2010 - 2011 FAFSA question

[cepmom]

I know there are some posters here that work in financial aid offices now or in the past; I have a quick question on the 2010-2011 FAFSA that just came up today. Question 95 asks " how many people in question 94 will be college students, attending at least half time between 7/1/2010 and 6/30/2011?"


What exactly does "half time " mean? I just registered to go back to school but only one class at a time for this upcoming year. DD seems to think "half time" means anything not full time, but I thought that it had to be at least 1/2 the credits required for full time status. I am so confused! I don't know if I should go in and make corrections to the FAFSA at this point or if I don't qualify as "half time" since I'm only taking one class per semester next year. Anyone know? I'm going to call the financial aid office on Monday but thought I'd check here in the mean time. TIA!

 

[Inigo]

I would think any enrollment for credit would count as part-time as long as it's less than what the college would consider full-time.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

What is considered full-time for a student in the fall and spring semesters? Half-time?
For financial aid purposes, OSU graduate students carrying nine or more hours that are required for their degree during the fall and spring semester are considered full-time; graduate students carrying 4-7 hours that are required for their degree are considered half-time. Graduate students carrying 3 hours or less in the fall or spring semesters are not eligible to receive Subsidized or Unsubsidized Direct Loans.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

At my school (a state school)
full time = 12 units
3/4 time= 9 units
1/2 time= 6 units

So, you would not be half time because you are only taking 3 or 4 units (1 class).

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Well when I did work in the financial aid office, half time was considered 6 credits.

 

[phragmipedium]

At my school (a state school)
full time = 12 units
3/4 time= 9 units
1/2 time= 6 units

So, you would not be half time because you are only taking 3 or 4 units (1 class).

This is the way it was at my public university (where I was a finaid counselor). 6-8 halftime, 9-11 three-quarter, 12+ full-time for undergrad. I believe a minimum of 6 is still required to be considered half-time by FAFSA as well and be eligible for federal financial aid. Most classes were 4 credits, so enrolling only for one 4-credit class would not be financial aid eligible and would not be considered half-time. Graduate work is a little different - I believe at the school I worked at it was 5-6 halftime, 7-8 three-quarter time, 9+ fulltime.

So, if you completed the FAFSA such that you did not include yourself in the number attending at least half-time, you did it right. If you did include yourself, you will probably need to correct it - you can call the school on Monday and see if they want you to log back in and fix it or if they want to make adjustments on their end.

 

[cepmom]

thansk all the the answers. I was pretty sure I had it right but wanted to clarify.

This is the way it was at my public university (where I was a finaid counselor). 6-8 halftime, 9-11 three-quarter, 12+ full-time for undergrad. I believe a minimum of 6 is still required to be considered half-time by FAFSA as well and be eligible for federal financial aid. Most classes were 4 credits, so enrolling only for one 4-credit class would not be financial aid eligible and would not be considered half-time. Graduate work is a little different - I believe at the school I worked at it was 5-6 halftime, 7-8 three-quarter time, 9+ fulltime.

So, if you completed the FAFSA such that you did not include yourself in the number attending at least half-time, you did it right. If you did include yourself, you will probably need to correct it - you can call the school on Monday and see if they want you to log back in and fix it or if they want to make adjustments on their end.

I did file the FAFSA as not including myself so no need to correct now. I don't think I'll qualify for much if any financial aid; I am going to a community college (low cost) but I was hoping it might contribute a little more towards my DD's financial aid. 2011-2012 I should be full time so I'll be able to add myself at that time. Thanks!

 

[taximomfor4]

just a heads-up, if this is on your dd's FAFSA, a parent does NOT count in the total number of household members enrolled at least half-time in college, on the kid's FAFSA. So, for instance, on MY FAFSA, I get to count myself and dd. On dd's, I only get to count dd. It stinks, but that's how it works (if you click the question on the form, for more info, it spells that out).

