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Question
I am applying to colleges this year, as it is my senior year. The problem is I don't know whose parents income to put on the official forms for like FAFSA or CSS - PROFILE. My parents are divorced, I live with my mom but am under my father's income taxes as directed by court agreements. I know that scholarships often require income taxes form the past. Which parent's income taxes should I use? Do requirements for such things often depend on the college?
Dear Krystal,
This is a challenging but very good question. Especially for schools that require the CSS profile, you can be fairly sure you will need to use both of your parents' income information -- in fact, this will even continue to be the case at some graduate schools. The FAFSA will ask for both.
If there is a situation where one of your folks just doesn't contribute monetarily, then you should explain this in a phone call to the financial aid offices where you are applying -- some schools will stick strictly to the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) that uses mostly federal tax information (Form 1040), but there may be different procedures once you get to particular schools.
So, the summary is that both parents' incomes will almost inevitably be used, especially if you live with your mom and your dad supports you as well. Most financial aid offices are extremely approachable and knowledgeable, and they typically want to help as much as they can, so give a call to one and you will likely hear exactly how your situation will be handled at all schools.
For scholarships that are not given by schools specifically, that would simply depend on the requirements of the foundation giving the scholarship. For those competitions run by the College Board, except that the CSS Profile will be used.
I hope this is helpful. The long and short is, if there is a gray area, call the people giving the scholarship, they are there to help.
Sincerely,
Keith Berman, CEP
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Answers by Expert:
Keith Berman
Expertise
I can answer questions regarding any part of the college and graduate school application process, such as: 1.) What are colleges looking for in an essay? If I wrote on [a given topic], would that help or hurt me? 2.) Should I include a portfolio of music in an application? How should I do it? 3.) Does applying for financial aid affect my chances of admission? 4.) Should I get a recommendation from a sophomore year teacher as opposed to a junior year teacher? Why? 5.) How much does the SAT/ACT matter in the admissions process at [a given school]? 6.) What are my chances at [a given school]?
Experience
2005 - Present, President, Options for College, Inc. (www.optionsforcollege.com), New York, NY
- Have worked with approximately 500 families and students on the college and graduate school admissions process
- Have trained over 200 guidance counselors in NY, California, and India
- Quoted in US News and World Report's America's Best Colleges: 2009, Boston Magazine, Boston Globe, Yale Daily News, Harvard Crimson, Columbia Spectator, and others
- Have published various articles on topics related to college admissions
2004-5, Interviewer, Harvard Undergraduate Admissions Office
2001-3, New York City Teaching Fellow
2001, American Institutes for Research
- worked on issues related to developing the Voluntary National Test
2000, Interviewer, Yale Undergraduate Admissions Office
Organizations
AICEP, NACAC, IECA
Publications
Publication list available upon request. Most common sources are US Department of Education and Education Update.
Education/Credentials
2007 - Present, Certified Educational Planner, AICEP
2006 - Present, NACAC, Voting Member
2006 - Present, IECA, Voting Member
2006, C.A.S., Harvard Graduate School of Education
2005, Ed.M., Harvard Graduate School of Education
2003, M.S.Ed., Bank Street College of
2000, B.A., Yale University
Awards and Honors
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Grant (2006-7)
Received award/stipend for project entitled An Experimental Intervention: Assessing the Value of Personalized College Counseling for Low Income, High Merit Students. Award covers tuition. Project also received Mellon Foundation support.
Roy E. Larsen Award (2003-2004)
Received award that provides full tuition and fees plus a stipend to first-year doctoral students at Harvard Graduate School of Education in the field of research. Also received identical HGSE grant of same amount for the 2004-2005 school year.
New York City Teaching Fellowship (June 2001 - May 2003)
Selected participant in alternative certification and teacher recruitment program. Awarded $3,000 stipend and full tuition for an M.S.Ed. at Bank Street College of Education.
AmeriCorps (2002 and 2003)
Received two annual $4,725 educational awards for completing national service in education.
Past/Present Clients
Yeshiva University HS for Boys, Rudolf Steiner School, Christian Unified Schools of San Diego, Merrill Lynch, NYU Family Life Center, Princeton Review ACS - India
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