<p>As a parent volunteer at my kids' high school, I talk to parents and students about college financial aid. I've just been asked by a parent when would be the right time to ask college financial aid offices for a professional judgment review based on huge medical bills ($30k/year). </p>
<p>My suggestion was to contact each financial aid office on their child's college list now to ask for their guidance. I'm betting the colleges will not want the additional documentation until after the FAFSA is submitted in January. For all of you who have actually been through this process - when did you get started and what do you recommend? Thanks.</p>
<p>We asked for a professional judgement because of medical bills. In our case we submitted FAFSA then talked to the financial aid office and submitted all the paperwork (bills, receipts etc) to them. We included everything related to medical - prescriptions (but not over the counter meds), insurance premiums (if they are after tax they can be considered), dental etc. I would suggest having all the documentation ready in advance so it can be submitted quickly. Ours took a few weeks to assemble as we had not realized we could do this (thank you CC) and by the time we assembled it and submitted it, then the FAO ploughed through it our January FAFSA submission showed on the school web site as a March one. That could have made us late for consideration for certain limited funds type of Aid (I don't think it actually did but it could have). So have it all ready to go.</p>
<p>Thanks - your comment about January vs. March brings up a point I hadn't thought about. When/if a financial aid officer agrees to apply their professional judgment and change the EFC, does this change ripple out to other colleges? What about to scholarship organizations that use the FAFSA? I'm wondering whether our state grant program would use the revised numbers.</p>
<p>If one school changes the FAFSA EFC, it will change for all schools.</p>
<p>I had one graduate school I applied to change my EFC because I did not make enough last year to actually support one person. I ended up not going to that school because I wanted my EFC to be zero.</p>
<p>We contacted each school individually. Some said to apply then wait till asked but have it ready. Some wanted it with the first application. Some assured us it would definately be considered but in the end it changed the efc by 0. (our bills are 25k per year!) Have it all ready to go. Good luck!</p>
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<p>I had one graduate school I applied to change my EFC because I did not make enough last year to actually support one person. I ended up not going to that school because I wanted my EFC to be zero.>></p>
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<p>I know this is OT and I don't mean to highjack this thread...but Veryspoiledgirl...why did this matter for graduate school? The awarding of need based aid is so very different from undergrad school. The only real federal aid for grad school is Stafford loans which are available in much higher amounts to anyone who files (regardless of their EFC). EFC for grad school is mostly a meaningless number...schools do not "meet full need" like they do in undergrad, and there are no federal grants (like Pell) for grad school.</p>
<p>Veryspoiledgirl, NO!!!!! If an EFC is changed due to professional judgment, other schools DO NOT use this EFC. It is school-specific. PJ is a school-by-school decision. This forum is full of parents who found that out the hard way. </p>
<p>Thumper1, there are sub loans for grad school. VSG must have wanted a lower EFC to qualify for max in sub loans. No automatic 0 EFC formula for independent students without dependents other than a spouse - you know how if you make less than $20,000 per year you have an automatic 0 EFC? That only works for dependent students & independent students who have dependents (other than spouse). Her income and assets must have been high enough to rule out sub loans (making it higher than she lets on ...). Either that, or her school offers scholarships based on need. In that case, though, they probably also use Profile.</p>
<p>VSG - schools do not "change your EFC." They can only adjust the elements that make up your EFC. If you have high medical expenses, the EFC is not actually adjusted. There are changes made to the data elements in the EFC formula that may cause a lower EFC.</p>
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<p>No 0 EFC formula for independent students without dependents other than a spouse>></p>
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<p>My son's income was SO low that he had an EFC of $0 as a grad student...for two year. He really doesn't have assets either. He has been a full time student.</p>
<p>Nurseratchet, did your EFC actually not change ... or was your EFC high enough that COA-EFC was still too high for federal aid? I would think that was more likely the case, although I could be wrong.</p>
<p>Kelsmom-School A manually reduced our income by a percentage of the medical expenses thus lowering our efc and awarded more private grants. School B said they would count the medical expenses but in the end the efc and grant money stayed exactly the same after professional judgement. We did not qualify for govt grants, just loans and work study. It varied widely between schools. We called when my DD applied to find out their policies regarding high medical expenses and professional judgements and they were treated very differently by each school and the awards also varied widely. It was just a good lesson to be aware of. Schools can say whatever they want during the admission process but anything can happen in the end until you receive your final award letter.</p>