 

[cepmom]

just a heads-up, if this is on your dd's FAFSA, a parent does NOT count in the total number of household members enrolled at least half-time in college, on the kid's FAFSA. So, for instance, on MY FAFSA, I get to count myself and dd. On dd's, I only get to count dd. It stinks, but that's how it works (if you click the question on the form, for more info, it spells that out).

really? Ok, now I'm confused. I'm looking at the questions now and question #74 asks " how many people in question 73 (exclude your parents) will be college students in 2010-2011" so here I know I will put 1 (DD). Further down on question 95 it asks "how many people in question 94 will be college students, at least half time between 7/1/10 and 6/30/11". It does not say anything about excluding parents here on question 94.

 

[taximomfor4]

really? Ok, now I'm confused. I'm looking at the questions now and question #74 asks " how many people in question 73 (exclude your parents) will be college students in 2010-2011" so here I know I will put 1 (DD). Further down on question 95 it asks "how many people in question 94 will be college students, at least half time between 7/1/10 and 6/30/11". It does not say anything about excluding parents here on question 94.

Let me see if I can explain it how it was finally explained to me...question 73 is in the section of questions about the people in "your parents'" household. #95's section of questions is about the child's household (the child's household consists only of the child unless they have their own dependent). So for the FAFSA's purposes, the child's household doesn't include the parents anyway, so of course they aren't included.

 

[golfgal]

just a heads-up, if this is on your dd's FAFSA, a parent does NOT count in the total number of household members enrolled at least half-time in college, on the kid's FAFSA. So, for instance, on MY FAFSA, I get to count myself and dd. On dd's, I only get to count dd. It stinks, but that's how it works (if you click the question on the form, for more info, it spells that out).

And to confuse the situation even FURTHER, there is one section on the FAFSA that DOES ask for ALL household members enrolled in college at least part-time (meaning 1/2 time) but then when you go look at the review of information it lists all the students enrolled at least 1/2 time EXCEPT any parents. I know on the "2010 going off to college" thread this came up back in February or so and we all doubled checked that spot because it is really confusing. In the end having a parent in college DOES count on the total need but the form is set up goofy.

 

[cepmom]

Let me see if I can explain it how it was finally explained to me...question 73 is in the section of questions about the people in "your parents'" household. #95's section of questions is about the child's household (the child's household consists only of the child unless they have their own dependent). So for the FAFSA's purposes, the child's household doesn't include the parents anyway, so of course they aren't included.

crap! I've been doing it wrong then for 3 years. I assumed by Dd's household they meant the house in which she lives, so I always put 5 because, well there are 5 of us living in the household! Guess that was dumb of me to expect a question to actually mean what it is asking. Ugh! Why is the FAFSA so confusing??!!

 

[golfgal]

crap! I've been doing it wrong then for 3 years. I assumed by Dd's household they meant the house in which she lives, so I always put 5 because, well there are 5 of us living in the household! Guess that was dumb of me to expect a question to actually mean what it is asking. Ugh! Why is the FAFSA so confusing??!!

There are 2 sections that ask the exact same questions though-one for the parents and one for the student. In the one for the parents, this is where you would include and PARENTS going to college as well as children. In the section for the child, you just include the child and any of HER/HIS dependents. I agree, it is VERY confusing but if you click on the help box by any confusing questions, they usually are helpful.

 

[cepmom]

There are 2 sections that ask the exact same questions though-one for the parents and one for the student. In the one for the parents, this is where you would include and PARENTS going to college as well as children. In the section for the child, you just include the child and any of HER/HIS dependents. I agree, it is VERY confusing but if you click on the help box by any confusing questions, they usually are helpful.

in the parents info section, where it ask this question, it says to exclude parents unless there's another section I'm not seeing on my correction sheet

 

[golfgal]

in the parents info section, where it ask this question, it says to exclude parents unless there's another section I'm not seeing on my correction sheet

I am pretty sure there is one spot on the original form that asks for ALL members in college and one that asks just for "kids" in college. I don't know about the corrected form though. Did you click on the help box to make sure they only wanted kid information?