<p>We went to a meeting for a private school last night-I asked about extra $$ help- D got a scholarship but wants to go to medical school-she is a HS senior so that could change-Her father and I were divorced then he died last summer-he did not make alot fo money and had nothing planned for her for college- the counselor at meeting said that I could ask for professional judgement- I have assets that would most likely prevent me from getting any financial aid . Has anyone asked for professional judgement before?</p>
<p>the college board has a list of tips for professional judgement</p>
<p>[Professional</a> Judgment Tip Sheets](<a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/higher-ed/financial-aid/im/tips]Professional”>Professional Judgment Tip Sheets – Institutional Methodology (IM) | Education Professionals – The College Board)</p>
<p>On what basis would you be asking for PJ? Is there some reason the assets can’t be used for college?</p>
<p>I am just wanting to save as much as possible for future use for me since I am a single mom- doubt they care about that!!</p>
<p>We had a professional judgement my daughter’s first year of college. Ours was for loss of income and high medical expenses. The way it worked was that we filed FAFSA using our actual income for the year (and other info such as assets). Then we put together all the information and documentation relating to the loss of income and the medical expenses and sent it to the FA office of the school. They went through the documentation. They approved a professional judgement and went into our FAFSA and adjusted the income to reflect the medical expenses and lost income. The new figures were run through the FAFSA formula again and produced a new FAFSA EFC. </p>
<p>But a professional judgement is usually to reflect changes in your situation or unusual circumstances. Your ex would not have been reported on FAFSA anyway, though he would have probably had to provide non custodial info to a CSS school. As he has passed away there will be nothing to report there. So only your and your daughter’s financial information (income and assets) will be reported. Is there anything unusual about that, that reporting it on FAFSA and CSS will not reflect? A change in circumstances - for instance your 2010 income does not accurately affect your future income? I’m not seeing what exactly a professional judgement appeal would be based on, as your FA will be based on your financial situation, not your daughter’s father as he is already deceased.</p>
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Unfortunately they probably won’t care about that. FAFSA does have a certain amount of asset protection built in based on the number of parents and the age of the older (or only) parent. In FAFSA the asset protection for a single parent is less the 35% of that for a 2 parent family. For instance a 2 parent with a 50 year old older parent would get $48,800 in asset protection, while a 50 year old single parent asset protection would only be $16,700. </p>
<p>If your income is below $50k then you may be eligible for the simplified needs test where assets are ignored. In addition to the income limit, you would also have to be eligible to file a 1040a or ez rather that a 1040, or be able to meet one of the other criteria such as being a dislocated worker or receiving means tested benefits. And simplified needs just applies to FAFSA, not CSS if your school requires that for institutional aid.</p>
<p>That sounds like a bait and switch. Sure, let your daughter fall in love with our school and apply, get a package you can’t afford, appeal it and then we’ll tell you sorry.</p>
<p>I’ve seen many parents appeal their packages, and those that have won have had high medical expenses, younger special needs kids they spent a lot on, hardships of different kinds…but let’s face it, everyone would like to save more for their retirement. The way to do that is to send your daughter to a school you can comfortably afford.</p>
<p>hlsess…</p>
<p>I think you’re talking about Birmingham Southern. Since BSC is having serious money troubles, I think you might have better luck influencing them if you can show them better scholarship offers from other schools…that sometimes helps. However, since BSC’s money troubles are largely the result of big mistakes with past financial aid awards (which I know that you know about), the school may be very hesitant to give any adjustments. </p>
<p>I don’t think ( I could be wrong), that BSC is going to be moved by the suggestion that your D might be going to med school and all the costs associated with that. I understand that you’re concerns about being a single parent about protecting your savings as much as you can.</p>
<p>mom2college- Yes it is BSC and they really are doing fine financially-I talked with the interim president last night and other trustees- I was OVERLY impressed with everything. Their admissions office told me about this letter of professional judgement- I’d never heard of it- I doubt they care about my future etc but wasn’t sure if it was worth trying. Hopefully, my mother will be able to write thhem a check-. She is definitely going there so i am trying to research more $$ -I don’t want her to have any loans but the less $$ I spend the better-which I am sure everyone is in the same boat!!</p>
<p>Professional judgment is typically for a specific financial crisis that the family has experienced that is not able to be reflected on the financial aid form. I’m sorry to say that being a single parent is likely not going to be considered as a special circumstance that requires professional judgment on the part of the school. If the school is a FAFSA only school, only your income and assets are considered anyway…not your former husband’s (I’m sorry for the loss of your child’s parent).</p>
<p>Most everyone has assets that they would prefer to use at a future date for retirement or whatever. That is not a special circumstance either.</p>
<p>The undergrad schools do not care what your child’s (or your) future plans are…med school for example. Need based financial aid is awarded using current income/assets not projected future costs of schooling, housing, retirement or anything else.</p>
<p>At this point, I haven’t heard anything that <em>I</em> think would be considered a special circumstance that would warrant a professional judgment.</p>
<p>Thumper1- thanks-I didn’t even know what it meant-they just mentioned it last night when i told them that her dad had passed away- I am sure they wouldn’t give me any-</p>
<p>hisess…it “could” have been a special circumstance if her dad had been providing significant financial support and now would not be able to do so…AND the school required his financial information to determine need based aid.</p>
<p>However, I believe this college is a FAFSA only school. If that is the case, your former husband’s income would not have been included on the FAFSA form anyway. Only the custodial parent (your) info is put on the FAFSA.</p>
<p>Just checked…BSC is a FAFSA only school. That being the case, your former husband’s financial information would NOT have been reported to them anyway. ONLY the custodial parent (in this case the mom) reports info on the FAFSA. Since there is no change to your financial situation per the college, I can’t see any reason why they would deem this a “special circumstance requiring a professional judgment”. </p>
<p>Surely there are other colleges on your daughter’s list if finances are a significant consideration. Every student should have a financial safety on their list…a school they would be happy to attend that their family CAN afford to pay for. If this BSC is too costly, you need to have your daughter look elsewhere too.</p>
<p>thanks-I have the money and hopefully my mother will write a check too- I just wasn’t sure what it meant- it’s about the same as going to the state school/sorority/meals etc…just a better education-glad the decision is made!!</p>