Lisa asks…
Who goes on my FAFSA application, a parent or the person who claimed me as a dependant for the last 3 years?
I’m still under 24 so according to the FAFSA site I still need to put someone on the application along with myself. The standard would be a parent. However, someone else (not a parent) has claimed me as a dependant on their taxes for the past 3 years. Who should go on the form? Is it one of my parents or the person who claimed me on their taxes? The site doesn’t have anything for this type of situation that I could find.
Thanks.
Michelle answers:
The FAFSA is way behind how life really works this day and age. Since you are considered a dependent student, it wants your PARENT’s income information, regardless of who claimed whom on a tax return, and regardless if that parent even supported you financially!
It does not matter who claimed you on a tax return, or if anyone even claimed you at all. You must provide the income and assets (if applicable) of at least one biological parent, or both parents if they live together and are married to each other. If your parents are not together, but say mom is remarried and she is the parent you lived with and/or received the most support from, you have to provide info on her and on your step-dad.
I know it’s very confusing, and it’s not fair that someone, somewhere, many moons ago determined that age 24 is the “magical” age of independence.
Good luck to you!
Sharon asks…
What is the significance of putting your cumulative GPA and class rank on the FAFSA?
What is the significance of putting your cumulative GPA and class rank on the FAFSA? Is cumulative referring to grades 9 through 12, or like UC/State schools does it excluding grade 9?
Michelle answers:
You put the GPA you graduated or will graduate with. That information is reported to the colleges you select to receive your FAFSA information. It is also used for statistically for the government.
Lizzie asks…
How do I convince my parents that filling out FAFSA would be the best thing?
My parents keep saying that they make too much money and that I won’t be qualified for FAFSA but I still think they should fill out the application just in case. How do I convince them that we should just at least try to fill it out and see what happens?
There’s no risks involved for filling out the form right?
Michelle answers:
You would be surprised how much FAFSA says your family is able to contribute. My parents make over $100,000 and I am the only child that is still considered dependent, yet my Expected Family Contribution (EFC) was less than the cost of my school (and I go to a state school). This past year when I filled out my FAFSA, my EFC actually decreased by a few thousand dollars.
Your school will likely not be able to create any sort of financial aid package for you without a FAFSA. You would have no access to school-sponsored grants and loans.
Something else to note: some scholarships require a copy of your FAFSA, even merit scholarships. By not filling out your FAFSA, you could be missing out on even more free money.
Filling out the FAFSA is not that time-consuming if you have all of the tax forms with you (it took me about an hour the first year I did it). And what’s the worse case scenario? You find out you don’t qualify for need-based financial aid. In that case, all you lost was some of your time.
Maria asks…
How do you transfer money from FAFSA from one college to another?
I completed my FAFSA earlier this year and I expected to go to the same college as last year, my husband and I are now considering moving out of state and although I will still be going to school full time at a community college, it will be a different one. I already accepted the award through my previous school because I thought I would be going there but I haven’t gotten any money yet. What can I do to transfer this money to the new college?
Michelle answers:
Cancel all aid offered from the school you are leaving. Go online to the FAFSA and add the school code for the college you will be attending. Once they receive your FAFSA they will begin your process; however, you should expect some delays since it is a lengthy process and you are about a month away from school starting.
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