DETERMINING NEED:
Most financial aid at Wake Forest is determined on the basis
of a family's demonstrated financial need. Except in the most extraordinary circumstances, Wake Forest
considers all undergraduate students to be dependent on their
parents.
Families applying
for institutional aid are required to file the CSS
PROFILE. To determine eligibility
for federal financial aid, the university uses the information
families submit on the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Before awarding any type of aid, Wake Forest requires all students
and parents to provide signed copies of income tax forms, including
all relevant schedules, and W-2 wage statements. Both students
and parents (including stepparents) must submit tax documents.
In the case of divorced or separated
parents, both parents (and their respective spouses, if applicable)
are expected to provide financial information. When you complete your Profile registration, the College
Board will notify you that Wake Forest requires the Noncustodial
Profile. You will receive an e-mail that explains
this requirement, which you should share with your noncustodial
parent. This e-mail will provide a link to the Noncustodial
Profile website, with login instructions for your noncustodial
parent.
Our Net Price Calculator can help you estimate
how much your family contribution will be, but
families should be aware that financial aid estimates are only
as good as the data on which they are based. Need is the difference between total Cost of Attendance and the expected family contribution.
Students must reapply for financial
aid each year by completing the CSS PROFILE and Renewal FAFSA
and submitting the appropriate tax documentation. Changes
in your family's financial circumstances (such as a reduction in the number of children in undergraduate college) may significantly affect the amount
of financial aid you receive in subsequent years. Students do not have to
accept the self-help component of their financial aid package
to receive gift aid or scholarships from the university.
If
your family experiences a change in financial circumstances
at any point in the year that was not addressed in the initial
review for financial aid, you may submit a written
letter of appeal. The appeal letter should provide a detailed explanation of the
circumstances upon which the appeal is based and should include
any supporting documentation. It is also helpful if the family
outlines a monetary value associated with the change in circumstances.
The Financial Aid Committee will attempt to respond to all appeals
within two weeks of receipt of the appeal letter.
The Undergraduate Need-Based Aid brochure provides additional information about how need is determined.
|