<p>Does any one know how financial aid is calculated in regards to families with more than one child in college at the same time? Also, how is college attendance determined? I have two children in the h.s. class of 2011 but one is considering taking a gap year to be an exchange student. How would that affect financial aid for our other child? If they both graduate in 2011, would colleges know that one went to college right away and the other didn't? If they are eligible for merit aid would deferral affect aid? I know they won't be attending college for a while but it's so complicated I am trying to figure it out now. Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>Most schools want some sort of proof of enrolment for your other kids, though an exchange student abroad may be able to provide proof of enrolment in courses abroad!</p>
<p>Your EFC is generally divided by the number of kids in college, though some schools would give you more like 60% required, and even though you have an EFC of a certain number does not mean you will not be gapped, each school is different.</p>
<p>Apollo6, on the FAFSA and on the CSS Profile (if your kids go to a school that uses the Profile to determine financial aid), there is a question about siblings. They'll want to know the sibling's age, high school grade level (if applicable), where they went to school (if anywhere) the year prior, where they plan to go to school the following year (if anywhere). It won't be so confusing when you're actually filling out the form. You just answer the questions and they know what to do with the answers they get.</p>
<p>Like somemom said, you'll get your EFC divided by the number of students in college (but you may end up with something more than 50% for each kid depending on the school's policy... still it will be reduced significantly for each individual student to reflect that you have two kids in school that year, but overall it will be the same EFC, perhaps a little higher.)</p>
<p>As to whether deferral would effect merit aid, that would be up to the school if the merit money is coming from them. Good thing to ask them about.</p>
<p>How do you tell a college where someone plans to attend before you receive acceptance letters? Don't you apply for financial aid at the same time as admission?</p>
<p>You put "Undetermined" or something of that sort.</p>
<p>For proof, some schools just ask for the name & school others ask for an official proof of enrollment form where the student at another school has to go obtain the forms from their school registrar; I think that happens when you are chosen for verification</p>
<p>I think you can also just say you anticipate a sibling will attend college. For example if you are filing out forms for Kid A, and you know Kid B will also be applying to college, you would assume that, yes, they will be going to college <em>somewhere</em> -- so you can put down "to be determined" or some such thing.</p>
<p>If they ask for proof of enrollment for Kid B, they will let you get that at whatever point Kid B has been accepted somewhere and made a committment to attend.</p>