warriorboy648

There is a possibility that my son (2010 college freshman) will have a sibling in private school next year. Do colleges take that into consideration when giving out FA or is their opinion that we should put that $$$ toward the college education and hold that against us??? Trying to decide what to put on the FAFSA. Any help will be appreciated???

Debruns

I think they want to know because if you make a certain amount of money and pay 20.000 to a private school, they will know that amount goes to the school. If you don't want to state it, they will think you have more fluid income.
Whether or not a school holds it against you, I don't have a clue, but it's part of your budget, I would put it down. I would also state if they get any type of scholarship also.

SLUMOM

That is one of your life style choices, warriorboy. You may put down the amount on the CSS Profile for the tuition paid for a younger sibling. The school may or may not give you an allowance for that, it is up to them! A FAFSA only school (uses FM) isn't going to care probably. A school that uses FM (Federal Methodology) most likely will not give you an allowance for that, it is your life style choice.

Go buy Kalman Chany's Princeton Review's "Paying For College Without Going Broke" the 2010 Edition & use your 2009 Tax Returns with it. Be an educated consumer, what the colleges don't want you to be! Been buying this book since my oldest child was in the 8th grade. Highly recommend it, no matter how much income you have!

mom2collegekids

I don't think FAFSA schools are going to give special consideration to that, because it may be seen as a personal choice.

I don't think it will reduce your FAFSA EFC.

Sometimes Catholic colleges give consideration to families who have younger kids in Catholic schools. So, perhaps some CSS schools might give some consideration depending on cost and necessity.

Debruns

I agree about the Catholic schools, some even have scholarships for kids from Catholic high schools.
I once told a FA, just passing, we didn't save very much over a 10 year period, choosing a Catholic school for our children, over a poor public school, but I would have wanted to send them there anyway for personal reasons. We never regretted it, but I knew it was my choice and didn't expect the college to take that into consideration. I think 2 Catholic colleges might have for their own financial aid calculations, but I can't be sure, they just figured out more money than others with the CSS form.

warriorboy648

I wasn't looking to lower the EFC, I was concerned that the schools would think that I should spend that $$$ on my son going to college and add it to the EFC.. Does that make sense?

I'm going to the bookstore today and will definitely pick up that book.

mom2collegekids

^^^

Some/many schools will consider that money as available for college since K-12 private education is often seen as an optional choice (like a luxury expense).

mimimomx3

All of three of ours were in private school, and only CSS asked if the younger ones were going to be in private school next year. FAFSA didn't ask.

'rentof2

Warriorboy, I'm not sure what you mean when you say you are "trying to decide what to put on the FAFSA." The FAFSA doesn't ask about private school tuition, nor does it ask how much you think you can contribute to pay for college. There is no place on the FAFSA to provide that information.

The CSS Profile asks both those questions, but whether or not a college will take that information into account when working up your financial aid award is unknown, since all colleges that use the Profile can use the information in their own ways and according to their own policies.

swimcatsmom

It will not add to or reduce the EFC. The EFC follows a set formula. There is not a way of reporting private school tuition on FAFSA. If it is a FAFSA only school you can always ask them if the private school tuition is something they will make a special circumstances adjustment for. According to finaid tuition expenses at a private HS are allowed to be considered, but it is at the discretion of the FA officer.The worst they can say is no.

FinAid | Professional Judgment | Special Circumstances

hornet

Agree with all of the above about FAFSA being set and not considering the other expenditures. I think consideration of private school expenses also depends on the college's individual policies and the financial health of the college. With my Daughter, Grinnell College gave us some allowance for the private school tuition. This was not offered up front by the college and involved filling out additional paperwork on unusual expenses. The amount was not big (probably 10-20% allowance of the cost of the private school) but every little bit helps.

warriorboy648

Thanks! I assumed the FAFSA would ask the same question as the CSS.

Longhaul

Warriorboy

I recommend applying for aid from the private high school too. The secondary schools do take into account college sibs. The forms are a pain, but since you will already be completing the FAFSA might as well complete the other forms too.

thumper1

Grinnell College uses its own financial aid form in addition to the FAFSA. There is a place on that form to put special situations (I would think tuition for private school for a sibling would go there...and the reason why this was necessary).

For a school using FAFSA only, there really isn't any place to indicate this on the forms.

However, if the private school tuition for the sibling is for a reason like significant educational issues or health issues, for example, this is something you should contact the financial aid offices about. They might consider this as a special circumstance...which is at the discretion of the school.

3bm103

You don't get to decide what to put on FAFSA. You just answer the questions honestly.