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This I understand.</p>
<p>I am going to make a statement that may/may not apply to the OP. It’s a point that he should indeed ask about…and is my OWN personal opinion…
Assuming that the information is NOT required for the FAFSA - and one legitimately meets the Simplified Needs Test - I think it is disingenuous (and shady) for a college financial aid office to ask for MORE Information from some people than other people.
In other words - if they never ask anyone else for additional information and they ask for this and USE it to the detriment of awarding aid - that is shady.
Might be legal and all of that — but it’s another question to ask about.</p>
<p>Bottom line - I don’t think a college can require more from one class of student than another arbitrarily. If the college asks for asset information from EVERY student including those who meet the Simplified Needs test and use that information in awarding need based aid - I’m okay with that. But to ask if from a few and then use it is wrong.</p>
<p>In reading some posts - I am getting the feeling that colleges can mess with the Federal Forumla and adjust Federal EFC’s. I do not like this. If a student is Pell eligible at one college he/she should be Pell eligible at all colleges. Numbers are numbers - they don’t lie. If they are entered correctly then the college should not be making changes.
If this is legit then students who have Pell eligible EFC’s should ask about this prior to commiting to a school.</p>