<p>I'm just wondering about how financial aid is calculated. I was planning on applying for full aid because I believe I fall under the category $75,000 or less. </p>
<p>Does financial aid look at your step-parents or only the parent that has custody of you(parents are divorced)?</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure they look at your step parent’s assets, etc.<br>
They also take into account both divorced parents’ assets. Even if your parents are divorced they probably still have joint custody. </p>
<p>They probably won’t weigh your step parent’s assets as much as your real ones’, though.</p>
<p>It depends on the school - but generally, they expect both of your parents to contribute, regardless of marital situation. One fills out FAFSA, then it’s compared with the tuition of the school. So it’s more or less like college. However, some schools are more lenient - FAFSA said I didn’t qualify, but I still received a sizable financial aid package. At Exeter, I believe, if your income is below a certain level, you go for free regardless of FAFSA.</p>
<p>So if my dad and mom together made under $75,000 I could get full aid at exeter?</p>
<pre><code> or
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<p>With my Step-mom, dad, and mom they make over $75,000 so I wouldn’t get full aid?</p>
<p>Which one of these would be true? I thought they didn’t really look at step-parents</p>
<p>The first one is true for sure, and maybe the second. Your parents can make over 75k and you could still get full FA. This is actually probable for you since your parents are divorced and have to maintain two separate households with only one source of income, instead of one household with two sources of income.</p>
<p>They probably don’t weigh the stepparent’s assets as much as your own parent’s since you’re not their kid, but I don’t know for sure.</p>
<p>ok thanks</p>
<p>if anyone has anymore info or is more familiar post plz</p>
<p>I am pretty sure they measure stepparents assets if they file joint tax returns. Which is probable. I would check on that though.</p>
<p>Schools will require income and asset information of both your mother and father AND any step-parents. Both parents are expected to contribute. </p>
<p>Now – if both your mom (and any step-father) and your dad and step-mother have lower incomes and no major assets, you may very well get excellent Financial Aid. However – if your dad and his new wife make good money and have assets, they will be expected to contribute and it may be quite a bit.</p>
<p>I suggest you go to [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml]FinAid”>Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Calculator - Finaid) and complete it accurately (use institutional method). It will give you a solid estimate of what your family will be expected to contribute.</p>