Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

If you have a question not listed below and for which you have been unable to find an answer at College Zone, you can assist us by e-mailing your inquiry to an ISAC College Zone Counselor. Please be sure to include your name and phone number and/or e-mail address in your inquiry, so that an ISAC College Zone Counselor can contact you directly with a response to your question.

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Based on feedback received from College Zone visitors, the items listed below are updated periodically.

My sister applied for financial aid last year but didn't receive any aid. Is it worth it for me to apply for aid this year?

• Absolutely. Your sister should reapply for aid as well. With two family members in college, your family will incur greater educational costs. This will be taken into consideration when you apply for aid.

My brother is 27 years old and lives at home. Should he be included in the household size?

• Family members should be included in the household size only if your parents can verify that they provide more than half the support for the individual.

I don't live at home with my parents. Does this mean I am an independent student?

• Not necessarily. You will be considered a dependent student for the 2009-10 academic year unless you meet the federal definition of an independent student, which is explained at the Student Zone's Dependency Status page. However, check with the financial aid administrator at the college you plan to attend if you feel you have a unique situation that does not meet one of the federal criteria.

My father refuses to complete an application for aid with his financial information. What should I do?

• If your parents support you, it is essential that your parents complete an application for aid with their financial information in order for you to be considered for aid. Explain this to your father. If all else fails, contact the financial aid administrator at the college you plan to attend. Many times the financial aid administrator can explain to parents that this information is necessary and will be kept strictly confidential.

My friend got more financial aid than I did, and I don't understand why. Her parents make more money than my parents.

•  There are many reasons why your friend could have received more aid. For example, the college she is attending may have more aid to offer. There may be more family members in the household that her parents are supporting. She may have earned less money from working than you did. Her family might have experienced unusually high medical expenses. These and other differences in family situations could cause two students to receive different amounts of financial aid.
  
  Whatever the reason(s), keep in mind that each student's financial aid package is designed especially for that individual.

I live with my grandparents, who are my legal guardians. Should I use their income information on my financial aid application?

• No. Effective with the 2009-10 FAFSA, a student who is currently in legal guardianship (as determined by a court in the student's state of legal residence) meets the federal definition of an independent student.

Where will I get a form to apply for federal and state programs? Which form should I complete? When should I complete the form?

• The form you need to complete is called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and it can be completed online at FAFSA on the Web.  To apply online, you (and your parent, if you are a dependent) must first be assigned a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the U.S. Department of Education.
  
  In you are unable to apply online, visit the FAFSA Filing Options page at the Federal Student Aid Gateway for information on how to obtain a PDF or paper copy of the FAFSA. The FAFSA is available in both an English and Spanish version.
  
  All students who wish to be considered for financial aid should complete the FAFSA, but the college/university to which you are applying may require that you also complete a supplemental form. You must check with the financial aid office at the college you are planning to attend to make certain you have completed all the forms they require and that you meet whatever deadline they may have for submitting those forms.
  
  You must not complete the FAFSA until after January 1, 2009, for the 2009-10 academic year. You may obtain a form earlier to prepare for completing it, but you must not sign or send it in before January 1, 2009.

How much time elapses before I am notified of the amount of financial aid that I may receive?

• The time between application and response varies depending upon your college's policies. Call your college financial aid office for more information.

What if my parents' taxes are not completed by the college's deadline to apply for aid?

• Most colleges will permit you to use an estimate to file the FAFSA; however, you will have to provide completed federal income tax information before actual awards will be made.

I don't know which college I'm going to attend. Should I send a Student Aid Report (SAR) to each college that I apply to?

•  All colleges that you list on the FAFSA will receive an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR). These colleges do not typically require a copy of your SAR. The college you do attend may request a SAR from you if it was not listed by you on the FAFSA.

My parents are divorced. I live with my mother, but my father claims me on his tax return. How do I apply for aid?

• Complete an application for aid with your information and your mother's information. Only the custodial parent (parent with whom the child lives) is required to supply the necessary financial information.

My parents are divorced. My mother is remarried and my stepfather hasn't adopted me. Is my stepfather required to supply his financial information when I apply for aid?

• Yes. Your mother and stepfather must both supply financial information when you are applying for aid since all resources in the household must be considered.

Since I applied for aid my father got a new job. He isn't going to earn as much money from his new job as he did from his previous job. Can I receive more financial aid?

• Contact the financial aid office at the college you plan to attend. The financial aid administrator will want to review your situation and can then make a decision regarding your financial aid award.

What is the difference between the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Federal Direct Loans) and the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP)?

• Federal Direct Loans have the same terms, conditions, interest rates, benefits and loan amounts as loans made to borrowers under FFELP. The primary difference between Federal Direct Loans and FFELP loans is that the federal government, and not lending institutions, funds Federal Direct Loans. Check with the college you plan to attend to determine the loan program in which the college participates.

Do I have to go to a lending institution to get an application for a student loan?

• It depends on the college you attend, since some colleges participate in the Federal Direct Loans program, in which loans are made by the college. Lending institutions participate in FFELP. In either case, the financial aid office will have all the necessary forms needed to apply for a student loan. In addition, the financial aid office will be able to tell you how much money you will be eligible to borrow.

I am planning to attend a college that participates in the Federal Direct Loans program. Do I have to borrow through the Federal Direct Loans program, or can I borrow via FFELP through a local lender?

• You need to discuss that with the financial aid office at the college you plan to attend. Colleges may participate in both FFELP and the Federal Direct Loans program. The college will decide the program in which they will certify a student's loans. It's also important to keep in mind that you will be allowed to borrow only under one of the programs---Federal Direct Loans or FFELP---during a period of enrollment.

How do my parents apply for a Federal PLUS Loan?

• If your college participates in FFELP, your parents may pick up a Federal PLUS Loan application from a participating lending institution. If the college has chosen to participate in the Federal Direct Loans program, your parents need to contact the financial aid office to obtain the necessary forms.
  
  Your parents should check with your college's financial aid office to find out whether or not they require additional documents. Many colleges will require the student to complete the FAFSA to apply for a Federal PLUS Loan, as well as an institutional application.

Do I have to complete a financial aid application before applying for an unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan?

• Yes. Even though eligibility for the unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan is not based on financial need, the financial aid administrator must first determine your eligibility for other financial aid, such as the subsidized Federal Stafford Loan, before certifying an unsubsidized loan. You may be eligible for grant and scholarship aid or a subsidized Federal Stafford Loan, so it is important to be considered for these other programs before applying for an unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan.

I received a Renewal Reminder from the U.S. Department of Education. What should I do next? 

• If you receive a Renewal Reminder, it means you are eligible to reapply for financial aid in the new academic year via FAFSA on the Web, and you will have the option of "pre-filling" your application with data you provided for the previous year. Contact the financial aid office at the college you plan to attend if there are any questions.

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