Special Circumstances

If you feel the FAFSA (federal application) does not provide an accurate or complete picture of your family’s financial situation, the forms on this page may help to explain and document your personal, special circumstance(s).

Review the situations listed below, and determine if any are relevant. It is often beneficial to contact our office first, providing general details before completing any form, as doing so may not affect your (your student's) eligibility. Complete any applicable form(s) only if your cost exceeds the minimum amount shown, or we recommend you do so. Return them to the Office of Financial Aid., preferably as a .pdf via email. You may also fax or send by mail to the number/address at the bottom of the form. 

Forms for the 2025-2026 Academic Year:
  • Educational Expenses - your parent pays $2000+ during 2025-2026 academic year for his/her education or for a sibling (including grades K-12 and college)
  • Educational Loans - parent borrower is currently repaying $2000+/year to his/her own loan, or a PLUS Loan (or similar) for a sibling who is no longer in college
  • Healthcare Expenses - Complete if your parent paid in 2024  or will pay in 2025 at least the following amounts: 2 in family: $4500;  3 in family - $5000;  4 - $6000;  5 - $7000;  6 - $8000;  7 - $9000.
  • Income Change (parent)  - a significant change vs. 2023
  • Income Change (student)  - a significant change vs. 2023, and 2023 was at least $12,000)
  • Second Household Expenses - parents married, but living in different homes in different cities
  • Unusual Expenses - parent pays $2000+ in 2025 for such things as child support, dependent care, funeral costs, non-elective home repairs, legal fees, support of extended family, etc. If you are a returning student and you submitted this form for the 2024-2025 academic year, we cannot consider the same expense for the same occurrence in the 2025-2026 cademic year. We can, however, consider repeating expenses.
Forms for the 2024-2025 Academic Year:
  • Educational Expenses - your parent pays $2000+ during 2024-2025 academic year for his/her education or for a sibling (including grades K-12 and college)
  • Educational Loans - parent borrower is currently repaying $2000+/year to his/her own loan, or a PLUS Loan (or similar) for a sibling who is no longer in college
  • Healthcare Expenses - Complete if your parent paid in 2023  or will pay in 2024 at least the following amounts: 2 in family: $4000;  3 - $4500;  4 - $5000;  5 - $5500;  6 - $6000;  7 - $6500
  • Income Change (parent) - a significant change vs. 2022
  • Income Change (student) - a significant change vs. 2022, if 2022 income was more than $10,000
  • Second Household Expenses - parents married, but currently living in different homes in different cities
  • Unusual Expenses - parent pays $2000+ in 2023 or 2024 for such things as child support, dependent care, funeral costs, non-elective home repairs, legal fees, support of extended family, etc. If you are a returning student and you submitted this form for the 2023-2024 academic year, we cannot consider the same expense for the same occurrence in the 2024-2025 academic year. We can, however, consider repeating expenses.

Options for documenting your income for the 2024-2025 academic year:

  • Use the IRS DDX ("Direct Data Exchange" - preferred method): In most cases when you filed a tax return, the DDX (included within the FAFSA) is the best method. Detailed instructions soon to come.

  • Provide a tax return transcript (TRT) for 2022.  From the IRS Site choose "Request Online" to gain immediate access to a .pdf or choose "Request by Mail" to receive within two weeks. You may also request by phone, at 800-908-9946.

Scan & e-mail, fax, or mail completed forms to:

Office of Financial Aid
Lake Forest College
555 N Sheridan Rd
Lake Forest, IL  60045-2338
E-mail: finaid@lakeforest.edu
Fax: 847-735-5103

Contact Financial Aid

Phone and Fax

847-735-5103
finaid@lakeforest.edu

Location

Patterson Lodge, 2nd Floor
Middle Campus, Map

Hours

Monday-Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

FINANCIAL AID STAFF

Jerry Cebrzynski
Associate Vice President for Financial Aid
847-735-5104
cebrzynski@lakeforest.edu

Mark Anderson
Associate Director
847-735-5010
anderson@lakeforest.edu

Adriana Rodriguez
Associate Director for Financial Aid Operations
VA Certifying Official
847-735-5015
rodriguez@lakeforest.edu

Si necesita hablar con alguien en español en la oficina de ayuda financiera, usted puede llamar a Adriana Rodriguez.