<p>On the CSS/Profile, there is a section that asks about siblings in college. I have a twin, so my mom will not know cost of attendance information for where both of us are attending until we make a final decision. There is also information that is unknown associated with a final decision. We wont know final decisions until all of our acceptances/rejections are out, which is April- after the financial aid deadlines. </p>
<p>What should I put into the form?
Should we both contact FA offices at our CSS/Profile schools?</p>
<p>If I put in "0" that will change aid packages. And I do plan on comparing packages to assist in making a final decision.</p>
<p>Contact the school. I would also put down one sibling (twin) in college if there’s space for this info. That will make a very large difference to your finaid package!</p>
<p>They are going on the assumption of what it would be when you do go. I have twins and a son who is graduating.
They tend to ask questions that can’t be answered yet, especially where they are attending, how much tuition, etc. You can only put in what you are able too.</p>
<p>When we filled it out last year we put the schools (and their particulars) which our twin D’s were most likely to attend in those spots. Since they knew the ages of the girls and could see that they were twins by reading the form I figured they knew we were doing our best to guess accurately. The FAFSA asks for unknown info as well and you pretty much estimate to the best of your ability.</p>
<p>Either estimate or just put what you know. If your award comes out lower than expected, this is a VERY good example of an instance where you would probably be successful arguing for a much better package. Just call up the school and say “I have a twin in college, when we filled out the form we didn’t know where they would go, now we do, we know it will cost X, Y, and Z, please reevaluate me in light of this info”. They probably will.</p>
<p>I have no idea where my twins will attend, so much depends on FA and if one gets a “reach” and other things. I also have no idea if their brother will be attending one of the grad schools he is applying too and it seems odd to put a name down without full knowledge. These forms can be such a pain!</p>
<p>When a sibling is attending grad school, do you get to include that? I could be wrong, but I thought that those with bachelor degrees and going to grad school are considered to be “independent.” Am I mistaken?</p>
<p>I will contact my css/profile schools and see their opinions. we both turn 18 in january, so i will change his age accordingly (we will prolly submit after our birthday). i think i will mention that he is my twin in the extrainfo space.</p>
<p>so should we put what schools we are most likely to get into then? if so, many of my schools have a similar cost of attendance… im not so sure about my brother.</p>
<p>@smithieandproud, when asking to re-evaluate, how long does that take? im trying to adhere to all deadlines.</p>
<p>On the fafsa, the child in grad school is considered independent but part of your family when you do your taxes. On the CSS, you can put a child in grad school as “as child in school” and that was explained in the info section.
Different colleges handle that information differently. Some I contacted don’t consider the grad student in FA but others do if you are taking care of 50% or more or his/her needs.</p>
I’m not sure what Debruns is saying here, but this is not reliable tax advice. A grad student cannot be claimed as a dependent on a parent’s return unless a full-time student, under age 24, having received more than half of his/her support from the parent.</p>
<p>I’m sorry greennblue, I should have been more clear. My son is 21 and will be (hopefully) a grad student and there is a good chance he will still be getting more than 50% of his support from us. If they are older, that is not the case.
The fafsa sees him as independent but on the CSS, they do ask about grad school.</p>
<p>I was wondering if this would work- most of the schools I am applying to have COAs around 52k per, so would that figure work on my brothers form?</p>
<p>You know what? This is an issue that hardly anyone faces more than once – siblings applying to college at the same time – but that any particular financial aid office may see a dozen times a year, maybe more. I would call a couple up on Monday and ask how they think the form should be filled out.</p>
<p>I also emailed a couple of schools. For now, I put “do not know” and or TBD.<br>
For instance, I can’t guess what grad school my son might attend or get into or the FA he will receive. If he lives home, things will be different than if he doesn’t. I also don’t like that you have to pick private or public college, when again, you might have appllied to both and don’t know yet.</p>