How does DDs School Know I Haven't Filled Out FAFSA Yet?

[MomToOne]

DD17 got called into her HS Couselor's office today so they could grill her on why we haven't submitted FAFSA yet. Which makes me a bit irritated - how the heck do they know we haven't done it? It's none of their business. Our finances are not something they need to be sticking their nose uninvited into.

Does anyone know how the school knew, and just what details they will have once we do? I don't want them to know things like our EFC or anything.

(But since I've pulled you all into it I will tell YOU all why I haven't done it yet: DD won't get diddly squat. My income and assets will keep her from getting a dime. I've researched this extensively, and know there will be no federal or state aide - well, other than unsubsidiized loans, which I don't need. Her college savings account should cover everything. She won't be in the running for any merit scholarships that require it as a technicality either - she's a precious soul, but not an academic star. I'll get it done soon, just to shut the colleges up, but I didn't think I needed to get it done to keep the HS from pestering us!)

 

[tvguy]

DD17 got called into her HS Couselor's office today so they could grill her on why we haven't submitted FAFSA yet. Which makes me a bit irritated - how the heck do they know we haven't done it? It's none of their business. Our finances are not something they need to be sticking their nose uninvited into.

Does anyone know how the school knew, and just what details they will have once we do? I don't want them to know things like our EFC or anything.

(But since I've pulled you all into it I will tell YOU all why I haven't done it yet: DD won't get diddly squat. My income and assets will keep her from getting a dime. I've researched this extensively, and know there will be no federal or state aide - well, other than unsubsidiized loans, which I don't need. Her college savings account should cover everything. She won't be in the running for any merit scholarships that require it as a technicality either - she's a precious soul, but not an academic star. I'll get it done soon, just to shut the colleges up, but I didn't think I needed to get it done to keep the HS from pestering us!)

They do ask what your High School is and it apparently is reported back to the school.
I felt the same way as you do about getting anything, but you should know that many Colleges have endowments to help pay tuition without regard to need. The only requirement, you fill out the FAFSA. My son got $10,000 a year from his college, and his Freshman year he got an additional $1,000 from a scholarship set up by a lady and the recipients are literally chosen from a hat. Universities are sitting on Billions of endowment money to hand out.

 

[MomOfDisneyPrincess]

I don't know for sure, since we're not there yet, but I thought they also try to get you to take out student loans and Parent Plus loans within the FAFSA process.

 

[MomToOne]

They do ask what your High School is and it apparently is reported back to the school.
I felt the same way as you do about getting anything, but you should know that many Colleges have endowments to help pay tuition without regard to need. The only requirement, you fill out the FAFSA. My son got $10,000 a year from his college, and his Freshman year he got an additional $1,000 from a scholarship set up by a lady and the recipients are literally chosen from a hat. Universities are sitting on Billions of endowment money to hand out.

I've researched all the scholarships (even the endowed ones) for the schools DD has been accepted to, and she won't really doesn't qualify for any. Almost all have financial need as a criteria, and the few that don't have other criteria DD doesn't meet. There are a few small independent ones through various organizations she could apply for - I saw one the other day for the Optimist Club - but I'd rather her focus on school work than all the essays and such they want since I pretty much have college already covered. She has a slight learning disability, so it's better if her attention isn't taken off of school work, esp. since she is doing a college class this semester (dual enrollment with the High School).

A lot of the focus in our state (CA) is for the aid to funnel through the state. They even have help for "middle income" families that lowers the tuition rates at the state universities, which a lot of people around here get. But while my income skirts in just under the max limit, my assets are way out of range for that thanks to a recent inheritance. It's a good problem to have, so I'm not complaining about that part, I just don't want DDs HS to know about it!

 

[MomToOne]

I don't know for sure, since we're not there yet, but I thought they also try to get you to take out student loans and Parent Plus loans within the FAFSA process.

No thanks - not going there! I've been drilling into DDs head since she was 10 that she needs to go to one of the local schools and live at home (we have both a CSU and a UC campus within a reasonable commute). That way her college savings will completely cover 5 years if needed, as long as tuition increases stay in the semi-normal range. No loans! It may not be as "fun" as living on campus, but it will give her a MUCH better start in her adult life.

Full disclosure: I lived at home while going to college. I still had lots of fun, got into plenty of trouble and learned plenty of independence! (My parent didn't believe in "taking care" of us much by that age - we had to do our own laundry, help with the cooking/cleaning, take care of things like making Drs. appts for ourselves, etc.) She'll be fine doing it that way too

 

[tzolkin]

They just switched the timing of the FAFSA last year, so that may be why the school is being diligent about following up with students who are “late” to file.

