<p>This is the most informative forum I have ever found. Thank you for all the wonderful information. I do have a question. </p>
<p>My brothers were expecting to attend college when I filed my FAFSA, but one of them decided not to go. I received my EFC based on the assumption that he would be in school. My college gave me a financial aid report based on this EFC. </p>
<p>Now that he has changed his mind and is not in school, will my college find out this happened and take back money from me? </p>
<p>How do they check this and what should I do? </p>
<p>Before you say anything, what about the parent in college? Is she claiming you and your brothers on her FAFSA or not? The savings from that on her own will ameliorate the costs of college on her that she will have been had to spend on your brother after your brother withdraws, so it might not be so bad after all. Obviously you have an ethical compunction to report, but whereas you might be losing some aid since your EFC will double, you will have more money available (money that would have had to have been spent on your brother had his self concept incorporated the conceptology of attending university at this present stage of human development.</p>
<p>agree. You also signed your FAFSA saying your information is true. If you do not inform the school and you are found out then you will have to repay any excess aid and are liable for fines. You would be committing fraud.
<p>Both you and your brother who is in college should go to your respective financial aid offices and make them aware of the changes in your situation. In addition, your mother should update her financial aid information if she is in school.</p>
<p>Because when your school finds out, and they will find out, you will not only have to pay back monies that you were given in overage, you can be prosecuted for fraud, you can be ineilgible to receive any federal/state aid in the future and you can be dismissed from your school for willful misrepresentation.</p>
<p>SO the gain you think that you have now is not work the long term consequences.</p>
<p>And trust me on this; paying a $20,000 fine while you’re working for pennies a day making license plates at a federal prison is as boring as it is impossible.</p>
<p>It’s really difficult to believe that some of you people support this communist income-redistribution system that punishes savings, hard work and thrift. </p>
<p>Because my parents worked hard and because they saved money instead of buying fancy cars and homes a third of their salary is being taken from them and given to others who did not do this. </p>
<p>Then I read that some people here actually feel this is right. Those people should be ashamed. How would they like it if what they worked for all their life was taken from them only to be given to others who were not as savvy. </p>
<p>Actually…the idea of accepting financial aid (which is someone else’s money) is rather socialist - income redistribution…especially when the aid is coming from tax-payers who are forced to contribute against THEIR wishes. </p>
<p>If you want to avoid anything that smacks of income redistribution, etc…then always pay full freight…</p>
<p>Here’s a handy guide before you start political rantings; if you’ve ever filled out a FAFSA, attended a public school, or attended a state university (this includes land-grant colleges), then the whole “the government steals money from me to give to poor people” kind of falls flat. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a stupid argument advanced by people who don’t really know or understand anything anyway, but it’s especially stupid coming from someone who was angling for federal financial aid and apparently planning to lie to the Department of Education and to their college in order to get more money than anyone else.</p>
<p>So he’s a “■■■■■” because he wants to keep the money that he and his family worked their butts off to earn and use it for his own education instead of subsidizing some other family’s summer home? is that what that word means nowadays?</p>
<p>Because I disagree with your principles you call me names? </p>
<p>This site is very informative, and I sincerely do appreciate your advice and your sharing your knowledge and opinions with me. </p>
<p>But is this site only open to those who share your views and endorse this income-redistribution scam? If I don’t agree with those ideals then the laws don’t apply to me and I’m not entitled to learn how to use them for my gain just as you do? </p>
<p>Thank you again. I’m sorry, but I feel the principle of government taking from people who work hard and save to give to those who under-achieve and spend is contrary to the ideals I was taught as an American. I want to learn all that I can about this communist system so that I can keep from supporting others and get some of my own tax dollars back. </p>
<p>Maybe that means a little less for those of you who want a free ride. Maybe that’s why you call me hateful names. </p>
<p>Please, there’s no room for the hate here. I’m not a bad guy. I just disagree with the communist form of entitlement government that some of you have become pitifully dependent upon.</p>
<p>So you are not only dependent on “communist” entitlement, you feel you shouldn’t have any of it “taken away” since your brother isn’t going to school, entitling you to less ??? </p>
<p>I say “■■■■■” because you are the one being argumentative about it.</p>