Dear Financial Aid King,
My daughter wants to be included in filling out all of the financial aid forms, but I don’t want her to know how much I make. What do I do?
Signed,
Concerned
Dear Concerned,
Yes, you changed her diapers all through those baby years, but she’s older now, and I get it, there are secrets between you.
But in this case, you’re not doing your student any favors by excluding them in the financial aid process.
Part of going to college is navigating the administrative systems, which can be a challenge. Teaching your daughter about the financial aid process early on is a great learning opportunity. And involving your student will help her down the road when you’re not there to provide guidance.
When your daughter needs to answer a question about financial aid, and you’re at work, she should know what to say.
Additionally, if she does borrow different types of student loans, your daughter needs to know how much she is borrowing. You don’t want her to feel blindsided when she starts to pay off debt.
That’s the kind of surprise you used to find in a particularly bad diaper.
Lastly, it’s likely your student already has access to that information. If she created an FSA user ID and password, then she can log in at any time and find out.
In this case, it’s better to be transparent.
And the FAFSA might not be the only form you need to worry about. View our full list of important financial aid forms you should be aware of.
Sincerely,
Financial Aid King
