<p>Can someone help me with advice on the following?</p>
<p>How does the FAFSA calculation change when you have two children in college in a given academic year - one as an undergrad and the other in grad (law) school? I believe the one in grad school will automatically be treated as an 'independent' student by FAFSA. I am specifically interested to know if while filling out the younger (undergard's) FAFSA, one can enter '2' as the number of children in college, so that the EFC gets divided between the two children.</p>
<p>In general, FAFSA divides the parental contribution to the EFC by the number of kids in college at the same time, so if there aren't significant differences in student assets or income, the EFC for each of two students will be about half what it would be if only one kid was in college.</p>
<p>With one "child" in grad school, though, you're correct that he will be considered independent for purposes of financial aid. There's a different standard to determine whether you can consider him a "household member" (Q66, generally, whether you're providing more than half his support). Then if you can count him as a "household member" AND if he will be "attending at least half time in an approved program during 2007-08 that leads to a degree or certificate at a postsecondary school eligible to participate in any of the federal student aid programs" you can show a total of two household members in college on the undergrad kid's FAFSA. And get the benefit of that child's EFC lowered considerably.</p>
<p>That's how I read it, anyway. No requirement that both be undergrads for purpose of this question.</p>
<p>There was a discussion on this a while back and I think the answer ended up being that you can enter 2 as the number in college on the undergrads FAFSA. </p>
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[quote]
67. Number of college students in parents' household. This question asks about the number of household members who, in 2007-08, are or will be enrolled in a postsecondary school. Count yourself as a college student. Include others only if they will be attending at least half time in an approved program during 2007-08 that leads to a degree or certificate at a postsecondary school eligible to participate in any of the federal student aid programs. Do not include your parents.
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<p>Grad students are eligible for federal student aid programs (loans at least) so i think it would be correct to include him.</p>
<p>In my case, we can report the grad student on the undergrad student's FAFSA, yet the grad student is not asked for any parent info on her FAFSA. I did check it out with D2s school, some schools she was considering said grad student would NOT be counted, so it is dependent on the policy of the UG school</p>