D was passing through the counselor’s office yesterday, and one of the staff members asked her to provide them with a list of college acceptances up to the present, as well as a print out of her FAFSA form. I don’t see that that second part is any business of the school’s. Is this a typical request?
No. Our school asked for acceptances and merit scholarship offer information. I think the FAFSA request is completely inappropriate. I’d sweetly call the GC and say you wondered if your D misunderstood the request – and if not, let them know in no uncertain terms that it is not appropriate. And don’t give it to them. I have mixed feelings about how hard you should push for them to stop asking everyone – if you have more kids coming through, you need the GC’s goodwill. But if this is your last one, I’d complain to the principal about this policy if the GC says they will keep asking for this.
Some scholarships we’ve looked at ask for a copy of your SAR from FAFSA and others say you have to show need (which the EFC on FAFSA would do). Perhaps that why she was asked for it, but I would think it would be totally voluntary.
@twinsmom15, this is her high school asking for the FAFSA, for naviance purposes, not anyone offering a need-based scholarship (which she won’t qualify for)
Many of our scholarships are done through our guidance office, that’s why I mentioned it as a possibility. Can’t imagine why they would need it for Naviance.
I have 2 kids who attended different high schools. Both schools used Naviance and neither asked for FAFSA information. I don’t think this is typical. My advice is to give them the acceptance information, but not the FAFSA printout
The school might be asking this so that they can advise future students as to financial aid they can expect. I still would not provide it.
I agree, they should not need FAFSA information.
I would like counseling offices to emphasize however that FAFSA does not hand out money unless you are eligible for a Pell grant. Which is not really enough to pay for college.
Too often high school advisors act like " apply & the money will come!".
The schools that meet full student need, are more often than not, all going to use additional forms to determine how much aid to give.
Our HS only asks for accept/deny info for the colleges. Not even for merit aid, though that would be useful for future students. Definitely not for FAFSA.
There is no place on Naviance that the FAFSA would go.
I presume they wanted it for some other, non-Naviance, purpose. The idea of trying to create a database of scholarship offers vs. FAFSA EFC is a good thought - logically, I can’t imagine what else they would be doing with it, but seems like quite the invasion of privacy.
I get why someone analytical might want the EFC. I’ve been curious about how some colleges dole out “merit” aid, with a pretty strong suspicion that EFC played a significant role. However, it isn’t the kind of information I’d be comfortable sharing with most counseling offices.
The first part (about acceptances, denials, etc.) is completely appropriate. The second one is not. I would decline that request.
Some outside scholarships D applied for had a need component, some didn’t. I had to upload the FAFSA SAR for the ones that did. To the scholarship site, not to the school, however.