<p>Does anyone have any experience with how Harvard deals with step-parent income when awarding its financial aid?</p>
<p>Is step parent income considered? And if so, to what extent?</p>
<p>My guess is that aid is calculated on a case-by-case basis depending upon many variables. Sally Donahue is Harvard’s Financial Aid Director. Her response to a step-parent question is below. You could always call her and ask about your particular situation. Her number is (617)-495-1581.</p>
<p>[College</a> and Money: Ask the Expert - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://questions.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/college-and-money-ask-the-expert/]College”>College and Money: Ask the Expert - The New York Times)</p>
<p>"Donahue: Applying for financial aid can be complex when you are divorced and/or remarried. Not only may you have extenuating circumstances like court agreements specifying which parent needs to pay how much, or the unwillingness of the other parent even to file the application forms, but schools can often have different guidelines for their own grant assistance than the federal government has for federally subsidized grant and loan programs.</p>
<p>The federal guidelines for need-based federal assistance (like the Pell grant or federally subsidized student loans) require only the custodial parent household to complete the Fafsa, and eligibility is determined using only this information. This includes the income and asset information of a step-parent regardless of how long he or she has been married to the student’s parent.</p>
<p>Schools will generally require students to file the Fafsa first, and then if there is institutional grant assistance available, they will often ask you to complete a Profile form, which is offered through the College Board’s College Scholarship Service. Many schools that use the Profile form will also ask the non-custodial parent to file the Non-Custodial Parent Profile form. These forms ask for more information about your financial situation than asked by the Fafsa, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you will be asked to pay more than your federal “Expected Family Contribution.”</p>
<p>It’s a lot of forms and questions, but in the end schools want to make it possible for your son or daughter to join them, so check in with them directly (either by phone or e-mail) to make sure that you understand their financial aid application guidelines, and that they understand your unique circumstances."</p>
<p>Thanks so much, Gibby. This is helpful and I will also call the Director directly. Much appreciated.</p>