<p>I recently received an email stating that my school corrected my FAFSA. When I looked at the FAFSA, however, I saw that their correction was in the field for number of students in household in college. My household has 3 student sin college, but my school changed that field's value to 2. One of us is starting our 6th year in college, the last semester of her nursing school. Does this play a part in that? She's still a full time student, so why would she not be counted in the number of students in college. Because of this (and possibly other factors) my aid award was almost $10,000 less than the previous year. I brought the issue up with my school, but haven't heard anything back. Do you even think they'll make any correction to what was changed?</p>
<p>If you think you’re correct, you’re doing right thing - contract the school.</p>
<p>See <a href=“https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1415/help/fahelp57.htm:[quote]The”>https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1415/help/fahelp57.htm:
<a href=“https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1415/help/pnumInCollege.htm:[quote]Enter”>https://fafsa.ed.gov/fotw1415/help/pnumInCollege.htm:
</p>
<p>How old is the one starting the 6th year of college?</p>
<p>The one starting the 6th year is 23. She’s been in school the entire time, hasn’t taken any time off, just changed programs halfway through and is now finalized and finishing up nursing school.</p>
<p>Also, I thought it might be because she wasn’t considered part of the household, but the number of people in our household didn’t change from 5 to 4 when the number in college changed, so she seems to still be considered part of the household.</p>
<p>Is one of the people in college a parent? If so, and if you are not the parent, you can’t include that person in the number in college. Also … are you sure you wrote down all three students as being in college on your verification form? If not, that might be the issue.</p>
<p>None of the college students are a parent. We’re all siblings. What is the verification form?</p>
<p>Kwa…are you the student or the parent? If you are the student…did you list these siblings as part of a your household? </p>
<p>Was one of the three college students born before January 1, 1991?</p>
<p>I am the student. We listed 5 as members of our household. 2 parents and 3 children. All three children are in high school. Yes, one of the students was born before January 1, 1991.</p>
<p>Then your older sister will turn 24 this year. she is independent. </p>
<p>Since she is independent, she is not included in the total number of students in college.</p>
<p>Then why is she still considered a member of the household? Number of students in college, taken from the FAFSA site is " the number of people in your parents’ household who will attend college between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015." She is part of the household, that portion of the FAFSA wasn’t changed, and she’ll be attending college in the allotted date range. Therefore, she should be counted as a student in college.</p>
<p>I’m not sure that is correct. If the parents are still providing more than half of the support for this college student who is 23 she might still be considered in the count for this OP.</p>
<p>How did the 23 year old file HER FAFSA? Was she an independent student…or not?</p>
<p>I think you need to contact the college about the younger sibs FAFSA.</p>
<p>Good advice to speak to your college; my understanding is that a supported student can still be counted as ‘a member of the household’, but not countable as ‘a household member in college’ if 1) the student is a grad student, thus independent or 2) the student is an undergrad but 24 (turning 24), thus independent.</p>
<p>From one college’s website in a section on ‘Common FAFSA Errors’;
<a href=“http://www.wm.edu/admission/financialaid/howtoapply/commonfafsaerrors/”>http://www.wm.edu/admission/financialaid/howtoapply/commonfafsaerrors/</a></p>
<p>Household Size and Number in College</p>
<p>For Dependent Students:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Include in your household size: yourself, your parents, and your siblings who are under the age of 24, if your parents provide more than half of their support. Also include other people if they now live with your parents, and your parents provide more than half of their support and will continue to provide more than half of their support from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014. If your parents are divorced, only include the parent with whom you live (your custodial parent) and your step-parent if applicable.</p></li>
<li><p>List the number of people in your parent’s household (siblings or other children under the age of 24) who will attend college between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014. Include only those who receive more than half their support from your parents during that period. Always include yourself.</p></li>
<li><p>Do not include parents in the number in college. Count only the family members who will be enrolled at least half-time in a degree or certificate program that leads to a recognized education credential at a college that is eligible to participate in Federal Student aid programs. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>(Note the difference between who is included in #1 above as compared to who is included in #2 above. Household size can include ‘other people’ (i.e. siblings not under 24) if living with the parents and the parents provide more than half their support. Then in #2 for number in college, it is described as ‘under age 24’ with no additional inclusion like #1 for ‘other people’ who are supported and live in the household.)</p>
<p>“What is the verification form?”
I am assuming the college did not just pick you out of the air and decide to change your information with nothing to base it on. They had to collect information about your family, independent of the FAFSA, in order to make this change. Did you fill out and submit a form to the school that lists the people in your household and the number in college? If not, maybe your information was changed by mistake (it can happen).</p>
<p>Colleges can choose not to include students who are independent for financial aid in the number in college on a sibling’s form. As long as they apply that policy to all students, it is allowed. However, generally if the school allows the student to remain in the household size, they will also allow the student to be included in the # in college (although not always). And if you didn’t fill out any supplemental forms, it’s odd that something would have been changed. It is always a good idea to ask to speak with a supervisor if you want to be absolutely sure that your information should have been changed. I suggest you call or visit, and ask to speak with a manager.</p>
<p>I had to submit the CSS Profile and the IDOC as well.</p>
<p>That is where they found the info. You should definitely talk to a financial aid manager to make sure the changes are really correct.</p>
<p>Well, talked to my financial aid department, and it turns out they exclude 5th year and higher students from being included as a student in college.</p>
<p>I hope that the student who was born before January 1, 1991 is receiving better aid for the upcoming year since she is independent. Is she getting some Pell?</p>