"Contribution from income" and "contribution from assets" on Need Access

[somethingdeep]

I'm filling out the parent Need Access form, and it asks for the amount the parent will contribute from income to the student's 2013-2014 educational expenses, as well as the amount the parent will contribute from assets.

How on earth do you answer that question?! If my parents' EFC as calculated from FAFSA is zero, do I put $0 as the answer to both (even though I know I'm not going to be getting a free ride anywhere)? What do schools do with that information? This stupid form is baffling me.

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[DrMidlife]

Put zero. It only matters for free money like scholarships and Pell grants.

There will be an expected contribution from yourself and your family regardless of whether that's even possible, for anybody who made any money last year.

 

[somethingdeep]

Thank you! I wasn't sure if they wouldn't take me seriously if I put zero or something. I'll go ahead and do that though