<p>My neice is enrolled in pharmacy school. Her school says she is a professional student and as a result is considered independent.</p>
<p>What does that mean for her financial aid?</p>
<p>It means her income will be used to determine her financial aid. Often this is better for financial aid than the parent income being used as student’s typically make far less than a parent.</p>
<p>It may or may not be a good thing. There are certain grants that are not available for ‘professional’ students, only undergrad students. For instance I believe the Pell grant is only available to undergrads. (hopefully Nikkil or kelsmom can confirm or better still deny this). Of course this will only be a loss to her if her EFC with her parents would otherwise qualify her for the Pell (EFC *with *parent income under 4619).</p>
<p>I do remember a previous poster being quite upset when their kid in a 6 year program changed at some point during the program from being an undergrad to a professional status and lost their pell. I think it was pharmacy but am not sure (it was a while ago). Whatever it was they got the Pell grant for less than the normal time they would have as an undergrad.</p>
<p>Swim is correct about the Pell Grant…it is only available to undergraduate students. A professional student would not be eligible for Pell.</p>
<p>She gets HUGE loan limits, if that’s any help. An independent student can get up to $8500 in sub loan, as $ 12,500 in unsub. However, PharmD students get to borrow at “certain health professions” limits, which are enough higher that a student can generally borrow the entire cost of attendance in Stafford loans. If the student wasn’t Pell eligible, anyway, the increased sub eligibility gained as an independent (probably low income) student is helpful … as is the lower interest rate on Stafford compared to PLUS or alt loans.</p>
<p>Most pharmacy schools consider students independent after their P1 or P2 year (typically the 3rd or 4th year of school). Although she will be considered independent for FA, her school may recommend or require her to continue submitting her parent’s info on FAFSA. I believe this is because some schools also participate in the Health Professions Student Loan and the Loans/Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students programs which do consider family income.</p>
<p>Oops - I messed up when I typed. It’s $12,000 unsub - that’s the unsub for grad. Well, actually the grad limit is $20,500 of which up to $8500 may be sub depending on need.</p>
<p>Yes, she was eligible for Pell. She is disapointed that she will no longer be eligible.</p>
<p>Will the Health Profession loans have the same repayment as the subsidized or are they forgiven?</p>
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<p>Note: Not all schools participate in this program. She should check with her university.</p>
<p>Her loans would not be forgiven. There is no critical shortage of pharmacists and pharmacist salaries are too high for IBR or the usual forgiveness programs.</p>