<p>mlmiller…it would be better to start you own thread with this question. This thread really talks about “preparing” for finaid applications. You’ll get better and more rapid responses with your own thread.</p>
<p>At a recent group college session, Stanford, Harvard, UPenn etc
I thought they all said something like they do not offer loans in financial packages anymore
and that they do not count equity in homes either.</p>
<p>True? </p>
<p>Are there any changes or considerations we should take care of this year–because for us next year becomes the base year.
Meaning debt issues?
Savings issues?
Custodial Acct issues?</p>
<p>I am enrolling for the 10’ Spring Semester at a local community college. I was told by the councelor that I would have to include my mother and fathers tax information on my FAFSA form. Is this true considering I have not recieved any help from them in over 4 years, I am married with a child and I live in a different state? My father makes over 100,000 a year and I make right at 24,000 which makes me panic that they will consider my father perfectly able to take care of my education.</p>
<p>Also, He said that they only accepted “Pell Grants” … how do I go about applying for them? This is all so new to me :)</p>
<p>Edietrich87…first, I would suggest you start you own thread in this area. It will get you more help than this one which some only view to get information that relates to the OP.</p>
<p>But in case you are only looking here…you are married AND you have a dependent child which makes you independent for financial aid purposes. That being the case, you put only your information AND your husband’s on the FAFSA form. Perhaps the counselor didn’t know that you were married and had a dependent child.</p>
<p>this is my first post. I am 33 been on soc sec disability for 3 years for bipolar. I want to enroll in school for the fall 2010. will going back to school affect my soc sec benefits?</p>
<p>Hi I have some questions also. My parents have investments paid by loans from the equity line of our house. Should my parents eliminate this account and pay off the loans to qualify for better financial aid? Or does it not matter? Also, will my need for financial aid impact my admission to public schools (UCs) due to the state education budget shortages?</p>
<p>Or are there any other (non-profit) resources I can consult to get more information?</p>
<p>boisepark, I can relate to your situation to some extent. Our S is a senior and we are about to go through the financial aid process. While our income is lower than yours, we, too, have been prtty frugal in our spending and lifestyle with no outstanding loans, exccept for a house mortgage. A financial planner suggests that between now and end of 2009, we go on a shopping spree – a new car, a trip to Australia, etc. That’s just not us. I expect our EFC will be high and S will receive minimal financial aid. I do not think the system is fair, but I still feel more confortable staying with our values, rather than changing things to “game” the college financial aid system.</p>
<p>For an international student applying to need-blind schools, do I also use the FAFSA form to apply for financial aid?</p>
<p>The Dude…first, I would suggest that you start a separate thread with specific questions. You will get more responses that way.</p>
<p>International students do not do the FAFSA. FAFSA is for U.S. Federally funded financial aid. International students are NOT eligible for that.</p>
<p>If you post your query on another thread you will get the details. Alternately, do a search for International Students financial aid. There have been many threads on that topic and you might find the answer to your question.</p>
<p>How do you handle the question on the FAFSA or Profile about “how much do your parents expect to pay” in the upcoming academic year? Seems like a question fraught with traps for the unweary. Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>Billy…check the threads in this forum. There are a number of threads addressing this question.</p>
<p>I have a small question, so I thought rather than creating a new thread I should just ask here.</p>
<p>As January is nearing, I’ve been checking out the deadlines for FAFSA and the CSS profile for the schools I am applying to. One of the deadlines is January 15 - really early. This most likely means I will have to fill out both the FAFSA and CSS with estimates, right? An by estimates is it referring to the information from last year’s (2008) tax returns?</p>
<p>Sorry for the questions; I’m just really overwhelmed and worried about filling out finaid forms lately. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Yes, you’ll need to estimate – best to use last year’s tax returns to do so – and then file changes when you get the actual numbers. If your family’s income or deductions are much different this year than last then you might go through a lot more work to arrive at a more accurate estimate, but if there aren’t significant changes I’d suggest that you just use the income tax info from last year.</p>
<p>It is really annoying when financial aid offices want this so much before people even have w-2s in hand. We went through a major change from a PPO medical plan with copays to an company-sponsored high deductible health plan with an HSA, and it was hell trying to figure out what it was going to do to the W-2. Not even HR knew.</p>
<p>So…EVERYONE HERE HAD PERFECT MARRIAGE PARENTS???</p>
<p>Can anyone elaborate on Divorced Parents? (will fafsa ask for both?)</p>
<p>Everyone is telling me to do the FAFSA now because it’s a first come, first serve basis … but we (my family) don’t have our 2009 taxes… are you guys saying I can just fill it out now with estimates based on 2008 and then somehow go back and fix teh numbers?? (sorry, I’ve never done FAFSA before so it’s kinda weird to me >_<)</p>
<p>The 2010-2011 FAFSA became available for online submission on January 1, 2010. You should do it in keeping with the deadline for the schools to which you are applying. If the school has a January deadline…here’s what you do.</p>
<p>File your FAFSA using a “will file” status which means you WILL file your taxes but have not yet done so. Use the BEST possible estimates based on your end of year pay stubs, interest statements etc. Then submit it to the school(s).</p>
<p>Do your taxes as soon as reasonably possible after Feb 1 when you have all of your 2009 documentation. Go back IN to the FAFSA website and amend your FAFSA to reflect the figures from your 2009 completed tax return and resubmit to the college(s). Change your status to “taxes completed”. </p>
<p>This is the year you want to get your taxes done as soon as possible. It is NOT the year to wait until April 15th to complete your taxes.</p>
<p>Re: FAFSA and divorced parents…the FAFSA only requires information from your custodial parent (that is the one you live with the most) and that custodial parent’s spouse, if they are remarried.</p>
<p>Good point thumper1…to amend if you don’t have the exact numbers.
I also saw in an earlier post that you mentioned that if you have more than one kid each one has to have their own PIN. </p>
<p>the parent PIN stays the same right?</p>
<p>Parent PIN is the same. Each kiddo needs their OWN PIN.</p>