<p>Whew . . .</p>
<p>I don't understand why schools are allowed to change FAFSA's. My S took the information for the FAFSA right off my Income Tax Return. With so many students applying to multiple schools, the potential for constant FAFSA changes is frightening.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, even though the information was "taken right off my Income Tax Return" it doesn't mean the figures were entered correctly. I have processed many corrections as a result of typos and transposed figures. Also, ones understanding of what the question is asking for can skew the answers provided on the FAFSA. </p>
<p>Schools are permitted to process corrections to the FAFSA because it is the fastest way to get the corrected information submitted. If I receive the verification documents today, I can the FAFSA updated today and issue the award letter today. If I had to wait for the student and parent to submit the correction, it would be 3 to 5 business days before I would get the updated information to issue the award letter.</p>
<p>One way to prevent unnecessary changes is to remove the wayward school from the list...maybe providing them their own "transaction" to play with, so their calculations won't affect other offers. If you believe that the school is incorrectly changing information, or if they are not being transparent with why they made the changes, you can report them to the Department of Education. It could be an honest mistake made by the FA Counselor or they may be discriminately looking at information that is restricted for FAFSA purposes. Either way, though, they are required to thoroughly explain the changes they make AND why they made the change (their justification).</p>
<p>
[quote]
If I receive the verification documents today, I can the FAFSA updated today and issue the award letter today.
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</p>
<p>The school's email said that it will now be another 4 weeks before my S's FA package will be processed. This is very distressing to him (and me) since he has been at this since January. With this newest problem, I am afraid the school won't process his FA package until AFTER May 1, which means my S won't be able to attend this school (which he is very interested in attending - if they come up with the bucks for him) b/c he can't commit until he KNOWS for sure what the FA package is going to be.</p>
<p>I would recommend contacting the FA Office and discuss it with them. With my example, I was implying that it could be done that fast....and in my office, it is because my primary group of students are in our non-term program that has new students starting year-round....we have to be really fast in our processes (they may not apply for aid until a couple of days before they start their first class). My traditional students aren't serviced nearly as fast because I have more of a lead time with them.</p>
<p>Some schools are hesitant to issue award packets this early because so many of the regulations for 2009-2010 haven't been finalized and for those regulations that have been finalized, we are still trying to figure out how to apply them in the real world. Congress has this nasty knack for waiting until the last minute to finalize FA regulations.</p>
<p>I will contact the FA office first thing tomorrow morning. Just feeling frustrated with all the paperwork and now this error. Hopefully, we'll get it all straightened out tomorrow.</p>
<p>Ok, I found out how on the website my EFC was different but I do not know why. Here is a picture from the site that lists "Academic Year" and "Summer". My EFC on the FAFSA is 1053, on the site it is 1146.</p>
<p>I don't get it, your EFC is still 1053. The $93 is just working over the summer. That part is not actually part of the academic school year. And anyways, $93 working over the summer is nothing. Just paying it up and getting the work experience, in my opinion, is a lot more convenient than arguing with your school's system. Just my advice...</p>
<p>Your aid for the academic will be based on the EFC of 1053, which is the same as your FAFSA EFC. I don't think summer aid is usually offered at the same time as regular aid.</p>
<p>EFC of 1146:</p>
<p>Oh. The first link you posted showed seperate EFCs - 1053 for academic year, 93 for summer. Maybe that is what you could ask the school about.</p>
<p>I have not heard of schools including a summer EFC portion before.</p>
<p>Oh, yeah on the 2nd image when you click on the EFC of 1146 it takes you to a new page with the first image I posted. I guess I'll have to call the school again.</p>