You used to not complete it until after you had done your taxes (I think it was due March 1st), but now it can be completed Oct 1st using the previous year’s info.

 

[MomToOne]

They just switched the timing of the FAFSA last year, so that may be why the school is being diligent about following up with students who are “late” to file.

You used to not complete it until after you had done your taxes (I think it was due March 1st), but now it can be completed Oct 1st using the previous year’s info.

It's still not due until March. But it does use last years taxes now. I just haven't done it because we don't need to...I admit to complete procrastination. I just don't think DDs school needs to be in on it LOL

 

[tvguy]

I've researched all the scholarships (even the endowed ones) for the schools DD has been accepted to, and she won't really doesn't qualify for any. Almost all have financial need as a criteria, and the few that don't have other criteria DD doesn't meet. There are a few small independent ones through various organizations she could apply for - I saw one the other day for the Optimist Club - but I'd rather her focus on school work than all the essays and such they want since I pretty much have college already covered. She has a slight learning disability, so it's better if her attention isn't taken off of school work, esp. since she is doing a college class this semester (dual enrollment with the High School).

A lot of the focus in our state (CA) is for the aid to funnel through the state. They even have help for "middle income" families that lowers the tuition rates at the state universities, which a lot of people around here get. But while my income skirts in just under the max limit, my assets are way out of range for that thanks to a recent inheritance. It's a good problem to have, so I'm not complaining about that part, I just don't want DDs HS to know about it!

I'm in California too. DD went to a CSU, DS to a Private University, and the Private Universities were working very hard these days to get their tuition....with financial aid.... to the level equal to or less than the public Universities.

 

[MomToOne]

I'm in California too. DD went to a CSU, DS to a Private University, and the Private Universities were working very hard these days to get their tuition....with financial aid.... to the level equal to or less than the public Universities.

I understand - I should have clarified that my comments pertained to the state schools. DD is firmly in the CSU camp at this point. All of the schools she ended up interested in were CSUs. They really are the best fit for her anyway for many reasons I won't go into. And the one she's going to accept is perfect for her. That's the school I've dug into scholarships for in detail, so I know there are none that she's likely to get. Other schools she might get something, I don't know - but they aren't the right schools for her, so no need to figure it out!

But it sounds like your kids did great

 

[Sadie22]

Because we completed the FAFSA every year as required by children's school, they were eligible for campus, state, and national scholarship programs. We didn't even know one had applied for one on advice of his professors until he was selected. Some of these honors can lead to financial rewards with grad school, etc. You never know when you might qualify for financial aid due to a job loss. Don't assume you would not get anything. The guidance counselors know what they are doing. Listen to them.

 

[tvguy]

I understand - I should have clarified that my comments pertained to the state schools. DD is firmly in the CSU camp at this point. All of the schools she ended up interested in were CSUs. They really are the best fit for her anyway for many reasons I won't go into. And the one she's going to accept is perfect for her. That's the school I've dug into scholarships for in detail, so I know there are none that she's likely to get. Other schools she might get something, I don't know - but they aren't the right schools for her, so no need to figure it out!

But it sounds like your kids did great

Hope she isn't considering CSU Monterey Bay. DD loved loved loved it until she got there as a student. But found out once she was there that it was a whole different world. She left after one year, went to a Community College for a Year, CSU Sacramento for a year, studied in the U.K. for a year, and came back to CSU Sacramento for a semester to finish her degree. How different was CSUMB?, NONE of her classes transferred to CSU Sacramento. How can classes from one CSU not transfer to another?

 

[LoriKutchey]

Since when is the Fafsa required? Who is requiring it? My daughter graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2014. We NEVER filled out a Fafsa nor did anyone ever said we had to. We started a college fund when she was only a week old therefore she had more than enough to complete her bachelor's and had money left over toward her master's.

 

[kymom99]

I would politely tell them what you have told us. You will not qualify for aid and you don't have financial need. It's your choice whether or not to file it.

 

[Hikergirl]

Because we completed the FAFSA every year as required by children's school, they were eligible for campus, state, and national scholarship programs. We didn't even know one had applied for one on advice of his professors until he was selected. Some of these honors can lead to financial rewards with grad school, etc. You never know when you might qualify for financial aid due to a job loss. Don't assume you would not get anything. The guidance counselors know what they are doing. Listen to them.

