<p>In my discussions with FA office so far (quite a few) it has been made pretty clear that “Demonstrated need” really comes down to exactly your 2012 FAFSA EFC. Period. Doesn’t matter the circumstances of 2013, they will not be taken into consideration for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year. Private schools DS applied to have re-submitted our FAFSA themselves with the 2013 numbers (which dropped our EFC 50%) and have adjusted FA offers based on that. UVa FA said they will not do that. While I can’t say I like that answer as it puts us personally in a bind for 2013, it at least is an answer: Go in debt a bit more the first year and hope to catch up next year when the FAFSA based on 2013 is filed. As UVa is DS’s first choice school, that’s a deal we may have to take - his college experience is worth more than the few $K difference. Still, it is disappointing that current circumstances aren’t taken more into consideration up front.</p>