FAFSA tips with a lot of dependents

cptofthehouse
Mon, 07 Oct 2019 20:04:43 +0000

Ummmm. I don’t understand why you would expect schools to take your personal CHOICES into consideration in terms of aid. We are not talking subsistence here. We have life essentials that are not addressed in this country. College is not an essential.

Please note that I am a huge proponent for free community college for all. I think it’s great that you have covered your kids’ first two years of college marvelously. Practically free for those first years. If they can finish in 4 years, 2 in a 4 year college, you’ve effectively cut your college expenses drastically.

FAFSA does take your dependent number into account. They also have some asset protection that depends on the older parent’s age. Other than a bit of 2 parent income wage protection, I don’t know how stay at home parents are penalized by FAFSA. I doubt that amount will make much, or even any, difference in your financial aid picture

As I said earlier, certain life catastrophes can be taken into account by FAFSA via personal judgement of the college’s financial aid officer. There are kids whose parents have deserted them , have no income, incarcerated, disabled or terribly ill, dead even. Terrible things do happen in life, and the financial aid process does have leeway (often not enough) for such circumstances, but it’s still a tough go for these kids. Your kids have the absolute best situation in that they have parents backing them.

I suggest going to the community college and having a chat with the transition counselor ( the one who deals with these kids going on to 4 year colleges) , and with the financial aid officer and pick their brains on what might be available to your kids

I’d also consider other college venues for your other children if it appears that any of them have a shot of getting full ride awards at colleges. Usually that first year is when those options are available, not so much for transfers so you might want to read up, research those possibilities now.