Frequently-Asked Questions
Our Federal School Code for the FAFSA: 001706
1. What financial aid applications does Lake Forest College require?
- If you are enrolling at Lake Forest for the first time and you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (“FAFSA”) and the Lake Forest Application for Financial Aid (“LFAFA”). If you have a unique financial situation you want us to know about, you may want to complete one or more of the “special circumstance forms” as well. For complete details go to the New Students page.
- If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident but will be enrolling for the first time, you must complete the College Board International Student Financial Aid Application.
- If you are an upperclassman returning to the College, in most cases you will need to complete only the “FAFSA”. The “LFAFA” is optional. Go to Renewing Financial Aid for details.
- If you are applying for scholarships alone, the above applications are not required.
2. When are my applications due?
Financial aid application deadlines vary by student group, as shown below. Deadlines should be met even if you have not yet been admitted to the College. While applications are accepted after these dates, financial aid is awarded on a “first come, first served basis.” Students who apply late may receive less than what is otherwise available. It is acceptable to estimate income in order to meet the deadline. Contact our office for instructions on providing “final/official” income figures.
3. What are the costs at Lake Forest?
Costs which will commonly appear on your billing statement are found here. Students should also plan on the cost of books (est. $800-$1000), personal expenses and travel.
4. The cost is really more than we can afford, so my parents say I shouldn’t even apply for admission. I really want to attend Lake Forest. What should I do?
Many times parents are surprised to learn the extent of financial aid students qualify to receive. If you believe that Lake Forest is a “good fit” for your educational needs, but you don’t think you will qualify for sufficient financial aid, we encourage you to contact our office. We will be able to help you make an informed decision about financing your college education. By answering a relatively few financial questions, we will give a rough estimate of the aid you may qualify to receive. With this information you may be able to convince your parents that it will be okay to apply for admission. We hope you will give it a shot!
5. I don’t live in Illinois. Will I pay more to attend Lake Forest?
No, except possibly for increased travel costs. Students from California, New York and Paris will be billed the same as students from Chicago, Peoria and Rockford.
6. Should I expect most of my aid to be in the form of loans?
Actually, most first-year students receive loans of $5500. For various reasons, some students qualify for less grant and/or scholarship funds and choose to borrow more to cover the costs.
7. What if our taxes are not completed by the financial aid application deadline?
While the “ideal” situation means having the tax returns completed before working on the FAFSA, it is perfectly acceptable to estimate the information that will appear on your tax return. This is especially true if you won’t file your taxes until late March or early April. If you do estimate, we recommend that you call us once your tax returns are finished. If there are significant changes on the returns, we will guide you on making necessary corrections. These changes may have an affect on the aid you receive.
8. My parents are divorced. I live with my mom, but my dad claims me on his taxes. What do I do?
Only the custodial parent (parent with whom you lived most in the last year) is required to supply the necessary financial information. In your situation, you will complete all financial aid applications using information about you and your mother.
9. My parents are divorced and I live with my mother and step-father. Is my step-father required to supply his information on the applications?
Yes. And there are two items to be particularly aware of. First, you need to report your parent’s marital status as “married.” Next, your mother and step-father must both supply their financial information (income from work, investments, etc.) when you complete the FAFSA and the Profile. Without the information from both of them, your application will not be processed.
10. My parents earn a lot of money, and don’t think that I will qualify for aid. What should I do?
If you and your parents feel that the cost of school will influence where you will enroll, you owe it to yourself to explore all possible options, regardless of your family’s income. Each year there are a number of families who tell us “there’s no way we’ll qualify for aid” and every year some of them are pleasantly surprised to learn that they are eligible.
While income isn’t the only factor that determines eligibility for financial aid, it has been common for families with income over $100,000 to qualify for need-based financial aid. Similarly, some families with income less than $100,000 are not eligible for need-based aid.
Since there are a number of factors which determine eligibility, everyone should apply, especially in the first year, and even if you don’t think you will qualify. If you have any particular concerns, before completing the FAFSA, have your parent call our office. Who knows…you might be one of the families we surprise this year!
11. My brother attends another university, 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…and your brother might want to consider applying as well. With two family members in college, there is an increased chance that one or both of you will be eligible to receive some financial assistance. Also a factor is that costs and financial aid policies at different schools are likely to vary, and may, by themselves, result in aid being available to you.
12. I’ve heard that there are a lot of athletic opportunities at Lake Forest, and I’d like to continue participating. Can I get an athletic scholarship?
The “Foresters” compete in the NCAA Division III level, and for that reason we are not allowed to offer athletic scholarships, or preferential treatment to athletes when awarding financial aid.
