<p>Next year my son will be a freshman at a University that costs about 25K a year. When we did the FAFSA4Caster it said our EFC was about $2600 but when we did the FAFSA with the same answers it said $8335. I am so confused! I can't figure out if I did something wrong as we are new to this. Our income is approx 57K for my husband and I and a family of 7. My son has a good job right now so he made 23K last year also. Does the number $8335 sound right based on that info? Or should I contact FAFSA? We put the same info in the calculator so am confused about the difference.
Also, my son is a high school senior in Running Start (a program through the high school that allows student to attend college in their jr. and sr. year) so I checked the box that said, "Have attended college/freshman college student. Was that right?</p>
<p>Actually given your son’s income, that does sound about right. When you did the FAFSA forecaster, was that $23,000 student included?</p>
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<p>I’m not sure this is right, since it sounds like dual enrollment, although it shouldn’t have an effect on your EFC. What’s driving your EFC is your son’s $23K income…which is very high for a high school kid! Students have only a $5K+ income protection allowance, plus small allowances for taxes, and then their income is assessed at 50% in the EFC calculation. </p>
<p>Here’s a link to the EFC Formula Guide, which will give you more insight into what’s going on. Just use the tables/worksheets for dependent students:</p>
<p><a href=“http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/101310EFCFormulaGuide1112.pdf[/url]”>http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/101310EFCFormulaGuide1112.pdf</a></p>
<p>Regarding your son attending college in his senior year of hs–in our district there is a similar program where seniors can attend the local community college. At a recent fin aid workshop, a parent asked if they should check that same box as their child was in this program, and we were told no. I, too, am not sure that this will affect your EFC, but you should probably contact the FAFSA people directly.</p>
<p>…yes, dual enrollment is a bit different than just being in 2 yr. college/4 yr. D also took class and got accepted a local university junior year but they are considered HS students, waiting on the degree at the HS, etc.)</p>
<p>Your son’s income is what is making it high. A dependent student has a small amount of income protection (not sure the exact amount for this year , but probably a little under $6000). Allowances are then deducted for taxes and fica. Of the remaining amount 50% will go to the EFC. He also will not have any asset protection. Was his income not included in the FAFSA forecaster? </p>
<p>Your own income will have higher income protection allowances because of your family size. His income does not.</p>
<p>DD did Running Start and we were told to put down that she was a new college student on all forms. Her school adjusted her status after matriculation.</p>
<p>Your son’s income is very high for a full time high school student. Is he contributing to family finances? Or is the money he earns his alone? If the former is true and he can demonstrate that he is paying things like utility bills, mortgage etc. then you should make a case for special assessment in the FA office.</p>
<p>bchan1, this won’t make a lick of difference. The federal regulations regarding dependency overrides specifically prohibit a dependency override for this reason.</p>
<p>Or are you saying that his income can somehow be ignored? Because that is also incorrect.</p>
<p>* My son has a good job right now so he made 23K last year also*</p>
<p>Julie…look at this from a logical perspective. If a dependent student can earn $23k, then why wouldn’t the FAFSA formula expect a good chunk to come from him to go to college costs?</p>
<p>Frankly, I’m surprised that the EFC isn’t higher unless he’s spent all the money and didn’t save any. If he does have a chunk in savings, did you include that as well??</p>
<p>A chunk of his income is going to be expected to be used for his own education needs. </p>
<p>Also, if this is a school that doesn’t meet need, then he (or you) may be expected to pay even more than the EFC.</p>
<p>Does his school meet need?</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. He works about 15-20 hours a week at a very fancy Italian restaurant as a waiter and makes a crazy amount of tips so that is why the income is so high. I did put his income in the FAFSA4caster and it did still say $2600. But hearing your responses it sounds like the $8335 may be right. He paid for a car (cash) pays his own insurance, phone and it involved in a local robotic club that travels the US so pays all related costs so had not put a lot aside for college. As of now, he is saving like crazy so should have the $8335 by the time school starts. It was just confusing how it was so different…</p>
<p>Also, I contacted FAFSA on the chat and they said to put him down as a college student/freshman as he is enrolled full time at our local college and it going towards a degree. I don’t think the EFC amount will change based on that question but will call and actually speak to someone to make sure.</p>
<p>If he will not be working in college and will not have that sort of income, you can submit a special circumstances request which allows them to adjust somewhat based on the fact that income will not continue</p>
<p>For example, DD graduated from UG, worked full time for a year, now is in grad school. Her prior year’s income was adjusted (not entirely gone, some contribution from that income was still required) to reflect that fact that she would not still have that money coming in.</p>
<p>special circumstances, special circumstances… good grief… </p>
<p>Your son will NOT qualify for a special circumstances if all his “circumstance” was was that he had a job and when he starts school, he won’t. So don’t bother. Also, him listing various educational status’s won’t effect his EFC at all… never. </p>
<p>This is why all the various online calculators (even the Dept of Ed’s one) are ALWAYS just estimates. ALWAYS… even the one here because although they always have the best intentions, they are outdated in 12 months or so when all the formulas change and even the FAFSA forecaser (actually RUN by the folks who bring you FAFSA) fell to this as well… it takes ages for them to get updated with the new changes… and most of them never do get updated. So if you ever see an efc calculator online <cough> realize it’s prob outdated, and if its not, it will be soon. </cough></p>
<p>Only the fafsa will be able to determine your son’s REAL efc. Nothing else.</p>
<p>Actually, DDs grad school has a specific form for students who were working full time and no longer are upon entry to grad school, not a request for special circumstances, but an adjustment for income that is longer coming in</p>
<p>Somemom…financial aid for grad students doesn’t follow the same awarding guidelines as for undergrads at all. Need is really not considered in a big way at all. MOST full time grad students don’t have jobs. Grad student funding does not include federal grant entitlemens (like the Pell). Grad students can get stafford loans and sometimes work study (not all schools award work study to grad students). Beyond that…grad school financial aid awards are based on the strength of the student’s application to the department…merit type awards. Really…their EFC is a VERY VERY minute factor in awarding aid to grad students.</p>
<p>I’m thinking that the adjustment somemom is talking about might allow grad students to receive more subsidized vs. unsub loans. I’m not sure what other states do, but up until this year, our grad students could receive state grants which were need-based. They were pretty small…around $500, I think, but fell under the budget cutting axe.</p>
<p>Frankly, I am surprised that the school does this. Adjusting EFC is professional judgment, which by definition cannot involve establishing a policy regarding a particular class of students. Making an adjustment as a matter of policy for all grad students who no longer work seems very strange. I wonder if this is for institutional aid, rather than for federal aid.</p>
<p>Well, I guess technically they are looking at each case on its own merits … since the student does have to request the review by completing the form. So I suppose that does make it work for federal aid. But because it is PJ, that is something that is done for each student individually based on review of that student’s situation.</p>