Are post baccs considered "undergrads"?

[Superflyjsc]

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Well as many of you, i have been out of school for couple years, finished my undergrad studies like 2 years ago. Now, im gonna start a postbacc program this summer and i need to fill out a fafsa form to get as much financial aid for the next year or so. But one of the questions asked what would my grade status be for the following year? They had several choices to choose from such as 1st year undergrad-5th year undergrad, graduate,ph.d among others. I had no idea what we would consider ourselves. I picked 5th year undergraduate cuase thats what fits me best but the next question asked what degree am will i be working towards this year? And obviously as a post bacc student i will be a a non-matriculated student so i choose the answer that read, "other/undecided" cuase that seemed to fit me best as well.
My question is, are these the right selections to make on my fafsa forms? Am i really considered a 5th year undergrad student that is not pursing a degree? Cuase when financial aid looks at my information it might sound a lil wierd to them that im a 5th year undergrad student that is still undecided in my degree or "other".
Please help? I wanna fill these forms out best i can so i can get the most money for my tuitions!

 

[cher25]

You have to check 'yes' in the box that says will you have completed your first degree. And graduate in the box that asks what degree or grade level.

 

[LilyMD]

My post-bacc program explicitly instructs us to select 5th year undergraduate. In this particular program (Bryn Mawr), it states to select "certificate granting" instead of degree granting. I don't recall if there was an option from non-certificate granting. It really just depends on the how your school classifies itself. But I certainly don't think any post-bacc program can be considered "graduate school," unless a master's or advanced degree is being offered. Additionally, you could check off these selections and truthfully state that you completed your first degree...in fact, I had select that I had already completed professional school (J.D.).

 

[Febrifuge]

Lily is right. It's up to the school. Her program (congrats on Bryn Mawr!) and mine at Bennington are "5th-year undergrad," and the next year is still in that category, even though technically it would be 6th year. Anyway, for FAFSA purposes the question is relevant because if you're in a program that results in a Master's or other graduate degree, the loan limits change. (I'm an FA person in my day job.)

Unless your Postbac will earn you a graduate diploma, you did the right thing with '5th year undergrad.' But when in doubt, call your school. That's what I did!

 

[Superflyjsc]

thanks everyone~~