13. My parents can’t (or don’t) support me. Does this mean I am an independent student?
Not necessarily. If your parents simply can’t afford to help you, that may be evident when we review your application, and you may be eligible for substantial financial aid. For the purpose of financial aid, however, Congress has defined an “independent student” as someone who:
- is or will be 24 years old by January 1 of the academic year
- is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
- is a graduate or professional student
- is married
- has legal dependents (not a spouse) for whom s/he provides more than 50% of the financial support
- at age 13 or older was an orphan or ward of the court, or was in foster care
- is in legal guardianship as determined by your state of residence
- after July 1 met certain definitions of an “unaccompanied youth who was homeless”
Congress believes that a parent’s unwillingness to provide support does not, by itself, automatically make you “independent.” Unless you meet one of these conditions, it is likely that your parent(s) will need to provide information on your applications. If there are extreme circumstances that make it impossible for you to expect support from your parents, we suggest that you call to explain your situation to us.
14. I’m confused by the financial aid terms and acronymns. What do they mean?
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) has created a glossary of terms and acronyms on their website. This is a great place to get started. If you have questions about other terms you’ve heard, contact us by email or call us at one of the numbers listed at the bottom of this page.
15. When will I receive my financial aid offer from Lake Forest?
We will provide you with an official Financial Aid Announcement after you have been admitted to the College, and have provided the necessary documents. If these applications are received by the time you are notified of your admission, the Announcement may even accompany your letter of admission. If your financial aid file is incomplete when you are admitted, your Announcement will be sent shortly after you have submitted all necessary documents, including scholarship applications.
16. My friend and I are planning to attend the same school, and we’re pretty sure our parents make about the same amount of money. My friend received much more financial aid that I did. Why is that?
There are many reasons this may have happened. It may be that your family’s incomes aren’t as close as you think, or your friend’s family may have large, unusual expenses that we are able to consider. Equity in assets (savings, real estate, stocks, businesses, etc) affect what a family receives in financial aid. The size of the family, and the number of family members in college at the same time will also influence eligibility. These and other differences in family situations could cause two student to receive different amounts of financial aid.
17. My parent got a new job (or was laid off) after I completed the FAFSA, and he’ll be paid less. What should I do?
We suggest that your father call our office to explain when he changed jobs, and what the differences are in his pay. We may then ask that he provide additional information to explain his situation and provide an estimate of future income. If there is a significant difference in his income, it may result in additional financial aid for you.
18. Will my financial aid stay the same when I apply each year?
Lake Forest College is committed to helping you for the four years normally required to complete a degree. If there are no significant changes in your application from one year to the next, and if your applications are submitted on time, you can expect little or no change in the financial aid you receive. It is important to understand, however, that changes in income and assets, decreases in unusual expenses your family incurs, and changes in the number of children your parents support (or the number in college) usually have an effect on your eligibility.
19. I’ve been offered a student loan. Do I go to a bank to get an application?
No, that will not be necessary. Whether you have a Perkins Loan or a Stafford Loan, or another type of educational loan, our financial aid office will provide you with links to the online process(es). In most cases, this will be completed between mid-June and early August.
20. I’ve been offered a scholarship from my high school. What should I do now?
When you receive a scholarship, review the letter announcing the scholarship to see what you need to do in order for the money to be sent. Do you need a letter from the College confirming your enrollment? Do you need to send a copy of the grades from your first semester? Follow the steps outlined in this letter, and provide a copy of it to our office. You may fax it to 847-735-6271.
In most cases, half of the total of all “outside scholarships” will be used to reduce your “expected contribution” and the other half will be subtracted from any Lake Forest College Grant or Founders Grant you have been awarded.
21. Is financial aid available if I spend a semester in a program overseas?
In many cases, the answer is yes…but there are several important things to be aware of. Scholarship recipients may use their scholarship for one semester of off-campus study. Anyone who is interested may request a detailed brochure or contact the Director of Financial Aid.
22. I’ve heard that there are some tax benefits for higher education. What are they?
You are right, there are some important and valuable tax issues related to paying for college. Since Congress and the IRS may change policies (in some cases annually), it is important to keep up with the latest. Here is the latest summary of the benefits from the IRS.
23. Is financial aid ever considered taxable income?
In most cases, financial aid is not taxable. But if you receive grants and/or scholarships which exceed the cost of tuition, fees,and course-related expenses (special fees, books, supplies, and equipment that are required of all students in that course), then the aid that exceeds that cost is considered taxable income. This “excess amount” must be reported on your tax return. Note that you never include loans or work-study as taxable income. See IRS Publication 970 for details.
