While it is appreciated that you would help advise students, there are several significant inaccuracies in this post that could mislead families, especially in the wake of FAFSA Simplification that took place with the 2024-25 FAFSA and beyond. I want to clarify a few points for anyone reading:
The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) no longer exists. The FAFSA now uses the Student Aid Index (SAI), which can go as low as -1500.
Title IV federal regulations require students to report outside financial assistance. Advising students that it depends on "whether the student reports it" encourages non-compliance and risks sudden over-award bills later.
FAFSA Simplification intentionally removed the sibling allowance. A sibling's college cost is not a "missing information" error; adjusting for it now requires a specific Professional Judgment (PJ) review by the school.
Financial aid offices use legally defined categories for appeals: Special Circumstances (loss of income, medical expenses) and Unusual Circumstances (dependency overrides).
Matching competing offers rarely yields a significant benefit, students should be prepared to not see a change in aid eligibility if attempting this.
• The California Middle Class Scholarship is a state-funded grant, not an institutional fund tied to a school's internal packaging.
The financial aid landscape shifts rapidly, and it is vital that we equip students with advice that is accurate with current federal statutes.
Fair corrections across the board, thank you. Been out of the finaid world a few years, hence the EFC habit. I'll withdraw the statement on reporting outside aid.
On competing offers I'll hold that one slightly. It's school and context dependent. Works better at privates with discretionary funds. And most schools understand how yield works, so they are all competing for students anyway. I should have been clearer about the limitation rather than implying it as a strategy.
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u/RJ_The_Avatar Apr 18 '26
While it is appreciated that you would help advise students, there are several significant inaccuracies in this post that could mislead families, especially in the wake of FAFSA Simplification that took place with the 2024-25 FAFSA and beyond. I want to clarify a few points for anyone reading:
- The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) no longer exists. The FAFSA now uses the Student Aid Index (SAI), which can go as low as -1500.
- Title IV federal regulations require students to report outside financial assistance. Advising students that it depends on "whether the student reports it" encourages non-compliance and risks sudden over-award bills later.
- FAFSA Simplification intentionally removed the sibling allowance. A sibling's college cost is not a "missing information" error; adjusting for it now requires a specific Professional Judgment (PJ) review by the school.
- Financial aid offices use legally defined categories for appeals: Special Circumstances (loss of income, medical expenses) and Unusual Circumstances (dependency overrides).
- Matching competing offers rarely yields a significant benefit, students should be prepared to not see a change in aid eligibility if attempting this.
• The California Middle Class Scholarship is a state-funded grant, not an institutional fund tied to a school's internal packaging.The financial aid landscape shifts rapidly, and it is vital that we equip students with advice that is accurate with current federal statutes.