<p>If you are applying to those “top schools and Ivies”, they will require the FAFSA and the Profile. For the FAFSA, you will be REQUIRED to put down income and assets from your mom and stepdad. For the Profile, you will be REQUIRED to put down the income and assets from your mom, stepdad, dad and step mom (if there is one).</p>
<p>Are the stepsiblings living in YOUR household? If so, they can be listed as members of your family and also as members of the family who are attending college on the FAFSA. If that is the case, your family contribution will be adjusted accordingly on the FAFSA. </p>
<p>I believe that the same would apply for the Profile.</p>
<p>If they don’t live with YOU, then someone else has them as members of their household.</p>
<p>Regardless…your eligibility for federal aid per FAFSA probably is limited anyway to Stafford loans as your family sounds like their income/assets are higher than would be allowed for the aid for lower income families (am I correct…?).</p>
<p>For Profile schools, your stepdad’s income will be included and if the school believes that he is ABLE to contribute, that will be the expectation. There used to be a section on the Profile (I haven’t done one in a few years) where you could put “other information”. If stepdad is paying tuition for other college students, you might want to put that there.</p>
<p>You can call the school, and ask them about your situation, but don’t be surprised when they tell you that the requirements are the same in terms of PROVIDING the necessary information whether your stepdad plans or intends to help out…or not. The reality is that when your parents married, stepdad became a member of your family. Presumably he is also providing some financial assistance (in the form of housing, utilities, food, clothing, and other family expenses) that benefit your mom, siblings and you. He IS a contributing member of your family financially.</p>
<p>You need to have a very candid talk immediately about college and college costs with your family. You need to know their financial contribution for you. AND you need to then craft your college list realistically. Someone has to pay for college…and there aren’t too many exceptions to the financial aid application rules.</p>