Professional Judgment

Considering Unusual Circumstances for Financial Aid EligibilityThe FAFSA application collects income information and assumes that the student’s/parent’s financial strength stays about the same from year to year.

For some students and/or parents, their financial situation changes significantly from one year to the next. Some unusual circumstances that may lessen the financial strength of a student or family are:

• Loss of a job
• Reduction of work hours
• Loss of benefits
• Death of a parent

After the start of the Fall Quarter, De Anza College offers students/parents the option of providing additional information to re-evaluate their eligibility for financial aid under Professional Judgment. Beginning in October, students/parents are best able to predict their income for the year ending in December. Here are the steps to be considered under Professional Judgment:

For '09-'10 (Summer 2009, Fall 2009, Winter 2010 and Spring 2010)