filing-the-fafsa-2015-2016-edition

Filing the FAFSA 47
Are you a graduate or professional school student
The full question is: “At the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year, will you be working on a master’s or
doctorate program (such as an MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, graduate certificate, etc.)”
Students who are enrolled or will be enrolled in graduate or professional school at the start of the
academic year are considered to be automatically independent and should answer “Yes” to this question.
This includes students enrolled in a Master’s degree or doctoral program, as well as students pursuing an
M.D., L.L.B., J.D. or other professional degree.
A student who will still be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at the start of the academic year
should answer “No” to this question. After the student has completed the undergraduate degree program
and started the graduate or professional degree program, the student can update the FAFSA and have
his or her expected family contribution (EFC) recalculated. The college’s financial aid administrator can
adjust the student’s status on the FAFSA.
The change in grade level will make the student eligible for the higher federal loan limits available to
graduate and professional students in the Federal Stafford and Federal Perkins loan programs. It may also
make the student eligible for the Federal Grad PLUS loan. However, graduate and professional students
are not eligible for the Federal Pell Grant, so a student who incorrectly answers “Yes” to this question will
need to correct the answer to regain his or her potential eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant.
Are you an active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces
The full question is: “Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes
other than training”
Students who are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty for other than training
purposes are considered to be independent students. The U.S. Armed Forces include the Army, Navy, Air
Force, Marines and Coast Guard.
A member of the National Guard or Reserves may answer “Yes” to this question if he or she is on active
duty for other than state or training purposes. The student must be on active federal duty by presidential
order to qualify as an independent student. If the student is on active duty for state service or for training
purposes, he or she must answer “No” to this question.
Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
Veterans are automatically independent.
To be considered a veteran for federal student aid purposes, the student must have served at least one
day on active duty (including basic training) and have been released under a condition other than
dishonorable. Note that veteran status for federal student aid purposes is different from veteran status for
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.