Place to record college costs on Profile?

Paying for College
1

<p>My D graduated last May. S is going to college in 2005-2006. My last tuition check to D's college was in January of 2004. Is there a place to note this on the Profile or FAFSA forms though she is an independent student as of August?</p>

2

<p>I just filled out FAFSA and did not see anything like that. If 2 kids are not actually in college in the same academic year, I believe we lose out big-time. If kids are 4 years apart in age vs. 1 year............that really hurts.</p>

3

<p>I believe the Profile has a section where you detail education expenses for siblings.</p>

4

<p>Thanks, responders. I think, though, that the Profile asks just for info for the 2004-2005 school year, not for the 2003-2004 year. Dang. Well, I think I am going to send a letter anyway to the FA offices to detail a couple of other things. Maybe I can note it there.</p>

<p>Any other thoughts would be welcome if I have missed something.</p>

5

<p>I honestly think the Profile only wants and uses information about what will be happening for the year of application (in your case 2005-06). That you made a payment this year really doesn't matter at all. Your daughter will not be in college in 2005-06 and therefore family monies will not be being used for her tuition during the upcoming school year. The finaid awards are based on your need for the 2005-06 school year, not your expenses incurred prior to that time. Let's put it this way, we are paying over $30,000 per year for DS's tuition this year but that does NOT reduce our EFC for the upcoming school year. I'll stick my neck out here...but I believe the computations for the FAFSA are the same...based on what will be happening in the 2005-06 school year.</p>

6

<p>Thumper, I am sure your take on this is correct . . .they are trying to determine one's ability to pay in the coming year. What is interesting is that all the rest of the info relates to the previous year, such as unusual medical bills, 2004 earnings, etc. So they have to look backwards to look ahead, yet don't consider that one aspect of expenditures in 2004. Thanks!</p>

7

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<p>Yes. Clearly, our family will have $30,000 less in "available" income than we had the year prior to our son going to college...That is not a determining factor in finaid calculations.</p>