Our 19yo is applying for the fast-track-to-masters program at her school. She has 3 semesters left to finish her undergraduate requirements and her masters program is supposed to take 33 months full-time.
When she gets into the fully grad school portion of the program, will she be considered independent or not? I know grad students are generally considered independent for financial aid purposes, but I didn’t know if it made a difference when the student was in a fast track program where both degrees are awarded at the end.
Also, for the purposes of FAFSA, will this student count as a sibling in college for her sister when she is in the fully grad school portion of the program?
You probably should get the answers from your child’s school. Here is what I know…or have heard.
In many cases, once the student is in the masters part of the program, they are considered grad students. They don't get their undergrad financial aid at all. If your student is receiving a Pell Grant, for example, that is for undergrads only.
But this could vary by program…or school.
If considered a grad student, your kiddo will be independent for FAFSA purposes,might that doesn't mean that your financial information won't be required. Some schools continue to request parent financials in these situations. Some don't.
Will your grad school kid count as a student in college for siblings? That depends on the college. We asked that question everywhere out DD applied. Some places counted the grad school older brother...some didn't.
^ That is interesting. Many undergraduate would have more than 129 credits before the last semester.
Some school with the fast track master program would grant both degrees at the same time. In that case, the student is covered as undergraduate.
My 3 daughters all did fast track undergrad/graduate programs (3 different schools and 3 different majors). For all 3 of them, they needed to have a certain number of credits completed and also all credits for their undergrad majors to be completed by the end of their junior years in order to start the graduate programs in their senior years. All 3 were awarded their undergrad degrees at the completion of the first year of their respective grad programs. Thus for the first year of grad school they still were awarded their undergrad academic scholarships and considered undergrads for financial aid purposes. They were subsequently considered independent for financial in their 5th year of study (2nd year of grad school). As far as considering a sibling in grad school as another child in college- one of the private schools did allow that but the state flagship did not so I guess it is up to the school.
That was our experience; check with your student’s school for their policy.