S16 plans to go to the local community college after a year off. There would be no reason for him to apply this early, except the CSS asks where he’s going to be next year. We can’t be 100% certain that he’ll go, but should we have him apply so his brother can possibly get a litt!e more grant money from a couple of expensive schools? The Css is proving to be a pain, and I suspect we’re going to get dinged on home equity because our house has more that doubled in value and we don’t owe that much on it.
I would approach financial aid from the standpoint of only one being in college, unless you are sure your S16 will attend in 2018. I don’t really think a sibling attending community college will affect aid much at the private school.
You could apply without S16’s information for now, and update with S18’s school later.
That’s what I figured. S16 has more than enough in his 529 to cover the cost of an Associate’s.