that $35k needs to get included somewhere. </p>

9

<p><a href=“https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1415/help/totalMoneyReceived.htm”>https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1415/help/totalMoneyReceived.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1415/help/faadef22.htm”>https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1415/help/faadef22.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Question 45j only excludes parent contributions if the student is a dependent student.</p>

10

<p>Thanks all! </p>

<p>Yes thumper, that’s how it works for D1, she’s independent as far as her school is concerned, but they also require my information if she wants to be considered for all FA sources. </p>

<p>I went through this a couple of years ago and after many conversations with FAFSA and others here, came to the conclusion that a grad student couldn’t be counted at all on a younger sibs FAFSA; it ended up being a moot question because she worked instead of going back to school. Either things have changed or I missed that OR the first time around, I will count the older kid on FAFSA and let the school decide what they want to do about it.</p>