Financial aid help: Divorced parents.

sybbie719
Sat, 03 Aug 2013 19:21:31 +0000

Let’s start at the beginning:

You cannot use your grandfather’s income (so this is immediately off of the table)

If your mom is the custodial parent and you have lived more with your mom than your dad, then you must use your mom’s income on the FAFSA. Since she is married, you must include your stepdad’s income and any child support paid by your dad.

It does not matter who claims you on their taxes.

Keep in mind that most FAFSA only schools do not meet 100% demonstrated need. Even if you live with your dad, if he makes 50K, you may get a very small pell grant and a stafford loan.

Most of the schools that you are considering:



denlah:

Ivy League: Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia. Should I be considering the four other Ivies as well? Or should I not reach for the Ivy League?

Other top 20: Emory



Will require the CSS profile and the non-custodial profile (or their own FA forms). You must then list the income assets of your mom, stepdad, your dad and your stepmom (if she works).

with your stats:



denlah:



Test scores: 35 ACT, 5 in all four APs I’ve taken. I will take six more APs next year.

GPA: 4.0. My school doesn’t have a weighted system, but take notice of the ten APs.



You need to have some schools on your list where you may stand a good chance of getting merit money. You must also make sure that you have a couple of financial safeties on your list.