Sadly that is not always the case. I already know of several Seniors this year who listened to their GC's only to find out the info was incorrect and it cost them early decision deadlines. Sometimes a parent is their child's best advocate when it comes to this stuff.

OP, we didn't bother with FAFSA because like your kids, ours will not receive anything either.
I don't recall the HS ever contacting me personally, but they could have called my kids in to ask.
My dd is eligible for 2 separate merit based scholarships for transfer students, but neither requires FAFSA to be filled out. One is automatically given by the school for a certain GPA and the other requires a very simple application and an essay.

 

[Sadie22]

The guidance counselors know what they are doing when it comes to advising every family to complete the FAFSA whether they expect to receive need-based aid or not. This information is often required for merit aid - departmental, college, university-wide, state, national, commercial, what-have-you - for their statistics which they may be required to keep on who gets what.

It's a bad idea to not complete the FAFSA. You do not know what you or your child might be missing out on. You may have the means to pay, but winning some of these scholarship competitions and internships may help your child achieve an academic or career goal.

 

[Hikergirl]

The guidance counselors know what they are doing when it comes to advising every family to complete the FAFSA whether they expect to receive need-based aid or not. This information is often required for merit aid - departmental, college, university-wide, state, national, commercial, what-have-you - for their statistics which they may be required to keep on who gets what.

It's a bad idea to not complete the FAFSA. You do not know what you or your child might be missing out on. You may have the means to pay, but winning some of these scholarship competitions and internships may help your child achieve an academic or career goal.

That is your opinion, I just don't share it.
Like I said, we do know what our children qualify for, no need for the guidance counselor to tell us. Believe it or not, some parents do take the time to research on their own and know their children's personal needs, wants and goals.
While I think guidance counselors can be invaluable for some kids, and they can know what they are doing as far as what goes on inside the walls of the HS. Beyond that, they don't hold some special secrets that are unknown to those of us who are willing to find the answers ourselves.

 

[Sadie22]

I was not suggesting anyone had not researched or did not know the personal needs, wants, and goals of any of their children. I am suggesting that when anyone's child graduates from the college or university with a certificate, bachelor's, master's, or doctorate, that all will know more than they do today.

 

[Starwind]

Although I was an independent student not a dependent student, because I was married, I later regretted not doing FAFSA my first couple years at a state university in Texas. We had done our research and determined that with my then-husband's income and resultant EFC, I would only be eligible for unsubsidized loans. But filing the FAFSA in the third year and subsequent years meant I received some grant money [a few hundred $ each semester, but every bit counts, and as a grant I did not have to repay it].

SW

 

[MomToOne]

Hope she isn't considering CSU Monterey Bay. DD loved loved loved it until she got there as a student. But found out once she was there that it was a whole different world. She left after one year, went to a Community College for a Year, CSU Sacramento for a year, studied in the U.K. for a year, and came back to CSU Sacramento for a semester to finish her degree. How different was CSUMB?, NONE of her classes transferred to CSU Sacramento. How can classes from one CSU not transfer to another?

Nope, not Monterey Bay. Sacramento. We live just a few miles away from it. She also got into San Francisco State, and we are still waiting to hear on San Jose State (I suspect she won't get accepted there, it's close). At least for now, she's going into Interior Design, and not all campuses have a program. Sac State's program has an extra accreditation that many of the other programs are missing, so that's the one she's going to accept (not to mention that whole room and board issue!). Sac State also has good programs in all of the other majors she's considered so far, so I think she'll at least be able to stick with the school, if not the major. Many of her classmates have also been accepted, and I'm sure a fair number of them will end up going there.

I found a website that showed the transfer credits - it looks like some of the info was out of date, but most of the CSUs had extensive lists of classes that would transfer to one and other, but Monterey only had a few! Not sure what that story is, but I'm glad she wasn't looking at it!

 

[MomToOne]

It's a bad idea to not complete the FAFSA. You do not know what you or your child might be missing out on. You may have the means to pay, but winning some of these scholarship competitions and internships may help your child achieve an academic or career goal.

I never said I wasn't going to fill it out, I just said it wasn't the High School's business and I wasn't in a hurry to do it.


For anyone who cares, I was able to find out just what information the HS gets - it's just the student's name, birth date, zip code, whether or not they've applied yet, and whether or not the application has been processed yet. They aren't supposed to be receiving any other information. And since it is considered personally identifiable information, they are supposed to never give the information to anyone else. So I guess I will let it go!